Helmet

 ‘Matchi I finally got her a helmet, yesterday. The one that she fancied was pink in colour. Price was too high, that stupid shop guy refused to reduce even 1Rs. I didn’t have enough money, somehow gave all the change that I had in my wallet and bought it’. Shankar spoke loud over the head phones that he was wearing while riding his fancy bike, as he stood waiting for the red signal light to turn green. He kept accelerating his bikes speed as if he was in a hurry to leave. Shankar had just bought his girl friend a helmet, so that she could travel hassle free on his bike concealing her identity from the onlookers or people who could recognize her. Shankar pestered his mother, a bank cashier and a single mother to buy him that fancy bike. It costed her a huge loan, and made it difficult for both ends to meet. Nothing bothered Shankar except the thought that he could now take his girlfriend happily for long drives on the East Coast Road. His bike shinned in the bright sunlight, as he waited in the signal. ‘Hey baby, I am on my way, Yeah! Too sunny, I am just coming 2 minutes.’ And he drove before the signal could turn green. His fancy bike skid before him and smashed on a car, while Shankar fell on to the road with a thud from the impact of a speeding lorry, his helmetless head bled, as he closed his eyes for the final time.