NH 4 also known as National Highway 4 is another amazing adventure in the cap of Ankit & me. It all started on 28 Feb 2009 on a fine Saturday afternoon. I met Rital and we were planning to go for a movie. But suddenly my mind changed and we were in a nature mood so we decided to skip off to Aarey colony road, the closest one can come to nature and fresh air in Bombay. We decided to pay the 5 rupee toll just once and fully paisa vasool the road at Aarey. So we went about our riding enjoying the wonderful nature around us. As soon as we were about to cross the toll near Powai we would turn back so that we do not have to pay the toll again. We rode towards every nook and corner of Aarey, one time we even wandered near some village and faced a dead end but it was fun. We went up and down the aarey road about 3 times I was dead tired so I decided to park my bike near the Aarey park and grab an Engree bottle as it is Aarey who makes them and I just love them but to my disappointment they did not have any, since it was aarey they did not keep the bottles but made them fresh out there, so I told myself why not I sat on the bench and told Rital to get me a glass of Fresh Energee it was good but not like the original bottled ones. Rital took something to munch and we decided to walk and enjoy the nature on foot. We walked so far that we reached near the Powai Toll booth for the umpteenth time, I had lost track of how many times we had been there. It was a fun walk filled with masti and we even discovered a red colored Insect which Rital was shocked to see. We came back to the park where I had parked my bike and I decided to have another one of those freshly made Energee. Then we headed back home after another brief ride of Aarey. Ankit had called earlier and I was going to meet him, so I dropped Rital near Kandiwali shoppers stop thought for a moment whether to meet Ankit or not because was dead tired with all the riding throughout the day so I thought otherwise and decided to head home I crossed the signal near Dhara's home, stopped there to put on my head set for some music, there were some second thoughts in my mind so I decided to call Ankit and meet him for an hour or so and then head home because then I wouldn't have time to meet him. So I called him up and headed towards his house. When I reached there, I called him up & he came down and we went to the Hanuman Mandir near his place which he regularly visits. After that we went to his home to have some dinner. Then at around 9 pm we finally ventured out Ankit was saying that we go somewhere far, like the eastern express highway because we never go there so we went towards that place but we didnt know the exact road & we also realized that it would get boring to go over there, so we decided to go towards Thane, Ankit was saying that we should go to Pune but I thought it's just a joke. So finally we ventured towards Thane through the Borivali flyover. There was a slight chill in the air but not that much. So we were moving towards Thane zooming on the highway when a very determined Ankit said we should go to Pune it will be fun & suddenly I was on the same page as him but I knew Pune would be too far to go & mostly we would just go half way and then get tired and return back so I agreed. We stopped by at the fuel pump and I called up Mayur for insurance so that just in case we reach Pune we'll be dead tired to come back instantly and he is the one whose doors are always open & his parents are also cool. So while Ankit was filling up the bike I called him with the usual chit chat & then I told him the plan that I might pop in any time and that he better keep the phone near him or we'll get screwed he was as always overjoyed on hearing that I may come to Pune but I am sure he had his doubts. So finally at around 11.30 pm we set off into to the unknown night we were not even dressed properly I was dressed in a thin t-shirt and Ankit had a jacket. So off into the unknown and dark roads with those heavy trucks all around us and we were starting to feel the chill as we left Bombay. Our first stop came up when Ankit wanted to buy some cigarettes and after a few puffs we were on our way again only to realize that there was a huge traffic jam ahead and all we could see were hundreds of trucks lined up but the beauty of a 2 wheeler can never be matched a 4 wheeler and we made our way through the tiniest of openings either between the trucks or through the side of the road. I have traveled many times across from pune to bombay but this was something else being on a bike gives you a completely different perspective and amazing 360 degree view, you tend to notice things that would not be able to see otherwise like the huge factories the different types of trucks the people on the road. Since we were on a bike we couldn't go by the expressway and took the old highway also known as NH-4.
After a brief spell of fast riding and bone chilling temperatures we thought of taking a break and soon saw a places ahead with lights and lot of people making noise we stopped by and realized that it was a school and there was a volleyball tournament going on and a huge bonfire on the side. It was an unbelievable sight we were in the middle of nowhere, it was like 2 am and we were witnessing a volleyball match with around 50 people in the audience. it was like we were in another time zone or something but the sight of fire drew us towards that place like a magnet. We were soaking in the warmth of the fire resting on a huge pipe and watching the game. The entire setting gave me the feeling like we were back in time or something. After some time we left and this time I took over the riding position but soon enough the ghats had started and I couldn't control so Ankit took over. As we were twirling around the ghats and climbing higher we could see in the distance a Milky Way of lights far away another wonderful sight and in that daze we criss crossed paths and without our realization we switched from the old highway NH 4 to the expressway. Suddenly the roads were much wider and better and we were zooming at top speed for a second I thought that the old highway looks exactly like the expressway and in a few minutes we came across a toll booth to realize that we were actually on the expressway.
