A "CAT" with 9 lives?- My Encounters with near death.

"Jogging" of  2kms was my daily fitness schedule when at home in Mumbai.

Jogged regularly from  1980's to approx 2010 at "Mahalaxmi race-course", my home away from home.

Would Cycle daily from "Prabhadevi" to "Mahalaxmi racecourse" and then jog 2 Kms round the horse track!

Would "Speculate(Gamble)" on horses at Mahalaxmi racecourse in the afternoons.

“LIFE” has been kind to me, and to date my survival from tragedy could
find a “Guinness book entry” both as a “Marine Engineer” as well as a “MOTORCYCLIST MUMBAIKAR”.
SHIP BOARD AND SHIPPING ACCIDENTS OR NEAR MISSES IN MY SHIPPING CAREER (1983-2006):-                                                                                                                                  At sea, in a "Sailing career" spanning over 2 decades, beginning in May 1983 and ending in May 2006 have Survived a dangerous professional life on manny occasions,although, a sailors life is considered one of the most tough and dangerous professions. A brief account of some of my worst "Near Death" shipboard incidents are logged for memories of a once dangerous and adventurous occupation.Survived a “Cyclonic storm” off the coast of Madras in November 1984 on the ship "Lok Vinay".A cyclone alarm was sounded in Madras port and all ships had to vacate the port before the onset of the cyclonic storm.Our ship left the harbour and unfortunately headed straight into the eye of the "Cyclonic Storm" that ravaged us for almost 24 hours.Our ship drifted off the coast of Madras for almost 2 days in cyclonic winds and waves before finding its way back into Madras harbour and if the engines had stopped then we would all have been "1984 Madras cyclone history". During 2 1/2 days of the Cyclonic storm weather the city of  Madras(Chennai) received 400 mm of rainfall and it was rated as a Cat 2-3 Storm(Almost SUPER CYCLONE) off N-E Tamil Nadu coast with the peak centre being Sriharikota island where the maximum wind speed was 250 Km/hr. So my first "SURVIVAL BADGE AT SEA " was "CYCLONIC SURVIVOR 1984". Ahoy !                                                                                                 In 1987 ,a steam pipe
Rupture on the "OBO carrier,Vallathol" at Singapore Dry dock  in 1987 almost blew my head off, having missed the massive "Steam Blast" by just inches .The Ship "M.V .Vallathol" was undergoing "Dry-Docking" at the "Jurong Shipyard" in Singapore, the entire ships engine-room machinery being overhauled, replaced or repaired by the shipyard workers. A steam pipe "Flanged Joint" in the engine room had been replaced and as usual and i had to check the pipe for leakages, since these were "HIGH PRESSURE BOILER STEAM PIPES".After physically inspecting the pipe i told the junior Engineer(5th Eng)" to gradually open the steam v/v and allow the flow of steam to check for leakages.The ships engine-room was massive, akin to a multi-storied building on land and the 5th /Eng went to a corner of the engine-room to open the v/v, hence, i couldn't speak or see him for further instructions. I was gradually feeling the pipe by hand for "steam heat", indicating the passage of gradual steam flow into the system and also keeping an eye on the "Flanged Steam joint", basic engine room practical technology" before the common usage of "Walkie Talkies" for "Engine room Communication" amongst ships engineering staff. As the pipe seemed cold even after a few minutes i decided to go back and find out if the engineer had opened the right v/v and that decision saved my life for as soon as i turned my back from the "Flanged End pipe joint", a huge explosion rocked the place in the middle of the night, the entire engine room being flooded by a mist of steam vapour. The sound was so loud that the entire ships staff sleeping in their cabins came running into the " Ships Engine Room" and as for me, it was a miss by a whisker between a serious accident or even death. Casualties amongst ship staff are not uncommon in "Shipping Dry Docks" and i could consider this episode one of my closest brushes with death during my employment in the shipping industry.In 1997 i joined a tramp general bulk carrier "M.V.Vinta" as a "Second engineer" and survived death or a major illness by resigning from the company after within a month of joining the ship, as it was a floating disaster just waiting to sink.That ship was my last voyage in International waters as i quit sailing on "Foreign Going ships" and joined coastal  V/L's upto the time of my voluntary retirement from sailing in 2006. During my career on inland coastal supply ships and tugs  remember a few dangerous falls that could have resulted in serious injury or hospitalization..On Saturday(29-3-2003)  our supply ship  "M.V.Samudrika-2" was undergoing major repairs  at "Ritchie Dry Dock" in Mazgaon Docks Ltd Shipyard.As usual i was busy in the congested small engine-room overseeing and testing the repeir jobs.Suddenly i happened to step on a wooden plank  that had temporarily been used instead of the normal engine room steel floor plates. The plank just broke into two under my weight and i fell into the bilges with my head banging against the steel rim on the floor plate.My "HELMET(Hard hat)" saved me from severe head injury and my physical fitness cushioned the fall.Having done countless Drydockings and engine repairs the usage of a helmet in the engine room was a safety mandatory law i strictly followed throughout my sea faring career.My next big fall was on Thursday(7-7-2005) while sailing on the high seas in "Bombay High" region in peak Monsoon season.It's easy to get employment on " BOMBAY HIGH OFF-SHORE VESSELS" during "Monsoon Season( June-August)" as every fair weather Officer or crew personal avoids sailing in the Arabian sea during this particular time of the year.I was sailing on the supply ship "S.C.I-06" and was on the deck bunkering  lubricating oil into the ship's tanks while the small supply vessel was tossing and pitching akin to a fishing boat.Suddenly while walking on deck i slipped on a slick of oil and was lucky not to dislocate a arm or a leg. Sailing on a "Off-Shore Supply Vessel" in "Bombay High" is akin to a adventure sport like "White water rafting".The only difference being that a sailor spends days or months on a rolling/pitching ship while a adventure sport  only lasts  a few hours or has long  rest intervals.The average sailors life is not as colourful as the proverbial quote "JOIN THE NAVY AND SEE THE WORLD " ! A few day's later "S.C.I -06" sailed back to Princess Dock for some minor repairs and loading of stores.Hence on docking at Princess Dock on Tuesday(26/5/2005) yours truly the sea weary sailor ventured into Mumbai city after the normal engine room work routines .There was a continuous pouring of rainfall but no indication that this day would go down in history as the day Mumbai city drowned in a deluge of rain.On reaching home as usual relaxed with the T.V and got the news of the flooding of the city with people drowning in their own vehicles. Our locality of Prabhadevi and usually the entire western locale of South Mumbai doesn't get badly flooded in comparison to other parts of the city and hence managed to travel to my vessel the next morning by public transport. Life on board the supply vessel was normal with the ship's crew indulging in normal work routines. On Wednesday (27/5/2005) after duty hours again went home in the evening and relaxed at home.The next morning on switching on the T.V heard the news of a Collision and explosion at the "BOMBAY HIGH OFFSHORE" fields. As usual went back to the ship and the disaster trickled in of the vessel "Samudra Raksha" colliding with the process platform "Bombay High North" situated 160 Kms west of the Mumbai coast causing a major explosion and fire.11 people were killed and another 11 declared missing while 362 people working on the platform which was totally destroyed within two hours were rescued.The "Samudra Raksha" sank much later on Monday(1/8/2005) ,a slow sinking due to burning that took four day's .The property loss faced by O.N.G.C was 300 Million U.S Dollars. We sailed back to "Bombay High" and life was normal as usual on the high sea's with us shipboard staff engaged in normal duty routines.This was the worst off-shore accident in the "Bombay High Oil Fields" and it received less news coverage due to the twin catastrophe of the " 26 Wednesday Bombay Drowning" in which a total of 1009 people died .Lucky to be alive.                                                                 "RARE  FREAK ACCIDENTS AND LUCKY ESCAPES ON LAND :-                                                                                               Horse-racing day trips to Pune for the annual "Pune Derby" was a common once in a year "Horse-racing pilgrimage" by me when ashore from shipping.Once, sometime in the late 1990's i was returning to Mumbai by road on the luxury "Asiad Bus" from Pune after attending the "Pune Derby", when the bus suddenly braked.All passengers alighted the bus and we realized that the driver had braked inches before the front wheels were about to run off the tapering road into a steep ditch.Providence saved the entire bus passengers from a very serious accident and vehicles falling into ravines or ditches are frequent accidents on Indian roads, especially in hill-stations.Finally reached Mumbai after a hectic day at the Pune race-course and a near encounter with death on the "Pune Highway".In the 1990's Cycling began as a necessity during my frequent holidays to Bangalore, sight-seeing most of Bangalore by cycle.I later transferred my cycle to Mumbai and began cycling on Mumbai roads in peak traffic, a rare freak.
