Time : 1:30 am
Place : A big wide empty road (5 lanes wide) , 1 km of from my home ,
Pune,Maharashtra

Occasion : practicing doughnuts and multi-stage braking in the car.


Okay,
I head out to this place because there's not a soul around , and it
seems like a good time to practice some helpful techniques .. yes ,
knowing how to brake hard is essential . Just ask tejas and vipul -
who were with me when i had this "incident" on the highway. It's
probably the best road in Kothrud , with lofty building on either side
with enough of street lighting . Not a soul to be seen

I practice for 10 minutes . I coast to a stop and get ready to head
home . Then out of the blue come these 2 bikes with 3 aboard each ,
and nestle to a stop in front and behind my car. I get into a
discussion with the rude assholes,and things get heated . I am dragged
out of my car ..though there's no fight yet . They threaten to call
the police - to which i am hardly averse..since at worse,i would get a
fine or overspeeding or something . Then,i get the idea of calling the
police myself , and suggest it to them . Now , during the
conversation ; a Tata sumo pulls up with about 6-7 guys carrying
cricket bats . My head goes into a loop , thinking "SHit ! Shit !
Shit! " . Still,i try and extricate myself out of this mess by sweet
talk . No use getting into fisticuffs with a dozen men .

Now,since my car has no airbags - I had taken precaution by wearing my
helmet with the spectacles inside..I now have my spectacles and helmet
being tugged upon ruthlessly . Since,i have no intention to lose my
eyes , I take the helmet off . Now, it begins .

I have punches and kicks aimed at me ...but that's okay ... No
pain..used to muscle soreness . Then , this kid decides to break my
head open by ramming my helmet against my forehead .( yes,a couple of
kids and a old guy had joined the fray) Blackness for a few
seconds ...kind of like Harry experiencing Voldemort's anger at it's
acme ; i open my eyes,and i can barely make out their silhouettes ,
My head feels warm , and i realize i have blood in my eyes, ears and
my mouth . Now,for the first time in my life, I have no clue as to
what the next few minutes would bring ... I have my shirt torn apart ,
and the car door slammed against my arm . .. The bleeding increases
and that probably scares them . i am no longer being pushed .

Now , you must understand that there were buildings on both sides of
the main road with gates manned by security guards . I beseeched these
"guards" to call the cops , but to no avail. I was shocked when I had
them close the gates at my approach. **** !

They then decide to let me go , probably thinking they would be in
deep shit,were something to happen to me . I am now in my car , no
pain , no thoughts running through my brain . Now,i understand what we
keep reading in books containing violence .. I head home ; call my
uncle and we head to the hospital....

Cutting the diagnosis short , I have stitches (4cm length x 2 cms
depth)on 2 places on my head . The X Ray and MRI reports turn out
fine . I am just a bit sore in legs due to the kicks , and left
bicep's sporting a weird red rash..
Dad decides not to file a police complaint , on suggestion from my
uncle who thinks the gang member's belong to a local political party..

Lessons learn't :

India is not a safe place. Even the areas that you consider secure are
NOT . There is always a zhopad-patti nearby with gangsters.
India is a land of pussies : Guards who will not help your or call the
police if you are in trouble .
Do not do anything out of the ordinary in your vehicle . This is not
tolerated by the locals,they think you have a big head or are showing
off or something
Never stop your vehicles for any goddamn reason . Do not slow down to
a crawl either ; it could be a ploy.
Always keep a weapon with you past midnight.
Have friends with you at night.