As usual, I was rushing on my two-wheeler (which is a 20-year-old Bajaj Boxer CT!!) on a Saturday morning to office from Lawspet and as soon as I took the right turn at the Ajanta Signal (the old Ajanta Theatre is now replaced by Aditi Hotel, but still people refer to this as the Ajanta Signal in Pondicherry), I felt there was something wrong with my bike. Another 25 meters gone (since I had to cross the signal and move to the side to stop), I could feel that my bike's back wheel was punctured. I stopped the vehicle to see that a big nail has pierced by wheel and looking at the position (near the wheel's neck), I thought it was really bad. I got down and pushed the vehicle to a cycle shop in SV Patel Salai. Mr.Palani, the owner had just opened his shop and was still arranging his tools to start the days' work. A couple of cycle riders came in to check the air.
I told Mr.Palani, that my back wheel was gone. He had a look and immediately said: "Sir, the neck of the tube seems to be torn, Let me anyhow check-up". Having no other option but to wait, I told him to go ahead. As soon as he opened up the wheel, I could see that the tube was completely torn at the neck. He asked me to get a new tube and offered his cycle to me so that I can go and buy the same. I did that, cycled half a kilometre to Akka's shop (this is a famous auto-spares shop in SV Patel Salai, Pondicherry), and got the tube. While he started his work, we also got into a discussion about his work. He was doing quite okay with his cycle shop where he has regular customers (cyclists) especially the Aurobindo Ashram devotees, where a majority of whom still use cycles. He also repairs/reconditions cycle rikshaws. Plus some occasional customers like me as well. On an average he earns about Rs.300-400 a day and some days if he is lucky more also and some days less too... Rainy days (though they are quite less), is bad business he says.
In about half an hour, my job was done. I paid Rs.70 for the job, which I thought was very reasonable for the labour. Thanks to people like Palani, cycles still ply on the road. Cycle shops like his are becoming rare these days, but Palani thinks that in future, more people may start using cycles and he hopes that he will have a business too. But at the same time, he says that the young generation does not want to take up works like his as it is not a "styley" one.. Again more expensive cycles are coming which do not come to shops like his as they are more specialised and are serviced only by the shops themselves who charge exorbitant rates, says Palani.
Anyhow, cycle shops like Palani's are a fascinating world where we can learn many things. A visit to a cycle shop will teach more science to children than any other means !!!
I told Mr.Palani, that my back wheel was gone. He had a look and immediately said: "Sir, the neck of the tube seems to be torn, Let me anyhow check-up". Having no other option but to wait, I told him to go ahead. As soon as he opened up the wheel, I could see that the tube was completely torn at the neck. He asked me to get a new tube and offered his cycle to me so that I can go and buy the same. I did that, cycled half a kilometre to Akka's shop (this is a famous auto-spares shop in SV Patel Salai, Pondicherry), and got the tube. While he started his work, we also got into a discussion about his work. He was doing quite okay with his cycle shop where he has regular customers (cyclists) especially the Aurobindo Ashram devotees, where a majority of whom still use cycles. He also repairs/reconditions cycle rikshaws. Plus some occasional customers like me as well. On an average he earns about Rs.300-400 a day and some days if he is lucky more also and some days less too... Rainy days (though they are quite less), is bad business he says.
In about half an hour, my job was done. I paid Rs.70 for the job, which I thought was very reasonable for the labour. Thanks to people like Palani, cycles still ply on the road. Cycle shops like his are becoming rare these days, but Palani thinks that in future, more people may start using cycles and he hopes that he will have a business too. But at the same time, he says that the young generation does not want to take up works like his as it is not a "styley" one.. Again more expensive cycles are coming which do not come to shops like his as they are more specialised and are serviced only by the shops themselves who charge exorbitant rates, says Palani.
Anyhow, cycle shops like Palani's are a fascinating world where we can learn many things. A visit to a cycle shop will teach more science to children than any other means !!!