I consider cycling on Mumbai's roads dangerous to a rider unused to Mumbai's traffic and crowd congestion. I have personally been a regular cyclist to "Mahatma Gandhi Swimming pool" at Shivaji Park since 1999 and later cycling to Mahalaxmi race-course for jogging during re-construction of the pool from 2009 to 2011..Honestly, cycling has kept me fit although once i almost got run-over by a car near a signal stop at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi, my daily cycling route. A car approached me at full speed and luckily i dismounted the vehicle before it ran over my front cycle wheel, totally twisting it and speeding off. This was a miraculous escape and the only time in my cycling career that i came close to a serious accident.. Cycling is definitely dangerous in peak traffic conditions but safer as an exercise in early morning hours. In 2004 after my mothers demise i purchased a "Bajaj Wind-125cc" motorcycle, fed up of using local transport, besides having a penchant for "Fast vehicles" akin to "Fast or Slow Horses"!I avoided purchasing a motorcycle during my mothers life-time for the simple reason that my mother was over-protective of my safety, hence she never allowed me to purchase a motorcycle. Instead, she was forcing me to purchase a car and i avoided the same as a car required regular maintenance and with me employed at sea there would be no one to drive the car while i was away.In hindsight, after miraculous survival of motorbike accidents i realize that my late mother premonitions of motorcycle safety were partially true.On land have survived “NINE ” motorcycle falls to date, one of the most serious fall landing me in”Jaslok hospital “ for "SHOULDER RE-FIXING"in 2004 .I was traveling on my newly purchased "Bajaj wind-125cc" at approx 0400 hrs from Mumbai to Pune on Sunday( 19/9/2004) at the fag end of the "Monsoon season" to attend the "Poonawalla million horse race" and without prior knowledge of "Road rules and regulations" happened to use the main "Mumbai-Pune Toll Highway" .Traveling at maximum speeds of 80 to 100 Kms, partly testing my bike, partly living life dangerously, besides all the cars were zooming at that speed and hence i didn't feel odd at "super-speeds".Suddenly on reaching Khopoli i realized a police jeep trailing me and waving at me to stop, which i did and to my sheer wonder got the firing of my life from the "traffic Cops", abuses and threats of "license and bike confiscation".I then realized that 2 wheelers were not allowed on the " Mumbai-Pune Toll Highway" and luckily the cops understood my stupid innocence and fined me later telling me to take a different route to Khandala, normally undertaken by all 2 wheelers . The roads were deep with monsoon craters typical of our non "V.I.P roads" during the monsoon season besides the night was still dark and visibility negligible , hence i literally drove into a massive road crater, falling with the motorcycle onto me.The road was empty and used by heavy vehicles and here i was, lying in the middle of the road , totally immobile due to my right shoulder dislocation, besides, the motorcycle was too heavy to lift with a single arm.The same traffic policemen who guided me on the new route happened to travel the same way and picked me up, later taking me to the cafeteria at the main khopoli junction for "first aid treatment" applying a plaster.They and i didn't realize the seriousness of my injury as i was just feeling a niggling pain at the shoulder joint and couldn't lift my arm completely, mistaking it to be just a minor dislocation and hence decided to proceed to Pune rather than returning to Mumbai. I finally managed to reach Pune and drove straight down to Koregaon Park visiting the Rajneesh ashram complex, a place with which i was familiar, having visited its beautiful gardens on all my previous visits to Pune, always on Pune Derby Day. I inquired about a hospital or dispensary and luckily there was a large hospital in the vicinity of Koregaon Park itself called the "Inlaks and Budhrani hospital". The doctor just on seeing my drooping shoulder realized that it was serious and directed me to the "x-Ray Dept" where the "X-Ray" showed a dislocation.The doctor , Mr Dudhani then "REFITTED" my dislocated shoulder by "Traction Method", manually fitting it in place and advised me for a days stay as a patient. The next day i was discharged from the hospital, collected my bike and rode all the way to Mumbai in a bandage with slight intermittent drizzles along the "pot-holed route" as it was the monsoon season. I definitely deserved a gallantry award for riding to and fro from Mumbai to Pune with a severe dislocated right shoulder , maneuvering the Ghats in damp, slippery road conditions. I kept low for a week thinking that the "Shoulder Injury" would heal naturally as did most of my injuries during  hectic sporting activities during my school/ college era. I am a regular jogger and swimmer , my natural fitness activities, post school/college campus departure and  hence accustomed to minor body discomfiture, results of excess physical activities. After a week i visited the "Jaslok Hospital" orthopedic wing for examination of my "Shoulder Discomfort" and the diagnosis after a "SHOULDER CAT-SCAN"was disastrous, the injury proving to be a serious fracture that could affect my future "Hand mobility" if untreated. Dr Surendra .S Kothari, the orthopedic surgeon examining me advised hospitalization and surgery to cure the "Right Shoulder fracture" and not a mere "Shoulder Dislocation" as presumed by a normal "X-Ray" at "Inlacs and Budhrani hospital" in Pune. After a fortnight i was admitted into "Jaslok hospital" on Thursday(14-10-2004)and all cardiac tests and B.p tests were done on this day. Later on Friday(15-10-2004) i was taken to the "Operating theater" and operated between 1000 hrs to 1230 hrs on my "Right Shoulder" by Dr Surendra.S.Kotharii and Dr Sanjay.Desai ,later kept in the hospital "Twin-Sharing room A/C ward" on the 12th floor in room No C-1206 . An operation under "Local anesthesia" was performed after undergoing a battery of tests as required by "Insurance companies" and also for safe-guard of the doctor against any future "malpractice suit" as "Jaslok hospital" is one of Mumbai's well reputed, posh hospitals.After discharge from Jaslok on Monday(18-10-2004)i had to undergo physical therapy for over a month at Dr Jagen.Joy's clinic in Mahim a recommendation from my dentist Dr Nina.D'Souza , a real painful process but finally restoring complete mobility of my right hand. The total "Jaslok Hospitalization charges" amounted to Rs 1,02,000 a real astronomical amount for a "Shoulder Dislocation".The very next day after my discharge from "Jaslok Hospital" the news was announced over "B.B.C Radio" regarding the ambush and killing of Indian Dacoit Veerapan, killed while traveling in an "Ambulance", bizarre.I found Veerapan a fascinating character for his sheer looks as well as survival strategy, but, ultimately he too was killed in an "Encounter Ambush". Hope the elephants of the Satyamangalam forests survive extinction as there are very few "male tuskers" in the wild, partly due to results of "Veerapan Poaching" and partly due to "Habitat destruction". This was my first major encounter with near death on my motorcycle requiring hospitalization.On 21-1-2005 while traveling towards Churchgate in the night a taxi suddenly blocked my path and while avoiding this taxi got banged from the back by another incoming taxi, narrowly surviving being run over. On 8/7/2006(Saturday) while returning from Mahalaxmi race-course I met with one of the worst accidents, the 7th mo-bike fall while nearing my house at “Vaibhav apartments”.A young suicidal kid ran across the street near the auto garage at the entrance into “Old Prabhadevi road” straight into the path of my bike.I braked but skidded and fell, thanks to the helmet, severe head injuries were prevented but my legs got severely bruised, my left arm still hurts, and I use the “torn levi jeans” as a “memento”.The young kid was unhurt as also the motorcycle, a real miracle to anyone who observed the accident.Should I apply to the “Guinness Book of World records” for surviving 7 natural and not stunt motorcycle falls? A “Limca Book Of Records” is a certainty, for my motorcycle seems to be a “LIFT” from Stephen Kings novel “Christine”, where instead of a car , a motorcycle is a “haunting killer”. After returning from the “2007 Indian Derby”(4/2/07 Sunday) on the way home a Skoda car gave a abrupt “U-Turn” near “Willingdon Golf Club” and I banged into it crushing my left hand. The motorcycle fell down, my hand was bleeding like a water tap, as usual a curious crowd and a cop arrived on the scene, managed to stop the bleeding with some help from a helpful citizen. My motorcycle was perfect, absolutely no damage a strange “paranormal occurrence”.This was my eighth "Motorcycle fall" and hence I name my motorcycle "LOVELY” since it has definitely beaten the fictional book and movie “Christine” in the number of times it has dropped me, something straight out of the “Paranormal” or “Ripley s, believe it or not”.FACTS ARE STRANGER THAN FICTION AND “LOVELY” IS PROOF .I have attended all my relatives weddings whenever possible and as usual immersed myself in typical wedding festivities, thankful that in “middle-age” few people question me on the reasons of being a “Bachelor” as also its disadvantages in “Old- age”.On 18/2/2007(Sunday) I had attended uncle Winnie’s son, Zubin Furtado’s wedding reception at “Juhu hotel" in  Juhu. Having not attended his brother Ajay’s wedding due to a personal tiff with dad, a decision that caused a lot of “Family cold war”, I decided that Zubin’s wedding had to be attended despite me and dad always at loggerheads, reasons unknown to both of us!The wedding reception was lavish, excellent fire-works, snacks, drinks and dance music. Weddings and funerals are the only occasion that most “Christian families” normally congregate though ironically both represent different atmospheres and human emotions. All my relatives and the entire close held Mangaloreon community were present from all parts of India hence it was a truly family atmosphere of gossip, drinks and dance. “Mangaloreon Christian weddings” have its own unique ceremonies, local customs and glamour akin to other Indian communities, and after the reception I departed on my mo-bike , riding my bike in a happy frame of mind at approx 0100hrs on Monday(19-2-2007) morning .Next, I remember waking up in “Bhabha hospital, Bandra” and questioning house-keeper Sabina Dias as to how she knew I was