On the other side of the toll booth was a gang of cops and we stopped wondering how we r going to get out of this mess. Then suddenly 3-4 guys approached us, they looked as if they were employees of the tool booth we acted as if we didn't know what was going on. They asked us what the hell we were doing on the expressway and we put on our best shocked face forward claiming we got no clue how we got here. We asked them how do we go back on the old highway NH-4 but none of them replied. After some discussions amongst themselves they told us that we will have to pay Rs.500 or they will hand us over to the cops out there, we started bargaining with them, actually it was more of a take it or leave it kind of thing. We told them that we only had Rs.100 and finally they took the 100 and showed us our way towards the old highway (Later on I found out that the actual fine is only Rs. 75). So we took the turn from the expressway and entered pitch black darkness. It was a small road and we were not sure where it would lead us. There was a small factory and we went there and asked the watchman “How to get to the old Mumbai-Pune highway” A.K.A NH-4. He pointed straight ahead and very soon we were back on the old highway NH-4. The temperature was freezing and I had Ankit’s jacket on. As we zoomed across the old highway at around 3 am, Ankit finally felt the chill and he took his jacket back and then it was my turn to freeze.
As soon as we got to Pimpri, the roads were even better there were huge office buildings around us and amazing roads and finally I could feel the familiar roads of the outskirts of Pune. We entered Pune and it felt like the city was abandoned no one in sight no traffic nothing of course it was almost 4 am but when you are in Bombay you see people around you but out here nothing it was like a scene from the movie “I am legend”. We passed Pune University and I we were very hungry and well as tired and not to mention our soar butt’s from sitting all this time. I knew that the only place we could get food at this time would be the 24/7 café at Pune Station known as “Cumsum”. Kuldeep also stayed close by so I was hoping that I’ll call him and we’ll go to his place rest. After a few detours we finally reached Pune Station and to our surprise while most of Pune lay dead, the café at the station was more than alive. It was a buzzing place full of people and activity all around that we actually had to wait in line to order. We saw a couple of things but nothing looked appealing. I was yawning like crazy so I decided to go for a nice hot cup of coffee and Ankit grabbed a bite to eat. As we sat at the café I called up Kuldeep but his cell was switched off. I had his home number but I didn’t dare to call up at 4 am. We were so tired and so sleepy that we could’ve slept at out table’s right there, so I thought it would be safer to go to Mayur’s house as its pretty cool out there and that’s like a second home for me. The problem was that only once had I been to his place alone, every time it was me and Kuldeep and he knew all the roads as well as all the modes of transport to get out there. We usually took a bus from his place towards Swargate and then took a six seater to Mayur’s house and this was done during daytime, but at this time we had very limited options but since Swargate was a famous place we asked a few people and set off towards Swargate, thinking that once we reach out there, we’ll decide what to do next.
The night was cold and as we roamed on the empty streets of Pune until we finally reached Swargate. We took a turn as I remembered a turn but I soon realized that it was a wrong turn. So we took a U-turn and I finally felt confident that we were on the right road. We passed Big Bazzar which was the only landmark that I remembered on the way to Mayur’s house. Finally we reached the familiar turn we took us to Dhairy and a right ahead took us to the lane where Mayur’s building stood. We stood outside his building. There was a dead silence it was 4 a.m. We were wondering what to do. I was kind of scared that if Mayur does not pick-up what we will do. We were so tired and sleepy, for a moment I even thought that we’ll sleep on the streets. Finally I called Mayur and to my surprise he immediately picked up. Sounding very groggy he asked me whats going on. I told him that I am standing below his building, he brushed it off thinking it was a joke, I told him “Do you think I’ll call you at 4 in the morning just to play a prank”. He still didn’t believe me as he shouldn’t have as I had played similar pranks on him before. Finally I told him that I am screaming his name so that he can hear me and believe that I am actually standing down. It was a funny incident because as I was screaming he could hear me shouting through the phone only and I had it in my hand and he still didn’t believe me. I told him actually it was more of a plea that just get up from your bed and look down from your window, he obliged and was shocked to see that we were actually standing below. He came rushing down in total disbelief that we were actually there. We went up to his house I went to wash my face and as soon as I splashed my face with water I realized that my face was covered with dust and it was so bad that my hands turned black. Mayur’s dad also got up even he was in disbelief on seeing us at that hour but he had a smile on his face something told me that he was remembering his old days when he was a free bird like us, it was a small place so we told Mayur that just get us some sheets and we’ll sleep on the terrace. It was very cold on the terrace and we lay the bedding and Mayur also joined us on the terrace. Ankit had to leave early because he had to attend some function in Mumbai in the afternoon. I told him to sleep as it was 4:30 a.m. and we would have to get up by 6 to reach Mumbai in time. Meanwhile me and Mayur were chatting for a while and after about half an hour we dozed off as well.
