Episode 377 : My mid-life crisis

mid-life crisis: A transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle aged individuals. It is a psychological and behavioral observation that commonly occurs with individuals between the ages 45–64. It's observations differ in a diverse manner for each individual. While some individuals may experience feelings of depression, remorse, and anxiety, others may experience feelings such as the desire to achieve youthfulness or make drastic changes to their current lifestyle or atmosphere.

I walked up to the door and rang the bell, hoping it would turn out positively. A man opened the door and I introduced myself to him.

'You see, I recently bought a new motorcycle and I wanted to know if I could use some of the space in your parking slot since you have a smaller car and...', saying that I shrugged my shoulders with an embarrassed grin on my face.

'Oh... actually I have a motorcycle that I park outside the building and I was thinking of parking it in front of my car. But I have not made up my mind about it... when are you getting your motorcycle?' he asked.

'Sunday'

'Let me think about it, I will tell you by Saturday' he said and I was about to turn my dejected self when he asked which motorcycle I had purchased.

'A Triumph'. He looked bewildered so I added 'It is a British motorcycling brand...'

His eyes grew wide in recognition. 'Oh that one... please take my parking spot. I do not want you to park your motorcycle outside the building. It will be safer in the parking area. But you must give me a ride'

I grinned. 'Sure, let me finish the running-in'. And I skipped and hopped my way back to my apartment.

A new motorcycle was the need of the year. Garud was slowing down and giving me more trouble than I could solve. And the only motorcycle I was keenly following did not show any signs of making it to the market. After I took a Street Twin out for a spin, I found myself thinking this motorcycle is how a Royal Enfield should have been from the start.

A flick of the wrist, and the motorcycle would surge forward. It did not matter that it weighed close to over 200 kilograms and had an engine with the power of a small car. It felt easy, and it felt good. I graduate from an Anglo-Indian to a Brit.

'It is your mid-life crisis', Anna declared. She is probably right. At this age, there is a need for some excitement that a hobby can inject and there was only so much Garud could fulfill.