Riding the Rickshaw: The Rollercoaster of the streets of Mumbai

Who needs  a roller coaster when you can take a rickshaw ride from Vikrohli to Ghatkopar, and enjoy the same thrill and excitement, for a fraction of the cost? The anxiety, the fear, the terror, the twists and turns, every emotion that you go through when riding a roller coaster can easily be experienced taking a rick! Try it and you know what I mean!

One minute you’re left, the next you’re right, one minute you’re on the road, the next on the pavement, one minute on the right side of the road, the next on the opposite direction of the incoming traffic. Zigging and zagging and weaving your way through traffic, smoothly and effortlessly. A little space will do for it wriggle it’s way ahead and make way for itself, leaving you speechless with its manoeuvring ability.

You hold on for your dear life just as you would do when coasting on a roller coaster, holding your breath as long as possible, cause when you can’t breathe you can’t scream. The only thing left to do is put your hands up in the air and let out a loud whoop whoop, or a scream, or whatever sound that manages to come out that throat of yours.

Your stomach does the flip-flop with every twist and turn. Your heart gets jerked right to your mouth, and a prayer finds its way to your lips, leaving the gods pleased that at least in these moments you remember them. You’re left wide eyed and amazed (if  amazed is the right word here) every time it just narrowly misses an unfortunate soul that should find themselves in its path. Akin to scenes from a video game, a moment of life imitating art, in this case game.

Sometimes you wonder if these souls think themselves Formula One drivers who narrowly missed their calling and now have been left with driving these rickshaws, which they treat as their very own F1 car. That would make the streets their very own  F1 track. Maybe they are driving down their very own streets of Monaco.

And when the ride finally ends (not quite sure if you can quite call this a joyride), your brains feels scrambled and your legs feel like jello. You pay the fare, without argument, grateful you are getting off on your own two feet (even if it’s a bit unsteady).  But then you know you’re going to do it again, just like riding a roller coaster.