The Great Bicycle Disaster

The last week of summer vacation is a mix of sadness and excitement.

- Sakshi Sharma

Sad because holidays are ending, but happy because school and friends are waiting.

It is also when parents suddenly remember everything that was supposed to be done during the holidays and quickly try to finish it all. This is exactly what happened in Veda’s house.

“Veda, you still don’t know how to ride a bicycle?” her mother asked.

Veda had spent her entire summer doing very important work like watching cartoons, eating mangoes nonstop and perfecting the art of afternoon naps. Cycling? No time at all.

But one evening, as dark clouds gathered and the smell of rain filled the air, her mother announced, “Enough now! School is starting next week. Tomorrow, you will learn how to cycle.”

The next morning, the mission began. The bicycle stood in the courtyard like a shiny red challenge. Veda walked around it slowly.

“Why does it have only two wheels?” she asked.

Her father laughed, “Because you have to learn balance, madam!”

This did not sound encouraging.

Meanwhile, her younger sister Meera sat on the steps, munching biscuits and giving expert advice. “Didi, don’t worry. If you fall, I’ll laugh softly.”

Veda gave her a look and climbed onto the bicycle. Immediately, everything went wrong. The handle went one way, the cycle went another way and Veda went somewhere else entirely.

“Aaaaa!” she shouted.

THUD. First fall.