in hospital?I have a “Total memory lapse” of my accident at “Linking road, Bandra” where my mo-bike skidded into a roadside municipal dug repair ditch( according to eyewitnesses), typical scenery on Mumbai’s roads during the day and “LAND-MINES” at night, the cause of many motorcyclists’ deaths in Mumbai city.I must have lost consciousness as soon as I hit the ground and broke my left jaw-bone, bleeding profusely in the ditch. Luckily a few boys picked me up, put me in a taxi and took me to “Bhabha hospital”, later finding my address on my license they rang to my "MTNL landline phone Number 24377668 " at home informing my house caretaker Ms Sabina. Dias who immediately arrived at Bhabha Hospital at approximately 0230 hrs later informing Uncle Rozario and my paternal cousin Martin Furtado, hence they all arrived at the hospital. Two of the young boys visited our house on 24/4/07(Tuesday) and through them I realized my miraculous survival and the process of human destiny in a persons life. Santosh and Debashis two of the four youth in their 20’s were returning from Bandra Bandstand after a private get-together and were heading towards Juhu by mo-bikes when they saw me fall headlong with my bike into a trench dug on Bandra-link road. Seeing me unconscious and immobile, and bleeding profusely they thought I was dead, besides a crowd had gathered around me but none volunteered to cart me to hospital, reasons an open secret to Mumbaikars familiar with “post accident trauma victims” and judicial inquiries. Santosh who to me seems a person with managerial qualities mustered his colleagues to lift my immobile body into a rickshaw and away to “Bhabha Hospital", Bandra” besides accounting for all my personal valuables and a host of police questioning at the hospital, a normal procedure for accident cases, hence reluctance of people to attend to accident victims in Mumbai. They contacted my house through the phone number written on my “driving license” and hence Sabina Dias managed to inform Uncle Rozario and Martin who immediately arrived at the hospital as also Sabina herself, good presence of mind and helpfulness on the part of Sabina our housecaretaker . Police inquiry kept the boys at Bhabha hospital up-to approx 0500 hrs, a real sacrifice of their precious time and presence for a totally unknown stranger with no monetary intention, a rare case of genuine social service . The helpful youngsters were residents of Kurla, a long distance from Bandra, hence their social service in assisting me from a certain death is unrepayable in terms of monetary value as also the assistance of Sabina Dias my housecaretaker and relatives paternal Uncle Rozario Furtado and paternal cousin Martin Furtado in enhancing my medical treatment in “Holy Family hospital”.I was given “First aid treatment” at Bhabha hospital(Bandra) and Martin Furtado attended the “Police inquiry” at Khar police station along with Sabina Dias. Someone had emptied my pockets off all my credit and A.T.M cards which were and missing and hence panic, otherwise my Rs 1,00,000+“Omega watch”, gold ring, diamond ear-stud and most importantly my "Bangkok Jockey Helmet" were intact on my body despite being unconscious, a rare escape from death as well as robbery.The half face helmet purchased from Bangkok saved me from 100 % death or at least cerebral damage as the helmet took the impact of my head hitting the ground.Since it was a "Half Helmet" my jaw was unprotected and hence the broken left jaw on hitting the road .In Mumbai city robberies are committed for a few thousand rupees ,even on the dead, let alone the unconscious, hence my case was sheer miraculous providence.Uncle Rozario and Martin got me admitted to “Holy Family Hospital” and after a series of tests I was operated upon my broken jaw by Plastic surgeon Dr Kalpesh. Gajiwalla and post operation kept in room 110/1st floor upto 27/2/2007 (Tuesday).The left half of my face resembled the “Phantom of the opera” creation after the operation and the pain, discomfort undergone is indescribable, making me understand the plight of paraplegics and handicapped in society, due to my own personal experience. I was on a total “Liquid diet” since I couldn't open my mouth due to the “Jaw-fixation” surgery, besides undergoing tremendous body pain due to the “fall- impact". The healing process was slow,lasted over 6 months or worse akin to “Phantom” my left jaw could be a permanent disfigurement for life, besides a lengthy medical bill.“Excessive vices or bad business” the normal reasons for human bankruptcy is a common Indian proverb but I would add “Medical expenses” as the latest cause of “Bankruptcies” in modern 21 st century India, absolutely immune to “Vices or Bad business sense!My total “Hospital bill” came to Rs 71,000 approx and would still increase as the curing process would be tedious. Thanks to uncle Rozario for paying the hospital bills since “I.C.I.C.I Lombard” refused “Cashless payment” reasons being non-filling of the operating doctors review.I later re-payed Uncle Rozario the entire “Hospitalization bill” and applied to “I.C.i.C.I Lombard” for compensation of the medical treatment, a lengthy, tedious process.I.C.I.C.I Lombard finally reimbursed me with a payment of Rs 71,500 on June 11th almost 4 months since the accident , hence I sympathize with the plight of poor insured patients in case of an emergency money requirement for hospitalization.What caused the sudden loss of memory before and after my accident? The accident also affected my teeth as they were neglected during the treatment for my "Left broken Jawbone" and hence had deteriorated rapidly, requiring a complete cleaning and filling, a costly procedure done by my dentist Dr Nina.D'Souza . A “blessing in disguise” of the near fatal accident has been the change in my mental maturity, today I have the "brain” of a wise old man and have reduced my pace of " Professional monetary rat races”.This was my “9th” fall from my “Bajaj wind 125 cc” motorcycle as also my closest brush with death. Definitely, the motorcycle is jinxed for me and I am forced to be superstitious due to these series of falls. Santosh , the leader of the “social service youngsters” is a Hindu priest by birth and he also advised me to change the bike since akin to the “Hope diamond curse” he also believed that certain items or possessions are unsuitable to individuals owning such possessions and could result in destruction or death of the person. I have sailed on ships of various types, sizes and crew for 23 years , working on different types of ship machinery, weather conditions and seas yet never met a major physical accident and now “Post sea retirement” its been a series of road disasters, a very para-normal occurrence. I have been advised to give up riding. Strange, to date, I didn’t drown at sea and similarly I hope not to die in a motorcycle accident. Although death is inevitable, the fear of death should not be a reason for abandoning hobbies or professions. I had put an advertisement on “Rediff.com” for exchange/sale of the bike and received a offer of Rs 20,000 to 23,000, a pittance for a well maintained bike, hence decided to keep the bike although realizing that the 10th fall could be my change of residence to the “Graveyard” and not a new home, city or Country! Vehicles, both cars as well as mo-bikes have very poor re-sale value , hence I realized that buying a new bike would solve no practical purpose except a “Psychological relief” and would be a drain on my finances. The “Bajaj 125 cc” cost me a total of approx Rs 75,000 due to the “H.D.F.C loan interest repayment scheme!” a real costly purchase, hence selling it at approx Rs 25,000 would be lunatic business sense besides I am not “super-rich” to afford changing “mo-bikes’ akin to clothes. Its better dying doing what one loves than giving up due to fright or public opinion. People die in 4- wheeler car accidents and even innocent pedestrians get hit by vehicles, hence although a motorcycle is dangerous it is also safe and convenient for city travel, the rest being human destiny.Collected my “Bajaj wind 125” bike from Uncle Rosario’s residence at Santacruz on 23/3/07(Friday) and strangely frightening, the bike was in a “working condition” except for a few minor accessory damages,the dashboard being damaged, truly a “Ripley’s believe it or not”.  “Bajaj –Wind 125 cc Jinx- On 16/12/07(Sunday) on my way to mum’s cousin Joe Rodrigues daughter Johncie’s wedding reception at St Peters church lawns by my infamous bike, the worst of my accidents was divinely avoided.I had been to the race-course and returned home, changed and proceeded to Bandra and noticed the bike having a tendency to stop at low r.p.m which I mistook to be either bad fuel or carburetor adjustment and reached St Peters entrance when the “Clutch” link wire snapped stopping the bike.Providence saved me, for if the same had to happen on the road or at higher speeds then the damage to bike as well as myself is a case of speculation, the tenth time this bike has got me into death situations. With the help of some locals I managed to tow the bike to “Surya bldg” where the watchman agreed to keep the bike in the compound and the next day I collected the same, got it serviced at “Cardoz garage” in Bandra and back home. “Bermuda Triangle” “King Tuts Curse”, “Hope Diamond Curse”,”Great secret Curse” and now “Rudolph Furtado/Bajaj-125cc Jinx” is the latest addition to unexplainable incidences or happenings. Besides professional “STUNT RIDERS”, how many common motorcycle commuters can remember having survived 10 motorcycle accidents? Gambolling is my passion and source of income as investments in stocks is also gamboling, but survival of 10 accidents akin to winning at a 100:1 odds or more.I have spent approx Rs 2,00,000 on repairs to my body due to falling from this bike costing Rs 75,000 with loans. Most motorcycles get badly damaged in accidents yet this “Vintage rock bike” has truly defied human logic making a "Stephen King" horror novel seem tame and pedestrian also encouraging human superstition! As on Monday(27-7-2009) i am very much alive and fully functional, riding "Lovely Bajaj-125cc"!

