Yesterday was unusually quite warm in the afternoon and I couldn’t have my usual siesta since Electricity Dept has started resorting to power cuts during afternoons from 02/09/10 atleast in my locality, so I kick-started my bike and went up to the top of famous and notorious Monte Hill where a beautiful chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Piedade is located.

When I reached on top I was utterly shocked to see my old childhood friend Zezito Pereira. It would have been a memorable reunion; the only factor which played the spoilsport was the agony that he was undergoing. His left leg near the ankle was badly bruised and swollen. So I asked my dear friend how it happened and this is what he told me.

“Ivo,” he said, “I was going from my residence to Fatorda at around 10:15 AM. On the way, near Sanju Bar there were 2 traffic cops. Of course they didn’t stop me as I was going slowly. I reached near the turn after Ruth’s (Hairdresser) house and bang!” I interrupted him and asked, “So did you bang someone?” He asked me, “Are you mad?” “OK,” I said, “please continue.”

“You don’t know,” said he, “A stupid 15 year old boy comes at full throttle on a Kinetic scooter on my left side and rams on my bike and drags me nearly 2 meters. He fell down, but I didn’t because of my presence of mind.”

“I was told by fellow passersby that police tried to stop this boy and to avoid them he sped thinking police might follow him. Unfortunately police didn’t do so and the idiot bangs me and badly injures my left leg. If you think I am telling you a lie then go there and see the scratch marks on the road! Mind you, had I to fall I would have surely sustain worse injuries.”

“You don’t know the joke. This rascal was given the scooter by his mother to do some shopping! He is a Hindu boy (with a license to kill), whose father is aboard from Borda. You see Ivo; this is the way clever people’s youth kill innocent people on the roads. Just because their parents are rich they think they can do whatever they wish including kill innocent people.”

In conclusion, I appeal to my dear fellow readers please do not give vehicles to your sons and daughters unless and until they get their license to drive and not to KILL. I also appeal to the RTO authorities not to issue any licenses without the applicant having a sound knowledge of traffic sense and to cancel the licenses of people who are regular offenders. Last but not the least, I appeal to our traffic cops not to take bribes and leave the offenders. Please do your duty without fear and do not allow any sort of influence to come in your way while executing your duty. Jai Hind.

Ivo Oscar Faleiro,

Margao – Goa.

Please Note: I have seen equally worse Catholic, Christian and worse still Muslim young lads KILLING innocent people.