| | For the 15 days of the Odyssey, the 60-odd riders and support staff had become each-other's entire world. I delve deeper into the strong spirit of kinship and brotherhood that developed between all of us It started simple enough - a small introduction round on the evening before the Odyssey was to get underway. Even though we were all given a copy of all the participants' names, phone numbers and Odyssey numbers, I felt pretty sure that I would not be able to remember who's who. A few pleasantries were exchanged after that first briefing, nothing particular, and even the next morning during the flag-off, most of us were stuck to the same groups we came with But of course, that is to be expected when you put together such a large group of different people. People who came from each corner of the country (and even abroad) with the most varied backgrounds imaginable - IT professionals, businessmen, bankers, lawyers, even managers of tea estates and not to forget, journalists like me. Every single one brought together by their passion for riding a Royal Enfield motorcycle from Delhi to Leh and back. And it didn't take too long for the differences to melt away. On the difficult path someone fell, so someone else helped them up. Somebody's bike broke down, so somebody else waited with them until the mechanics' vehicle arrived. Someone stopped for a photograph which someone else wanted to star in. Somebody lit up a smoke which somebody else was desperate to share. Small moments shared between people who were as diverse as the colours of a rainbow. |
Print