"FREAK JOGGING FALL":- On Saturday(2-1-2010) as usual i got up at 0530 and went to the "Mahalaxmi Race-Corse" cycling and later began jogging around the track.I have been a regular "On-Off Jogger" at the "Mahalaxmi Racecourse" since 1990 later switching on to swimming at the "Mahatma Gandhi Swimming pool(M.G.M.O)" since 1999 up-to 2009, when the pool went under a reconstruction closure.After closure of "M.G.M.O pool" in early 2009 i restarted  my "Jogging" at the race-track, a physical fitness freak. On Saturday(2-1-2010) i was casually jogging as usual at dawn in the darkness, a boring fitness exercise.Suddenly near the "1600 metre" turn i tripped and fell face forward on the race-track with full impact of my 78 Kgs body weight.It was akin to a race-horse tumbling on a track, something i have witnessed numerous times , only difference, this time it was no horse falling but punter/ backpacker Rudolph.A.Furtado. The impact of the fall was tremendous and i was shocked, initial reaction being that some part of my body must have given way, either my face or left shoulder. Some early morning race-course walkers and joggers helped me get up from the ground and i was relieved to find that all my body parts were functional, except for mild bruises and a severe pain in the left shoulder.After a brief rest i again began jogging back to the starting point although the left shoulder pain was severe.Finally returned home on my cycle and applied some local medication, thankful that i didn't dislocate my shoulder nor either a broke face. Since childhood i have been an active participant in athletics and never once did i ever trip and fall on a "Race-Track", either during competition or simple practices which was common during my school days. What was the reason for this "INAUSPICIOUS JOGGING FALL" in the beginning of 2010? One thing is for sure, akin to my pet cats i too have led a "Charmed Life" with numerous "Motorcycle falls" and the most embarrassing fall of them all, a simple almost fatal "Joggers Fall" while doing a common daily exercise."Mahatma Gandhi pool" finally re-opened in October 2011, the pool being transformed into a "First world Swimming pool" and as usual i have now taken up to swimming as my physical fitness regime.Thats life,one never knows the future, "Good or Bad". HOPE I DON'T SUFFER FROM 'MONETARY FALLS".
"Motorcycle Accident Nos 11????" :- I have a strong motive to sue horror writer Stephen.King for recreating his horror writings into a fact ,akin to "Basic Instinct" movie serial, only difference, i am the victim.But then "CHRISTINE" was written before my bizarre motorcycle accidents, hence a case of real life imitating fiction life! Today, Saturday(23-1-2010) i was on my way to Mahalaxmi race-course from my residence at Prabhadevi on my motorcycle. It was approx 1310 hrs and i was waiting for the signal lights near "Century Bazaar junction" with a "V.I.P Mercedes" next to me along with "Police escort". The "Green Light" signal ignited and i started as did the "V.I.P entourage" which went straight opposite to Century Bazaar side. As i was riding alongside at a slow speed to take the "Annie Besant  road" turn another motorcycle suddenly came out of the blue in the opposite direction and banged into me in full speed. Call it a miracle, that i escaped unhurt as did the person who crashed into me, a youngster who had jumped the signals but refused to admit his fault as is the normal case in any accident or serious offense. All this happened in the middle of one of Mumbai's busy "V.I.P Road" and a "Traffic Policeman" came over inquiring if both of us were normal. The policeman himself must have been surprised to see us normal with the person who crashed into me having fallen on the road, as for me, it was athletic reflexes that made me get off the bike immediately, otherwise i would have been crushed under its weight. Finally we both managed to lift our bikes off the road and drove off in different directions and the policeman wondering about witnessing a minor miracle as did manny passers-by.This was my 11th motorcycle accident with this "Bajaj Wind-125cc" motorcycle and i am strongly recommending it for a record of surviving major accidents without any damage to its main body structure.
Sunday(30-6-2013):-  "THE BIG FAT CITY" and a miss with a mobike accident : It  was a abnormal day in my life, the reason, missed becoming a Mobike accident casualty! I had ridden to St Andrew;s auditorium(Bandra) to see the play "THE BIG FAT CITY", a totally Mumbaicentric play directed by noted Indian English playwright Mr Mahesh.Dattani. After watching the hilarious/tragic play rode back home as usual, a very normal route. Near Kirti College had stopped at the signal, a 4-way signal terminal, my daily swimming cycling route, total familiar locality.A double or triple seated motorcycle suddenly made its way from Kirti College road jumping the cross-section signal and in the process getting hit by a speeding car driving northwards.Miraculously the young boys on the bike jumped off in time, the bike cartwheeling towards me on the main road after being hit by the vehicle. Reflex senses told me to quickly jump of the bike which saved my legs from severe injury, the cartwheeling bike coming to a standstill after hitting my bike.Miraculously, i escaped unhurt and my bike as new as a showcase exhibit. The car that hit the young men had fled, a typical hit and run case. Started my bike and rode home, shaken but not stirred as my favourite hero James.Bond would say. This was my 12th motorcycle accident, this time  a victim of someone else's  careless driving,an innocent bystander victim.  Any bystander witnessing this freak accident would be surprised that there was no casualty, barring the hit bike which was definitely damaged on impact from the car."YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, MAKE THE MOST USE OF YOUR LIVING ON PLANET EARTH! Does the cat  still have 9 lives ?
"A CAT HAS 9 LIVES WHILE RUDY HAS SO FAR  11 LIVES,MUCH MORE THAN A CAT"! Hindi horror movie producer might call my freak accidents as the "PHOONK EFFECT" whilst writer Stephen.King might say its only a mere "CO-INCIDENCE EFFECT" since all his novels are total fiction.As for me, the victim, i find "TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION".
"OVERCOMING A BINGE DRINKING ADDICTION"- Strangely, i realized at the grand old age of 50 years(2010), after circumnavigating most of the globe that i have a tendency towards "BINGE DRINKING ADDICTION".I am normally a "Teetotaler", occasionally drinking beer or a few pegs of liquor when alone at home or in a company of a few friends in a restaurant, pub, etc. In the company of a group of friends, acquaintances or relatives, mostly male friends i tend to drink like as if the liquor on planet earth is on the verge of extinction the next day !I have always got totally sozzled when drinking liquor in the company of male friends or relatives, never in the company of women another strange behaviour requiring psychological thesis.I have paid a severe penalty for my "Binge drinking" on two occasions, the first was the near death motorcycle accident on Monday(19-2-2007) at my paternal cousin Zubin.Furtado's wedding, the complete account written in this blog.
The second instance was on Saturday(18-12-2010) at the annual alumni get-together of Marine engineer Apprentices at Matoshri Club(Andheri East).Meeting old acquaintances after a year or decades and also hearing some pathetic tragedies of losing fellow batch-mates to death must have aggravated my "Binge Drinking", besides, i was also suffering from a severe cold.The party got over at approx 2330 hrs and since i was not riding my bike Mr Rupendra.Shinde, fellow mariner batchmate residing in Adarsh Nagar, close to my residence at Prabhadevi gave me a lift home.All was well during the entire route home and we were conversing very normally during our entire drive back home.As soon as i alighted his car and proceeded into my building lobby my stomach contents gave way and i puked miserably near the lobby entrance to the lift.I was aghast as something like this never ever happened in my entire residence of 35 years in Vaibhav apartments, being totally "Middle-class" in my behavior. Fortune favoured me as it was almost 0030 hrs and the building was empty sans the watchman.I quickly got into the lift and again puked in the house bassein, stomach totally destroyed by "Binge drinking" of "Vodka/Coke Combo".Luckily, my body physiology at age 50 is quite strong,capable of enormous physical abuse and torture akin to my music Guru, Rock star legend Keith.Richards and Mad Monk late Rasputin,hence after 2 days i was back to cycling and jogging 2 Kms at the Mahalaxmi race-course in Mumbai in approx 15 minutes!Thankfully, the "Matoshri Club Binge Drinking" episode woke me up out of my hidden weaknesses and henceforth should restrict my drinking to sustainable limits.One aftereffect of my puking at the building lobby was the installation of a Ganesh framed portrait on the post-boxes fixed on the wall near the lift entrance,the dirtiest portion of our building lobby littered with "paan stains", akin to the Mumbai race-course betting ring pillar posts.Normally in India ,portraits or sketches of religious icons are drawn on walls in public places to prevent the public from dirtying the place, either by urinating, spitting or littering waste rubbish.I was not the first nor might be the last building inmate to have puked or dirtied the entrance foyer as i have found that particular corner stinking, occasionally littered with uncleanable stains. After a few days the "Ganesh Portrait" was removed and i hope the building lobby becomes a cleaner place, as for me, "Binge drinking" is a part of my past history.I myself am very particular about civic cleanliness and maintenance hence this puking troubled my "Middle-Class" conscious tremendously, a bad incident that helped change my attitude towards responsible pleasure liquor consumption.
SURVIVING MUMBAI SERIAL BOMB BLASTS SINCE 1993:-Strangely and bizarrely, "INDIA ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION-1992" and "MUMBAI SERIAL BOMB BLASTS-1993" have had their inauguration a year apart. While "India Economic Liberalization-1992" totally changed the economic perspective of the nation, the "Mumbai Serial Bomb Blasts-1993" put the city on the International terror map, a trendsetter for future such bombings in other city's of the World.On that fateful day of Friday(12-3-1993) i was at home when the loud explosion of the bomb blasts was heard.This happened on the main road near "Century Bazaar" just approximately 200 metres from our house, hence the loud sound.I normally would take a walk in the evenings along that area, later purchasing a newspaper and returning home, a prolific reader and hobby writer, much before the advent of "Blogging" and "Internet".Tuning on the television set indicated the mayhem and casualty's caused by this first "SERIAL BOMBING" of a World city.The maximum human casualties were in "Century Bazaar Locality" and visiting that site was akin to seeing a war movie, only difference, this was a genuine bombing that occurred just approx 200 metres from my residence. During those days, i didn't posses either a motorcycle nor a cycle, hence would always use public transport or walk for miles.Providence saved me from being in that area or traveling around Mumbai on that particular fateful day.Bombay, now Mumbai was never the same city again and akin to a "Human Serial Killer", the "SERIAL BOMB BLASTS" in Mumbai became an occasional occurrence, something unheard or undreamt before "12th Friday 1993".The latest "Mumbai Serial Blast-2011" occurred on Wednesday(13-7-2011) and again i had a close brush with either a serious injury or death.On this day i happened to cycle to Dadar Kabutarkhana locality for getting my "Mixie(Food Processor)" repaired, the motor having got burnt.I deposited the "Mixie" at the repair shop and returned home at approx 1730 hrs, later watching a movie.After the movie i switched on the T.v and heard the news of serial blasts in the city, one blast being near "Antonio Da silva School" bus- stop near "Dadar Kabutarkhana".I had just passed by this "Bomb-Site" only 1 1/2 hrs ago and again providence favoured me.I usually only occasionally travel down that locality, mostly for catching the commuter train for long distance travel.My present mode of city commuting is either by a motorcycle or cycle or simple walking.Although there were no fatalities in this particular blast site, the bizarre co-incidence of happening to visit that locality on that particular fateful day made me shudder.Lives were lost in the other two blasts at "Opera House" and "Zaveri Bazaar" localities with the injured being numerous.As for me, i have somehow become accustomed to dangerous living and wonder as to destiny's fate in my death in the future!.That's why i call myself a "Cat with 9 lives", still proving the skeptics and doomsayers wrong while living life on the edge.Death is inevitable, till then, make the best use of living on Planet Earth.
"MALARIA JINX":- We have been residents of "Vaibhav Apartments" in Old Prabhadevi since 1975 and never did we ever have a "Mosquito Menace" in our locality.All this changed in the late 2000's with the sudden splurge in apartment construction in our locality, aftereffects of the demise of the "Mill Industry".For the first time in decades, a new insect species invaded our environment, the monster mosquito."Malaria" during the monsoon has been a common epidemic in our area, a result of the prolific breeding of mosquito's in the construction sites stagnant water.I have been a victim of malaria twice, once in 2010 and next in 2011.The first time i ever fell sick with malaria was in June 2010, just after my return from a hectic Europe tour. I initially felt ashamed to tell people that i was a victim of malaria as it is mostly considered a "slum Disease" in Mumbai, affiliated to dirty localities of the city.Later realized that the malaria epidemic had claimed victims from various strata's of society, the ultra wealthy from localities of Peddar road and Malabar Hill to the ultra poor from the worst slums of the city.It was a painful recovery from the disease and in 2011 i took maximum precautions to avoid the dreaded "Mosquito Bite". The ultimate happened and i did get bitten by the mosquito parasite again contracting the sickness.Seems i have to allot a certain amount of my expenditure budget for the "Malaria Fund" that has the habit of sickening me yearly since 2010.
"BIZARRE VICTIM OF BINOCULAR THEFTS":- A strange "Ripley's Believe it or not" truth about a "HAT-TRICK" of binocular thefts from my possession up-to the present day in 2011.I have been "Pick-pocketed" a few times and misplaced a roll-camera, few sunglasses and umbrella's during my life-time, something common with the average human.Strangely on three different occasions my binoculars have been stolen and not misplaced .The first instance was in Goa where a person next to me on the pretext of using the binoculars for catching a glimpse of the the famous "Goa Carnival procession" in Panjim literally ran away with my miniature "Tasco binoculars", a beautiful cute set.The second instance was at the "Bangalore Race-course" where a cheap miniature binoculars i purchased in Hongkong was snatched from my belt pouch, the pilferer might be mistaking it for a pouch purse.The third instance was very recent in November 2011 when someone pick-pocketed the binoculars from my brief-case side-bag during a tour in Kathmandu.This particular "Pentax" brand of binoculars were with me for 24 years, sentimental value, purchased during one of my shipping voyages to Canada in 1987.Hope my recently purchased "Nikon action 8x40 CF" binoculars remain with me during my life-time.Akin to my encounters with near fatal accidents, seems binocular thefts from my possession are a unexplained phenomenon and hope my new binoculars breaks this jinx.

