STORY OF MY LIFE

Thirty-nine years later, a motorcycle goes back to its maker. Just another bike, just another ride

- Kartik Ware

In 1975, a Bullet 350 was made in Tiruvottiyur in Chennai. In 1995, I learnt how to ride on it in Mumbai. In 2014, the two of us set out for a ride back to the place it was made, in memory of the man who brought us together, my father. The means through which he came to buy the bike are a bit dubious, as he did so by borrowing money from my mother, even though he could perfectly afford it on his own steam.

Dr Prakash Ware was a bit of an odd chap, far from perfect. A lot like this bike, actually. He bought this Bullet, a second-hand one out of the Indian Army, because he couldn’t afford the 650cc BSA twin he yearned for. Later, he did get that BSA and a Yamaha RD 350, and a Kawasaki ZX750R almost made it into his garage, too. But one day, probably in a characteristic fit, he sold all his bikes except this Bullet. I’ve debated his sanity ever since.

He once said to me, ‘I’d like to ride this bike to the Royal Enfield factory just to see the place and chat with the people there.’ He was never short of big ideas. ‘I’d like to see you make it past the gate,’ I replied, given our Bullet’s legendary reputation for breaking down and my equally legendary prowess for irritating him. A few months later, the 4th of August, 2010, to be specific, the day began like any other. Except that after he’d performed his daily ritual of cleaning the Bullet after breakfast, he came into the house and said he wasn’t feeling too well so he’d lie down for a bit. Fifteen minutes later, he passed away in my arms.

We’re going to do this, you and I. Against my better judgement, I might add.