Economics of Speed

I was driving down the flyover near the Appolo Hospital seeing the seconds ticking away on the green traffic light wondering if I will make it through. Well, its only a matter of waiting for another 30 seconds for the next round of green lights if I did not make it. Just as I was nearing the lights, in a flash, a motorcyclist criss crossed from the left side under the flyover in a bid to cross the light, crashed into the road divider, throwing off himself and his pillion rider. Apparently, the driver's helmet flew, his head hit the divider and the pillion rider slid on the road till she came to a halt. As luck would have it no four wheeled vehicle was a bull on the run...so she was saved from being run over.... But the driver had not lifted his head!!!!!! He was lying his foetal position, head on the ground..... As I slowly manouevered my vehicle contemplating to park my vehicle to help the victims, the crowds came running to lift the driver from the pavement / road. So I decided to be another passer by..... albeit with a lot of hesitation and thoughts...

How many times, I have had the privelege of giving way to persistent drivers, who want to jostle into any available space, make it at the nick of time at any traffic light (even when the light is yellow!!) and still meet them at the next or the next traffic light. Many a times I have been urged to get off the vehicle, tap on the window of the other vehicle and say, " Hey Buddy...you almost banged me in the previous light...have you got gold or won the olympic medal....?? See we are at the same place where we began????" Pity how many drivers on the road understand/do not understand the economics of speed in city roads.

The Economics of speed on city roads... are : "Loss of time is directly proportional to the increase in speed on the roads".. "The more constant the speed, the faster you reach your destination"... and so on.. One never gains by pressing the accelerator and pushing the speedometer to higher levels; there is a speed breaker at every 500 meters or every next driver is on a criss cross fun ride on the road!!! All that you lose are fuel, peace of mind and the tranquility. Unfortunately, the last two items are not quantifiable in terms of money hence never valued at all...

As I drove down, I kept thinking of the driver who tried to save 15 seconds of the time... Was he valuing the life of at least the pillion rider if not his?? Did he have any concern for the people who are dependent on him or who perhaps value his life??? Did he ever think that his acrobatic tactics to save 15 seconds could be so lethal??? Perhaps not.....

I also wondered if the very same person would wake up 5 minutes early in the morning, hurry up with his breakfast by 3 minutes or even stop arguing or fighting with his family for 5 minutes????? Would he ever help his mother or wife finish the morning chores so that all could save 5-10 minutes and be at ease, or even leave home 10 minutes early to make good all such trafiic light delays.....??? Why is it that we do not change ourselves for our own safety and value our life??? why is it that we do not save time or use time judiciously where it is possible and leave the uncertainties where it has to be??? Why is it that we do not value others lives and others sentiments also???

In fact, it is paradoxical how the same person will not demonstrate the same rush in meeting work deadlines... the same rush is not exhibited in places and incidences where it has to be... Has civilisation, technological advances made us more illogical??? Has the perceptive capacity of the human brain been reduced to mechanical action..???? Are we moving from civilisation full circle to the non civilised animalistic society???

Many questions...no answers but all this rush at the wrong places...the only reward it gives are"Risks ...and only risks..."..If only people understood, valued and looked ahead in peace!!!!

PRIORITIES......

Its been quite long since I wrote.... All my writing seems to be on the mind ....The last that I wrote was when i was a fresh mother.... Now I am the mother of a naughty impish almost 3 year old.

"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." - Sophia Loren

I endorse this view of the famous Actress Sophia Loren who in her heydays acted in less movies after becoming a mother.. Perhaps true to her word.. Still she never faltered in being known as the best actress the world has ever known..

Life has changed a lot since I have become a mother... I had shuddered at the thought of giving up several things that I loved and wondered how I would maintain my identity; but motherhood itself being a separate identity in itself, changes not just the body but the mind too... Life seems to revolve only around the fulcrum of your little darling... every moment, every day, every schedule from menu to holiday to shopping list EVERYTHING involuntarily revolves around the bundle of joy...

MOTHERHOOD - its a unique gift given to a woman. One has to experience it to feel the baggage that comes with it. The intial days of the creation, the fear if it will be or not be, the 9 months of carrying a ticking life carefully like a porcelain ball full of suspense, the pain and the ecstasy in hearing the first wail.... AND THEN....you are never YOU.... perhaps when you become a mother a new chamber gets added in your heart, a new division is created in your brain, the eyes have an background imprinted and all your senses have an extra nerve....

There are several stories written about MOTHERS one of which is truly symbolises her.... IT goes:

A touching story:

My mother had only one eye. She was such an embarrassment.
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family.
There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to Say hello to me.
I was so embarrassed.
How could she do this to me?
I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out.
The next day at school one of my classmates said, 'EEEE, your mom only Has one eye!'
I wanted to bury myself..
I also wanted my mom to just disappear..
I confronted her that day and said, ' If you're only gonna make me a Laughing stock, why don't you just die?'
My mom did not respond....
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to her feelings.
I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her.
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married.
I bought a house of my own.
I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my Mother came to visit me.
She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her
Grandchildren.
When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at Her for coming over uninvited...
I screamed at her, 'How dare you come to my house and scare my Children!'
GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!'
And to this, my mother quietly answered, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have Gotten the wrong address,'
And she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house.
So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbors said that she died.
I did not shed a single tear.
They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

'My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and
Scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion.
But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were
Growing up.
You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and
Lost your eye.
As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you
Having to grow up with one eye.
So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my
Place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,

Your mother.

No more words are needed to express MOTHERHOOD and A MOTHER..
I would reword what Sophia Loren said as

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always thinks in the line of her child, with the child and always for the child