Wednesday(23-10-2013):- My  unbelievable "Bajaj Wind  -125 cc" bike  outside our building garden.I have decorated it with "STICKERS" akin to "HUMAN TATTOO'S .The latest  sticker is a "TRIPADVISOR" logo mailed to me from England for being a "Top Contributor" to their travel site.Looking at this bike would anyone say that its 9 years old and has a history of  numerous murder attempts on me !.

" WORST DAY IN MY LIFE:12th Motorcycle fall(Monday 30-7-2012):- Am i just lucky or destiny has some higher or lower situations in store for me ? Reasons for living such a charmed accident prone life! Today was one of the most bizarre days in my life-time, a day of total mishaps and misunderstanding and financial losses I began the morning using a new Wilkinson Sword blade to do my normal bald-style shave , these set of blades being over three decades old ,purchased by my dad  in 1979 when employed in Jeddah.These blades are "ORIGINAL WILKINSON BLADES" purchased in an era when imported goods were a total luxury in India and hence we sparingly used them, each blade lasting almost a year!.My previous Wilkinson blade was blunt and hence i misjudged the new blade sharpness, shaving  a small portion of my scalp in the process.I was bleeding profusely but later the bleeding stopped and the morning was normal.Later in the afternoon  dressed in my formal attire to attend the "A.G.M" of "Ultratech cement" at the "Ravindra Natya Mandir" just walking distance from my residence.I decided to attend this meeting since the auditorium was near my residence, besides, this was one of the few companies that withstood "Economic depression-2012".On reaching the auditorium i was surprised to find the entrance empty and on re-checking the "A.G.M Attendance Slip" realized that it was on 30-8-2012 and not 30-7-2012. I had confused the "Greaves Cotton Ltd A.G.M" with the "Ultra Tech Cement Ltd AGM" and hence the confusion, besides, an error of not re-checking the attendance slips.Returned home absolutely embarrassed and also a bit jittery of my carelessness in important business matters, however small.The 2012 London Olympics were a source of home entertainment and after tuning to the Olympic news and hearing that India's only " 2008 Bejing Olympic Gold Medalist" Mr Abhinav.Bindra had failed to qualify in the "10m Air-Rifle Event" decided to go to the race-course to wager on the  Mysore Races.Punting on horses is akin to "AIR-RIFLE SHOOTING" where the skill is in spotting  winners which is tougher than Olympic competitions!The Mysore race-course holds fond memories of my visits during my stays in Bangalore and trips to Ooty, one of the most scenic race-course according to my opinion.En-route on my motorcycle decided to stop at the "Haines Road Cemetery" to remind the "Cemetery Care-takers" to maintain the grave tombstones of my parents grave monument. The last time i visited the monument  was on  Monday(23/7/2012), my mothers birthday. I was aghast to see cobwebs on their  monument."Haines Road Cemetery" is definitely the best maintained "Catholic Cemetery" in Mumbai  but i felt that in recent months the maintenance was a bit shabby and hence wanted to inform the management of the same.I had almost reached the entrance gate of the cemetery and had slowed down when the front wheel of my bike suddenly slipped on an uneven road cementing. The bike slipped on to the left side and collapsed along with me.The motorcycle protection guard  and my helmet took the maximum impact  of the fall ,besides, my athleticism saved me from serious injury.Luckily it was towards the pavement and there were no vehicles behind me on a normally busy road.Two young men  instantly came to my rescue and inquired about my condition, surprised to see me normal. My left knee cap got bruised , the only physical damage from a fall that was definitely catastrophic, besides, i am no "STUNTMAN" . Lifted my bike which was miraculously in perfect working condition, the "12th TIME" that this "BAJAJ WIND -125CC" bike had turned turtle and didn't require any "ENGINE REPAIRS". I visited the "Cemetery Office" and met the manager Mr Daya explaining my grievance regarding the grave monument maintenance.I later drove of to the race-course, my knee bleeding, the only evidence of a near hospitalization accident. Peeping at the race-course T.V learnt that Abhinav .Bindra's co-competitor Mr Gagan.Narang had won India's first Medal at London Olympics-2012, a bronze medal in the "10m Air rifle".I was hoping that the horses i bet would at least get a "Mysore Bronze" and keep my " Monthly Horse-Racing Budget" afloat.As an "Air gun" owner and  a former hobby  shooter at the "Worli  Shooting Range"  had a strong affinity towards the sport which also has lots of similarities to "Horse-racing". Both sports are expensive individual sports  and involve Psychological as well as a calm temperament..Only difference, being that in "Horse-racing" the reward is not a medal but satisfaction of betting a winner and managing one's own  financial skills.At the race-course  placed two bets  for "PLACE" losing both bets and a total amount of Rs 6600 only!  The first bet was on a the favourite "Caterina" in the second last race, the horse placing 4th and hence out of money contention.The Second bet was  on the  second Favourite "Spirituality"in the last races of the day, the horse winding in the ruck. HOW BAD CAN A DAY EVER GET IN A PERSONS LIFE? After the races i drove back home thankful that at least severe hospitalization money was saved, the positive side of looking at a months savings losses of Rs 7200 on horse punting.
TUESDAY(24-12-2013)  13th(Not Friday the 13th!) motorcycle accident of my life :- On Tuesday evening i was on my way to Hill road in Bandra to do some Christmas gourmet shopping.I was leisurely riding my mobike when suddenly  at a signal near Hinduja hospital at Cadell road a bike crashed into me from behind. My metal luggage box took the entire impact of the crash and saved my left leg from severe damage or amputation.The entire metal box got crushed from the aft  indicating the severity of the crash. I caught hold of the rider and it could have been a fist-fight or a police-case  if he didn't admit his fault.He paid me Rs 500 as damages for the metal box carrier and the matter ended amicably.Rode to Bandra, did my shopping and came back home, shaken but not stirred ! I have attatched a photo of my motorcycle with the damaged steel luggage box.You be the judge on my good luck in escaping severe hospitalization or even amputation.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT NO 13 :-  "LUCKY FOR ME" ! Notice the crushed steel  luggage box

Saturday(23-8-2014) Missed becoming a "SCUBA DIVING" drowning statistic  :-  Was on a holiday in Indonesia and on visiting the island of Bali decided to learn "SCUBA DIVING".I was doing a “Open water Scuba Course" at Tulamben in Bali with “Dive Concepts” resort. On the first day of the first ever “SCUBA DIVE” in my life i nearly drowned. 

Learning "OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVING" at Tulamben in Bali.

               I was told by French  dive instructor Mr Oliver .Lebreton to do a underwater drill of removing my “Breathing Mouthpiece” while under water and reinserting it again. I removed the mouthpiece but couldn't fit it back and was inhaling salt water. Was about to press the “Buoyancy Chamber” inflation button to rise up to the  surface immediately when the dive instructor forced the mouthpiece into my mouth and luckily air started coming instead of salt water. The difference between “Life & Death or serious hospitalization” was a difference of a few seconds. I own 2 cats and must have used some of their “Cat lives”. It was a miraculous escape from a near drowning experience.Remember i am a good swimmer  daily swimming 500 meters  at the "Mahatma Gandhi pool" in Mumbai.,Since 2016 have been regularly swimming 2 Kms + .

Thursday(10/5/2018) :- After the eye operation by Dr  Saumil.Sheth at "Envision  Eye hospital" in Jogeshwari with Mazagon dock batchmate  Chief engineer Mr Pankaj .Joshi who made a courtesy visit  to  the Hospital.

Wednesday (9/5/2018)A SERIOUS EYE ACCIDENT IN MY OWN BACKYARD :- While watching and documenting  the plucking of coconuts from our Building Coconut tree  almost lost the sight of my left eye. A shrapnel from the tree penetrated past my spectacle into my eye akin to being hit in the eye by a cricket ball.   

Bizzare "Eye Accident "watching "Coconut Plucking".

      As a traveller/blogger decided to find out about the economics of the small coconut plantation in our building garden. Our Building has 12 harvestable coconut trees with the trees being plucked every 4 months by a coconut contractor. The coconut plucker who endangers his life climbing one of the tallest coconut trees in Mumbai  earns Rs 300 per tree. Facing my gallery in the "A" wing are the tallest 3 coconut trees with the centre tree being the tallest Rest of the tree's are in the main garden facing the B & C wings of our building.It was akin to being struck by lightning and on feeling my left eye going pitch dark immediately  clasped my eye feeling some blood on my palm.Rushed home and Housekeeper Sabina.Dias gave me some "First Aid" with ice cooling which had no effect.My left eye was totally blank and i was blind in one eye.Thanks to "Internet" posted the photo's as also my accident on "facebook" and "WhatsApp"..Decided to immediately seek professional medical help searching for the nearest eye specialist near my residence and on googling discovered "Kothari Eye and Contact lens Clinic"  situated in "A/11 Silver apartments" building behind Siddhi Vinayak temple.Cycled with one damaged eye from my house to "A/11 Silver apartments"  and after a a brief anxious waiting in the patients waiting room was finally examined by Dr Shruti.Kothari.She initially inserted some eye drops into my left eye and examined the same through a lense from various angles.The final diagnosis was a haemorrhage in my eye due to being hit my some object with the eye requiring a operation.I was told to visit "Envision Superspeciality eye hospital"  situated in Mallika hospital premises  located in Jogeshwari at 0900 hrs the next day in order  to undergo a eye operation by Dr Saumil.Sheth.                                                                         

 AT "PICTURE THIS.IMAGING AND BEYOND  BY JANKHARIA " :-  On Friday(8/6/2018) collected my C.T Scan of "DECT ORBITS/BRAIN".

                                                             The professional examination fees of Dr Shruti.Kothari amounted to Rs 3000 and i realized i was on the verge of producing one of the costliest amateur documentaries in Mumbai city titled ,"Harvesting  of Coconuts in Vaibhav Apartments Condominium" !