I felt that I had just shut my eyes when the alarm rang we were so sleepy that no one even bothered to shut it. It rang again and Ankit shut it and we got half an hour of sleep. Ankit got up and woke me up. Unwillingly I got up and we woke poor Mayur as well. We told him that we were leaving but as usual he was insisting that we stay the day and leave in the evening, I liked the idea but Ankit had to leave so we went down, got fresh in a jiffy, Aunty got up and told us to wait while she was making us something to eat but we were in such a rush that we left immediately without listening to aunty. We said our goodbye’s and Mayur came down to drop us. Finally at around 7 a.m. we left again towards Mumbai.
This time we found a good shortcut. I never realized it but whenever I went to Mayur’s house I always passed an overhead highway. This time when we were leaving Mayur told us to take that highway, It was the Bombay-Banglore highway but we went the reverse way and it connected us straight to the old NH-4 highway. The ride was smooth and the weather was nice and cool. It was a breezy morning and even though we were tired we were enjoying the ride. This time everything seemed faster we crossed Khandala-Lonavala and the ghats in a flash it was as if we were going at twice the speed that we came. We were determined not to repeat our mistake of going on the expressway. Finally the cool weather had vanished and as we inched closer to Bombay we started to feel the heat.
After a while I started to notice things on the highway that I hadn’t noticed the previous night. The road also seemed different. There were huge warehouses everywhere and we could see huge piles of containers on both sides of the roads. I also noticed that ours was the only bike on the road; we could not even see a single car around, all we could see were huge trucks carrying containers. We came across a flyover if I can call it that, this flyover was so messed up, it was like a zebra crossing but instead of the white paint, there were ditches on it. When the truck was going on it, we could feel the whole flyover moving. Finally we got off it and kept driving ahead and the same site followed of trucks and containers everywhere. There was a check-post where the cops were checking all the trucks, passed that as well until we were all alone on the highway and at that time we started to realize that we may not be on the right path. We came to a halt as it seemed that there was a dead end ahead. On our left was a road and a few trucks parked. Luckily we saw a guy sleeping in the truck and we asked him how to get to Bombay. He was surprised and told us that if we are on the wrong way because straight was a port which we later realized was JNPT. We were amazed at ourselves as to how we could have diverted so far away from our actual route and not even realized. Suddenly the sights we saw a while all began to make sense. We looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh at the entire situation. So we took a U-turn and went back hoping to reach the correct route this time.
We took a different route this time, we asked around and we didn’t go from the zebra-crossing type flyover, instead we took an earlier left which took us through Navi Mumbai. We enjoyed the roads of Navi Mumbai as everything seemed so organized and planned from the huge roads to the amazing buildings and even better malls. As the lovely sights of Navi Mumbai faded, we entered the dreadful roads that lead us to Thane, I thought to myself that if the standstill and crazy traffic won’t kill us, the thick smog of pollution that we were breathing certainly would kill us. This was probably the worst stretch of road for me on this entire trip. Finally on to Ghodbunder road and I felt a sigh of relief but it was short lived because as we touched the Western-express highway we were in a similar zone which we faced in Thane. It was past 11 in the morning and the heat was at its peak and if you combine that with the highway traffic jam and the thick cloud of pollution, the trip was really testing our endurance. Ankit battled through the traffic and we finally reached familiar shores of Borivali. Up on the McDonalds flyover and down straight into Ankit’s gate. As we entered the shade a sense of relief filled us and we were feeling really proud of ourselves, of what we had accomplished in a single night. What an amazing adventure it was, this was probably one of the craziest in the AbAnks history of crazy adventures. We parked the bike and Ankit kissed it as it was the most integral part of the trip and it too had been through a lot. So we let it rest and we left for our homes.
