Cycling...Recycling...
My father has this cycle, for as long as I remember which he uses everyday to go shopping and to the library. I fondly remember those days from my childhood he took me on his bike into town; him riding the bike with me sitting on the metal seat in the back. Nowadays, more than riding the cycle he would be walking it slowly, both arms holding and controlling the handle bar. Probably the legs don’t have the strength to ride any more. So the bike has become a glorified walking stick!
He is a great recycler of paper of any kind. Newspapers, magazines, grocery bags and you name it. Last time I visited him in India, in 2005, he gave me a small white coloured paper pouch of ‘vibudhi’ from Saibaba temple to keep with me. I dutifully accepted and placed it in my wallet.
Yesterday, accidentally, this pouch fell out of my wallet. It has now turned pale yellow in colour and badly worn out. I carefully opened the pouch so as to salvage the last residue of the holy ash that is still sticking to the paper. As I transferred the holy ash into a small container, to my great surprise, I realised that the pouch is in fact made out of a letter that I wrote to him from Bangalore in 1994, which he saved for so many years and ‘recycled’ as a vibudhi holder for my benefit! With great difficulty I put together the pieces like a jigsaw puzzle and read what I wrote back then…
18/7/94
Bangalore
Dear father,
Safe and sound here. Hope the same with you all there. I received all the letters you wrote and noted the contents. I couldn't write to you earlier as I was not sure if you would be at Bhimadole or Kolakalore.
I have some good news for you. My visa papers were received at our branch office in the U.S.A. They have been couriered to this place and I shall be in receipt of them next week. After that I will be going for my visa. So, my guess is that in another month or so I shall be flying to the U.S.A. So please be in readiness to come here at any moment to see me off. I shall inform you by telephone as soon as the schedule is fixed. Finally, mother's prayers have been answered!
I am going for car driving lessons. Driving car is essential in the U.S.A. I have written to brother also about recent developments. Kindly inform Sudha also about this.
That's all for now and convey my regards to mother. Take care of your health.
Yours lovingly
Sateesh Gudivada
I did go to the U.S.A two weeks after I wrote this letter and he came with my mother to see me off. I offered to buy him a scooter a number of times but he always refused. He says that riding the bike is environment friendly, costs next to nothing and gives him good exercise which keeps him healthy. He is now seventy years old and he shows no signs of stopping….cycling or recycling!
Sateesh Gudivada
21, Westbury court
Long Benton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE12 8RL