On Thursday(10/5/2018)  morning Caretaker Sabina and myself reached  Mallika hospital at 0830 hrs. The hospital is  conveniently located on the main "S.V.Road" buffered between  Mina Intl hotel and one of Mumbai's oldest buffalo stables in existence.I have posted a video of the landmark "BUFFALO STABLES" for future historical reference of this locality as i feel these stables would soon be history as real estate developers consume this land for construction.On entering the 5th floor of "Envision Superspeciality eye hospital"  was surprised on seeing a ultra modern plush  medical facility with Dr Saumil Sheth's string of medical college achievements  certificates strung across the eye  hospital walls akin to portraits or art.After undergoing a practical eye check-up by the clinic staff underwent a E.C.G and blood test costing Rs 1000 on another floor of "Mallika Hospital". .The test results were within permissible limits .Next was  paying the operation fee's of Rs 55,000 proving that medical costs in private hospitals in  India is beyond the reach of the average wage earner.. Dr Shruti.Kothari was in the operating theatre to oversee the operation along with  the operation theatre staff.Prior to me another patient was being operated on the main operating table by Dr Saumil.Sheth  while i was told to lay down  on another operating bed.A staff member inserted painless anaesthetic injections into my left eye and after about 10 minutes the previous patients eye operation got over and he walked out of the operation theatre.I was the next patient which reminded me of the "Conveyor Belt System' of manufacturing mass products in a factory.After i lay down on the main operating theatre the operation began with me fully conscious and also answering a few questions of Dr Saumil.Sheth.He couldn't find any foreign object in my left eye  and after removing the "Blood Clots" bandaged my left eye with the operation being a painless success. I literally walked out of the operation theatre akin to walking off a football field after a horrific fall.Caretaker Sabina Dias was in the visitor's room observing my entire operation on a closed circuit telivision and also video recording the same. Later i was refunded Rs 10,000 as there was no foreign object in my eye and hence less operation cost.Was given a room on the second floor of "Mallika Hospital" for recovery as the eye bandage was to be removed at 1700 hrs.The news of my freak eye accident went viral on "Facebook" and "Jokes aMAZeng " group on "WhatsAPP". And seems we all live in a small World with Mazagon Dock Mariner alumni Mr Sanjeev.Mehra now the millionaire  proprietor of marine company "Kenmark Tech Solutions" personally knowing Dr Saumil.Sheth as they lived in the same building.Apprentice colleague of Mazagon Docks Chief engineer Mr Pankaj.Joshi visited me at the eye clinic and as usual we discussed "Shipping Nostagia".Mr Pankaj.Joshi a father of three daughters has visited my house a few times as did i when he was residing at the Government quarters  of "Hyderabad Estate" in plush Napean sea road during his apprenticeship years.Talking about "James Bond Style" cloaks and daggers fictional movies Mr Pankaj.Joshi's father belonged to the top echelon's of the "C.B.I" and Pankaj and myself were the first few pioneer "Marine Apprentices" to become members of the " Institute of Marine Engineers" when it was first established as a seperate Indian professional society in the 1980's.
I am the only bachelor among my entire "Marine enieneer Apprentice" batch of 1978-1982 and hopefully still in the eligible list of bachelors akin to Mick.Jagger and Milind Soman whom i recently saw jogging along Cadell road with his newly wedded wife.At 1700  hrs made our way to the 5th floor clinic of plush "Envision Eye speciality hospital" with the patients waiting room packed with patients, mostly Muslims.Dr Saumil.Sheth undressed my eye bandage explaining me the healing process.I was told to report to Dr Shruti.Kothari after a week for further treatment..Now only hope the damage to my eye is not serious and left eye sight returns to normal. Life is bizarre. I have met with a very serious accident in my own backyard although challenging nature frontiers all over the World and the deep sea .Didn't  General George Patton die in a road accident having survived and winning World War 2 for the allies ? Only hope my case doesn't become like the late Cricket great Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi who lost a eye to a cricket ball. Unbelievable  if i lose my left eye to a coconut tree shrapnel of all the dangerous projectiles encountered   after having  sailed the 7 sea's on various different types of ships for 22 years.After quitting sea-sailing in 2006 indulged in extreme adventure sports and solo travel's.Bungy jumping,Scuba diving,Tandem Para gliding, Tandem Para jumping ,Hot Air balloon ride ,mountain trekking and  having  visited  66 country's and entire India to date is my personal claim to fame in the exclusive "Bragger's Rights Club Inc"..Isn't Michael.Schumacher who defied death or serious injury whenever he raced on a race track today  living the life of a tragic  human paraplegic after a freak skiing accident in Switzerland ?
After the bandage removal came back home and started the eye medication process.There was absolutely no pain and anyone seeing me would think i was bluffing if i told them that i had just had a major eye surgery a few hours ago.What was scary was the fact that my left eye visibilty was almost zero  which only i could experience and got to understand the handicap of losing a eye.Over the weeks my left eyesight gradually returned to normal and seems i have lived a more charmed life than the Russian monk Gregory.Rasputin .After doing a normal "Skull X-Ray(Cost Rs 750)"  at "People's Mobile hospital" situated in worli  , a  charitable subsidised hospital for "Lower Income" patients( A certain cut-off ceiling to patients average annual income) " at which Dr Shruti.Kothari did honorary service for "Lower Income Patients" although i paid normal charges.The "X-Ray's" did not show any metallic object in my eye  and  was later told to do a C.T scan of  "Dect Orbits and Brain" at the clinic  "PICTURE THIS.IMAGING AND BEYOND  BY JANKHARIA " . On Thursday(7/6/2018) it was raining heavily in the morning and yet managed to travel by bus and get my "C.T Scan" done at "PICTURE THIS.IMAGING AND BEYOND  BY JANKHARIA " Clinic situated at Charni road.The cost of the C.T Scan amounted to Rs 10,500 proving my saying that in India ,unemployment,bad business losses if self-employed or a uninsured hospitalization can be the simple cause of bankruptcy or economic ruin.I was thankful that despite mind-boggling medical costs at least my left eye was saved and normal.On Monday (11/6/2018) ) handed over the "C.T Scan Reports" to Dr Shriti.Kothari which was normal and was told to do a "Left eye Sonography" at "UBM Institute" by Opthalmic Sonologist Dr Deepak. C.Bhatt.After a appointment with the clinic  got my "Left Eye Sonography(Cost Rs 2000) " done at "UBM Istitute" situated near Ruia College (Dadar East)  which was normal.On Friday(15/6/2018) submitted the report to Dr Shruti.Kothari  after which she put me on medication .Next was another series of  blood tests,etc which i did on Thursday(21/6/2018)  at "Dr D.M.Beke Laboratory  " situated in Irani building close to my residence in Prabhadevi.The costs of the tests amounted to Rs 1007.On Monday(9/7/2018) exactly two months since that unforgettable afternoon when i was struck by this mysterious projectile decided to get my "Chext X-Ray" digitalized at "People's Mobile Hospital" .It was raining heavily and cycled with a raincoat  in pouring rain tp "Peoples Mobile hospital". Got my X-ray done costing Rs 250 and cycled back home.Eyesight back to almost normal since i used spectacles and was now using only reading glasses.

Taking delivery of my  new purchase "Royal Enfield - Bullet 350 Black BS IV"  at the "First Mumbai Store LLp.

 MARCH -2019 :-  Change of "Motorcycle Stable" and "Motorcycle Brand".

End of a era of my  "Bajaj Wind -125 c.c" and purchase of  "Royal Enfield - Bullet 350 Black BS IV" .

In India after a vehicle reaches 15 years of age it has to either be scrapped or re-validated for another 5 years by passing a "Vehicle Fitness test" and further payment of a extra tax called "Green Tax".I was totally in love with my "Bajaj Wind-125 CC" whose engine was in excellent condition as also for surviving  "Horse Racing Speculation bankruptcy"  and  almost one fatal road accident.Donated the  " Bajaj Wind -125" bike free of cost to Mr Sameer.Pusalkar who was a former driver of noted Hindustani classical singer Late Mrs Kishori.Amonkar living in our building  as also a personal friend of my house-keeper Ms Sabina.Dias.Felt sad parting with this bike as it was excellent for city use and in brand new condition as i hardly used it in 15 years of mileage.

"First Mumbai Store LLP" :- "Muhurat" of Motorcycle.
Rudolph.A.Furtado(Robinson Crusoe) and house 
Cretaker Ms Sabina Dias (Lady Friday)

                                                                                                                                                                  Thought of purchasing the  "Harley Davidson Street 750" model costing Rs 5.31 lakhs which was the cheapest from the "Harley Davidson motorcycle stable" in India.Realized that since i didn't have a garage then  parking of the bike would be problematic in my building compound which is congested with car's and motorcycles. As a "Adrenalin Junkie" had accomplished every daredevil act that a normal civilian could achieve and was petrified of "Adrenalin Junkie" stagnation akin to the human physiology disintegrating with age.Ahoy ! My childhood friend Mr Biju.J. Karian owned a stable of expensive motorcycles in Bengaluru  including Harley Davidson's whose combined worth was upwards of a Crore of rupees.He had done a motorcycle cruise across the U.S.A with his bunch of  wealthy "Hog Mates(Harley Davidson slang)" and among our "Marine Engineer's" fraternity definitely having the most mileage in solo long distance motorcycle cruising.A few of my other wealthy Marine Engineering colleagues also owned expensive bikes and were into week-end cruising in Mumbai . Hence at the young age of 59 decided to begin my cruising rides and after dropping the idea of owning a "HOG(Harley Davidson bike)"  decided to bite the "BULLET" and  purchase the oldest motorcycle in continuous production which was none other than the "Royal Enfield - Bullet 350 Black BS IV".

