From learning to walk to riding a bike

During the early years of my life, the only thing that allowed me to move around were my two hands, which I used for crawling. As I grew, crawling was no longer a viable option as I would sustain injuries. This motivated me to walk with the help of a walker. After that, there was no turning back. Much later, I trained myself to walk with a pair of elbow crutches and, with the help of my family, I began riding a scooter, which is customized for a physically challenged person. This wasn’t easy because I had to earn the trust and confidence of my protective family, which included my adoring and doting mother as well as my generous, yet overprotective older brother.

My First Riding Experience

I was both nervous and excited during my first riding experience, as this was a turning point in my life. On Day 1, I began training with a friend of mine, and I learned the hard way that things are not always as easy as they may seem when I had a minor accident that sprained my wrist, which then delayed my next lesson for about a week. As I was recovering, I searched the net for ways to make my riding experience safe. This included a new way of throttling in which the rider’s index and middle finger are always placed on the brakes when riding.

This technique provides two important benefits:

1. It removes the split-second delay in applying the brakes in an emergency.
2. It helps the rider, especially a beginner, control the bike’s speed.

I also purchased elbow and knee pads online that gave extra protection in addition to the helmet. After resuming training, it took me 7 days to learn how to ride, and I was ready to apply for a permanent license.

Living A Normal Life.

Once I got my permanent riding licence, only a few things prevented me from living my life. For example, I attended coaching classes at a private institution, which helped me clear my senior secondary exam.

I would occasionally go to the movies and treat myself to pizza or whatever. The movie theatre I prefer is "Inox,” which has wheelchair facilities and an exclusive toilet for physically challenged people.

One of the best experiences after learning to ride a scooter was my trip to Rajbagh Beach, a beautiful beach down a mountain in South Goa. However, due to my physical condition, it always seemed impossible.

Honestly, the walk up and down the mountain was beyond exhausting, but the joy of achieving my goal was far greater. I look forward to taking on many such challenges in life.

Rajbagh Beach 2017