"Royal Enfield -Bullet " - MH01-DJ0623

                                               Approached the "Royal Enfield" showroom "First Mumbai Store LLp" in Worli and after inquires and a test ride bit the bullet and purchased the cheapest "BULLET" of the "Royal Enfield" stable .Purchased the bike through hypothecation with "YES BANK" on a 3 years loan repayment scheme with the total price amounting to Rs 1,86,320 only although the actual spot purchase price was approx Rs 1,40,000 only ."Yes Bank" should thank me for being magnanimous by purchasing the motorcycle through a loan and not downright cash payment with  me proving that i didn't require the loan through solvency documents filed for granting of the loan by the bank ! Officially the purchase date of the bike was Thursday(14/3/2019) but since i was on a "Snorkel Safari" in the Maldives collected the bike from the showroom on my arrival in Mumbai.On Saturday(16/3/2019) my   house caretaker Ms Sabina.Dias (Lady Friday) and myself (Robinson Crusoe) went to the showroom and collected the motorcycle. Housekeeper Sabina.Dias was instrumental in my recovery from the near fatal accident on my "Bajaj Wind-125 cc" in February 2007  and hence it was fitting for me to give her the first pillion ride on my "Royal Enfield - Bullet 350 Black BS IV". Since i work from home i rarely use my motorcycle and the first day that  i took my "Royal Enfield Bullet 350"  on a long  ride to Downtown and back, a distance of approx 24 Kms was aghast to notice a speck of oil drop on the floor when i parked it in the building garage.Immediately drove to "First Mumbai Store" and then along with a sales mechanic drove down to the "Royal Enfield Workshop" at B.D.D. chawls in Worli. Thankfully , both the "Royal Enfield" showroom as well as the servicing workshop are in close driving /cycling proximity to my residence in Prabhadevi. The  embarrassed "Royal Enfield" mechanics immediately serviced my bike with the fault traced to a leaking seal (O Ring).The same was replaced and hopefully this was the first and last of the "leakage seal" problems which is a common complaint among "Royal Enfield" owners.

Not in the "Ship's Engine Room" but test riding  and furnishing my prized "Bullet 350".Last used my "Marine Engineering Overalls " in 2008 and now learning the intricacies of motorcycling .Finishing touches of fixing of "Registration Number plates" and a "Travel Box" for the " Royal Enfield Bullet 350 Standard " at Maharashtra's biggest motorcycle spares bazaar near " Russi Mehta Chowk " , Grant Road. This "BULLET 350" is the longest motorcycle in continuous production from the Motorcycle stables of "Royal Enfield".

On Friday(29/3/2019) which also happened to be the 10th birthday of  Tomcat "Matata" decided to give the finishing touches to the motorcycle.Received my computerized registration smart card by post .Put on my  engine room "Marine Engineer" overalls and rode to "Russi Mehta Chowk" at Grant road .Got a luggage carrier fitted on the rear and the number plates stenciled.My "Bullet 350" was finally totally in road condition.

Sunday(7/4/2019) :- The "Muharrat Ride" of my brand new "KROSS BOLT CYCLE" to "M.G.M.O" pool and back home to Prabhadevi , a daily cycling distance of 3 Kms. Have ridden 3 different cycles since 1999 when i became a regular annual member of "Mahatma Gandhi Swimming Pool" and in 2019 complete 20 years of a daily disciplined fitness schedule of "CYCLING + SWIMMING".At present i daily swim 2.5 Kms in the pool while in 1999 swimming 100 meters was a big achievement for me ! Hope i am setting a "FITNESS SCHEDULE" agenda to the younger generation as i myself have sportsmen of my and the elder generation as my role models.

My 8 Years  ++ "Fomas ear  Racer" in the Junkyard.

   On Saturday(6/4/2019) my "Fomas Gear Racer " finally totally disintegrated and had to dispose it as scrap by weight receiving a princely sum of Rs 170 for its 9 Kg Wt. I must have spent a total of Rs 15,000 + in purchase/ maintenance etc during the 8.5 years of daily usage of this cycle.I had purchased the "Fomas Racer" on the birthday of my mother on  23/7/2010 and the next year on Sunday( 13/2/2011) had used this brand one year old cycle in participating in the first "28 Kms Cyclothon "held  in Mumbai( https://mumbaicyclothon28kmsamateurride.blogspot.com/ ).Was sad to see this cycle being disposed off as waste metal junk. Also educated me on the fact that the resale price of two and four wheeler vehicles is slightly above zero value compared to its original purchase price.

"AMBIKA CYCLE STORE" :- One of the oldest cycle shops in the locality.

My "CROSS BOLT" cycle being fitted with Carrier.

                                                                              Purchased a "Kross Bolt Fixed wheel cycle" manufactured by "Hero Cycles" from "Ambika Cycle Store " near Shardaashram High School. Shardaashram School has become a household name in Mumbai as the alma mater school of Cricketing legend Sachin.Tendulkar who ironically also studied in my alma mater college "Kirti.M.Doongursee" college at Dadar .Although not a big fan of test cricket but definitely a fan of one day and  "T20 Cricket" i  always heed  the wise words of Cricketer/Industrialist Mr Vijay.Merchant , quote, "QUIT THE SPORT WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHY AND NOT WHEN THEY ASK WHEN" .Akin to a few Cricketers plan  their retirement phase in Cricket gracefully  the majority of sportsmen/sportswomen let alone cricketers  get sacked unceremoniously as happened to me in my employment before circumstances forced me to become my own boss .Hence akin to  my wicket-keeper hero Mahendra.Singh.Dhoni(Captain Cool) who according to me has one of the best sports temperament   decided to quit long distance cycling and hence the purchase of the cheaper fixed wheel "KROSS BOLT" cycle for daily "Marketing /Swimming" commuting around Prabhadevi/Dadar/Mahalaxmi localities of Mumbai.The Cycle cost me Rs 7000 which included the purchase and fitting of the "Carrier Basket". 

Location where my cycle slipped and i was tossed

Saturday( 13/7/2019) Bizarre Cycling accident almost resulting in Hospitalization :- My normal daily life routine when at home is cycling to 'M.G.M.O(Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Olympic)" pool opposite  Shivaji Park, swimming 2 Kms ++ and cycling back home.Normally while returning back home i purchase the day's "Food Ration" from the local market at Agar Bazaar or later at "Worli Market".With the ban of "Beef Meat" in Mumbai the local beef shop at Dadar closed shop and since the cat's preferred a minced meat beef diet rediscovered a "Beef Shop" at Mahim although now it was only "Buffalo Meat" on sale and not "Cows or bullocks" due to the "Beef Meat" ban.

 ROAD DIVERSION:- Rode my cycle onto footpath.

                                                                      On Saturday after my normal 2 Kms ++ swim cycled down Cadell Road towards Mahim and at the main one way main traffic diversion decided to take my cycle onto the footpath and walk the distance towards Mahim. As i rode  my cycle parallel to the footpath the front wheel slipped from the elevated projection of the footpath flinging me with full force onto the pavement.I fell flat on the pavement with the left side of my face hitting the hard pavement and a sudden pain shooting through my chest.It was akin to being thrown by a "W.W.E" wrestler with the  only difference being that this was reality and not a "Stunt Shooting" in progress.I immediately got up and first felt my face which seemed in order while the teeth were intact. 
   

Front wheel slipped on elevated footpath brick.

                                                                                               The pain through the  left side of the chest was severe and a few passers by came to my rescue asking if i needed help.A sportsman throughout my life i quickly regained my posture and thanked the few walkers who came to my assistance and slowly walked towards the "Beef Shop".Purchased the "Beef Meat" and cycled back home realizing i had miraculously survived a major cycling accident which could have broken my jaw or fractured my arm requiring hospitalization. The left side chest pain persisted and the next day swam 2 Kms at M.G.M.O pool which gave me some relief that the left side chest pain was not due to a "Heart Ailment".As a "Silver Jubilee" ex- veteran of the sport of "Horse Racing" have seen numerous jockeys fall of their mounts during races and realized that my fall was akin to falling off a horse on a trot . Yet the physical damage was almost life threatening and a bizarre freak accident. Akin to being struck by lightning. Bizarrely it took me exactly a month for the pain on the left side of my chest to totally disappear as it irritated me most while sleeping in bed.Owe the self-healing therapy to my daily swimming fitness regime  of 2 Kms + at the pool as also my never say die attitude towards living life at the fullest..At my young age of 59 years feared that this irritating pain would be lifelong handicap as age does play a vital role in curing damaged muscles or tissues .All's well that ends well and now while riding my cycle i do have a phobia of elevated pavements or abrupt drops on the roads surface.Have had two death defying motorcycle accidents requiring surgery and post surgery treatment but this freak cycle fall is my most horrific accident simple because of the stupidness of its simplicity.

Sunday(16/2/2020) :- MONA LISA SMILE ON ARRIVAL AT HOME IN VAIBHAV APARTMENTS AT OLD PRABHADEVI ROAD  IN MUMBAI  FROM JUNNAR  AFTER A ALMOST FATAL CRASH ON EASTERNEXPRESS-BKC FLYOVER" IN MUMBAI.LOOKING AT THIS PHOTO WOULD ANY ONE BELIEVE THAT I HAD RIDDEN THIS BIKE ALL THE WAY FROM  THE CRASH SITE ON THE FLYOVER WITH A FRACTURED LEFT SHOULDER . "MADE LIKE A GUN" :- "Bullet 350 Black BS IV" . Anyone looking at the damage to the bike would think i was playacting in some drama and  just drove this bike into the building having not been involved in any accident. Satirist Kunal.Vijaykar, television personality of the popular T.V show "THE WEEK THAT WASN'T"  lives in this building and could get a idea from my death defying accident for his next satire along with Cyrus.Broacha.If so "ROYALTY" to be paid to our group of riders.True life is stranger than any satire or suspense  thriller. Ahoy !

 

Mr Ali.Khan of "Royal Enfield" assessing Damages.

Sunday(16/2/2020 ) " NO TIME TO DIE ON THE  Road riding a "BULLET 350 Black BS IV " :-  On Saturday (15/2/2020 ) 12 of us "Royal Enfield Riders " rode from Mumbai to Junnar with the slogan being , "Save Forts save Heritage Ride" .The next day on Sunday(16/2/2020) 4 of us riders decided to ride back to Mumbai and began our ride early in the morning at approximately 0730 hrs.From Thane it was a beautiful ride on the Eastern Express Highway and finally at approximately 1200 hrs at  the end of the expressway got confused on the diversions of 2 flyovers heading towards Mumbai city  taking the wrong flyover.On riding on the flyover and looking down suddenly realized my error and in that instant met with a death defying crash against the railing of the flyover. 

Lunch at "LUCKY" with "Lady Friday "Ms Sabina.Dias.
In my house my nickname is Robinson.Crusoe.

                                                                                                                                                                  My bike had grazed the flyover railing and crashed throwing me over onto the road.Fell flat on my face with the helmet taking the brunt of the force but also felt a numbness in my left hand.A few men immediately came to me and helped me get off the ground. There was glass pieces around with the motorcycle headlight broken and side leg stand bent due to the impact of the crash. Seems neither Heaven or Hell wanted to accept me today and it was a miracle that i was conscious and standing upright after such a horrible accident.My bike was put upright and then the few men who helped me went their own way's as is life in hectic Mumbai. Realized i must have dislocated my left shoulder as i couldn't lift my left arm. It was blazing hot on the "Flyover Highway" with cars just whizzing past me  and myself stranded on the highway thirsting for water akin to being in a Desert. 
 

"Holy Family Hospital(Bandra) " :-  A home away from home during accidents .

                                                              Not a single vehicle stopped to help me and finally a taxi stopped  and the driver helped me start the bike whose engine akin to me was "ALIVE"  and not "DEAD".  Realized the the "STANDARD BULLET " brand bike of "Royal Enfield"  had survived competition and motorcycle brand longevity  for the simple reason that it was built like a "Battle Tank", as indestructible as the "Unsinkable Molly Brown" of the Titanic in 1912.Ahoy ! Put the bike on its double-stand and the taxi driver kick-started my indestructible "Standard Bullet - 350". Got onto the bike after paying the taxi driver Rs 600 for his invaluable  service and rode back home at  a slow speed in 2nd gear. Ahoy ! Finally reached my building where i took this candid photograph .SMILING  like MONA LISA after HEAVEN or HELL rejected my presence  saying i am better off living on Planet Earth until further notice.As for me this was definitely my first and last long distance motorcycle cruising  .In the evening accompanied by  "Lady Friday" Ms Sabina.Dias, my house caretaker of 16 years  visited "Holy Family Hospital" in Bandra , a hospital that seems to have become my "Second Home" for accident medical treatment. 

"CORONAVIRUS THERMAL SCREENING" 

                                                                                                                      A "X-Ray" of the left shoulder was removed and the examining casualty doctor pointed to a "Mild fracture"  near my left shoulder "Ball-Socket" joint..My left arm was also severely bloodied due to scraping of the skin from the elbow. The elbow bruise was cleaned and bandaged and finally returned home.  I had definitely finally exhausted the 9 lives of both my cats with this being a "HAT-TRICK" of "MOTORCYCLE HOSPITALIZATIONS". Further treatment was under Dr Dylan.Govaes, the Orthopaedic surgeon of "Holy Family Hospital" who made me do a "C.T Scan" which showed further damage to the fractured area. He advised me that surgery would be ineffective and hence better for the wound to heal under normal conditions which could take weeks.In the meantime "CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC" had struck the World with it's origin being from Wuhan city in China.In India a few cases of the "Coronavirus " were detected from foreigners and Indians arriving from Country's where the virus had penetrated a large percentage of the population.The Stock markets all over the World including India had collapsed akin to a pack of cards  and hence i had a double tragedy of slow recovery from a near fatal motorcycle crash  and hoping that if not killed by the "Coronavirus Pandemic" which was in its infancy in India  would hopefully survive "Coronavirus Economic World war -3".  On Tuesday(17/3/2020)  visited "Holy Family Hospital" where entry into the hospital was restricted due to the "Coronavirus Pandemic" and patients as well as visitors were screened with a infra-red thermometer for fever symptoms which is a indication of contracting the dreaded incurable  pandemic.After passing  the thermometer   screening test my left hand was stamped and was allowed entry into the hospital.Strangely due to visitors entry restriction the hospital was less crowded and my visit and examination by Dr Dylan.Govaes was brief and happy. He told me that the self-healing was perfect and after prescribing "Diphase Menthol gel" advised me to continue with my regular physiotherapy exercises.My next appointment for examination of the arms progress was scheduled for the end of March and went home happy and hoping to regain my normal left arm movement by the next visit to Dr Dylan,Govaes. The entire Country was put into a "21 DAY LOCKDOWN" beginning from Tuesday(24/3/2020)  and hence couldn't visit the hospital at the end of March.

"ROYAL ENFIELD WORKSHOP" at B.D.D Chawls in Parel. My  "Bullet 350 Black BS IV" was in this workshop for 5 months due to the "CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN -2020" .Unbelievable but true.

Mr Ali.Khan giving finishing touches to the bike.

Friday(17/7/2020)  "Bullet Black BS IV"  back in home garage :-  The "Coronavirus Pandemic-2020" besides claiming lives across the Globe brought entire country's economies to its knees including India.Due to the shutdown Industry's  were totally closed as also all modes of transport.Hospital's were getting filled with "Covid-19" patients and hence most other branches of medical treatment non available for patients or put on the waiting list if in  a critical case.My "Left Arm Fracture" was definitely a mild case not requiring a visit to the hospital but even after 5 months a tinge of muscular pain still lurked in my left arm.   
  

Riding my brand new restored bike in the rain.

       Swimming would reveal the true movement of my left arm but as all pools are closed including beaches swimming seems a distant fitness agenda.Finally after months Mr Ali.Khan of Royal Enfield rang me up informing that my bike was ready for collection from the workshop.On Friday the weather in the morning was excellent and hence wearing my "Signature Covid-19 mask"walked the distance from my house in Prabhadevi to the "Royal Enfield workshop at B.D.D chawls in Worli.Met Mr Ali .Khan who after doing some minor adjustments to the bike issued me the bill of Rs 21,660 for complete replacements of a few parts and repairs. I had to pay a total of Rs 5,652 in cash while the rest of the bill was paid by "I.C.I.Lombard" insurance.Bizarrely the weather suddenly changed and  it started raining heavily with the porch of the workshop forming into a small pool of water.After 5 months idle in the deserted "Royal Enfield Workshop" akin to a Steeplechase rider at the "Grand National" rode my bike across patches of Mumbai's infamous bad monsoon roads to home in Old Prabhadevi.

A dubious entry into "Limca book of records" as survivor of maximum number of motorcycle accidents ? My 4th  fall and this photo is my restored bike by the local youth and myself standing, bruised but not hospitalized . From this accident site rode my bike another 620 Kms +, first to Kevadia to view "Statue of Unity" and later to Mumbai.

Local youth inspecting my bike.

As "Covid-19" had brought tourism and travel to a standstill besides claiming human lives  was utterly exhausted just sitting at home,becoming fat  and not travelling overseas or to distant locales in India.In 2021 as travel across India gradually opened decided on riding "Solo"  on my "Royal Enfield Standard Bullet 350"   to the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and returning back to Mumbai , a total distance of 2000 Kms +. In 2019  had successfully accomplished 2000 Kms + on my maiden ride to  Barkur,Mabukala and Udipi in the State of Karnataka. Hence confidence was not a factor and on Monday(25/1/2021) left home for the long 900 Kms + ride to Dhordo in Great Rann of Kutch.Everything went to plan and tested "Father Time" by accomplishing 740 Kms ride in 13.5 hrs on the very first day. Ahoy ! After a night's stay at "Hotel Ajanta" in Shikarpur village of Bachau district of Gujarat was next day on "Republic Day(26/1/2021) at  "Kalo Dungar" and "White Desert". in the "Great Rann of Kutch. After a night's stay near Dhordo in a local artisan's "Bhunga Hut"  began my ride to Bhuj the next morning which turned to be a one of the most unforgettable day in my life. details are as follows below.

Damage to Bike.

Wednesday (27/1/2021): - The worst day of "BAD LUCK' as also "GOOD LUCK" in my life ? Anyone seconding my name as a survivor of most motorcycle accidents in India ? Thankfully today was not my last breakfast in Dhordo village nor my last dinner at hotel Panchvati after my fourth motorcycle fall on the road about 170 Kms from Ahmedabad.A day of unbelievable misery akin to India getting out for their lowest total of 36 runs in Cricket.This fall was a exact replica of my 2020 accident while returning from Junnar.But this was more bizarre akin to a supernatural force at work on a FULL MOON night.First my motorcycle tilts over and falls while asking directions for Mandvi near Bhuj.Lost my sentimental Sunglasses.Later riding towards Ahmedabad got confused and lost my way later retracing the same.At a Police diversion checkpoint a car brushed me from the back and sped away before the cop could stop him.

A local youth test riding my bike.

Luckily the barricade rails saved me from falling.Later riding when about 170 kms from Ahmedabad near the Reliance petrol pump hit a diversion barricade and the consequences shown in the photo.The youth at the petrol pump went out of their way to help me giving me FIRST AID and also minor repairs to the bike.They didn't charge me a rupee for the favour. After starting the bike rode ahead in search of the nearest hotel and realized my laptop had fallen off from the broken luggage carrier.Checked into " Hotel Panchvati " on Limbdi highway.Bike and me are built like a bullet .Definitely and positively my last long distance motorcycle ride.Nothing left to prove and recovering from accidents is not macho nor a pleasure at my young age. Ahoy !After a nights stay at Limbdi rode all the way to Kevadia to visit the "Statue of Unity".

"Cosmetic repairs"& ride back to Mumbai.

After a night's stay at "BRG Budget Stay" hotel in Kevadia left for Mumbai on Friday(29/1/2021) reaching Old Prabhadevi road at 1630 hrs. In 5 day's i had stayed in 4 different hotels and completed a total of 2000 Kms "Solo " ride from Mumbai to Great Rann of Kutch and back.Having seen numerous "Road kills" of dog's, cat's on the highway's during my rides and also realizing that "DEATH" is a certainty someday and sometime but definitely my last long distance bike cruise as death on a highway is not a pleasant death.My "Royal Enfield Standard Bullet 350" that has earned its reputation "Built like a Bullet" will henceforth be only for city commuting within Mumbai.

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Unbelievable  bedroom ceiling plaster collapse on Wednesday(4/8/2021) while watching "Tokyo Olympics 2020". Memories of  Pablo.Picasso's "Guernica " painting  in the era of  "Covid 19 Pandemic" horror ? Lucky to be unhurt and alive, both from this ceiling collapse accident and "Covid 19" pandemic.

Wednesday(4/8/2021) My house bedroom ceiling plaster falls onto my bed . Bizarre and true :- There are numerous case studies of people getting seriously injured or dying due to accidents in their own house,most common being slipping on the house floor or bathroom/toilet. I almost missed becoming a text book "HOUSE CASUALTY CASE STUDY" in the most bizarre accident in my house bedroom. A part of my bedroom ceiling plaster above my bed which was repaired just 2 years ago when the entire building was structurally renovated externally and internally suddenly gave way in the afternoon at approximately 1630 hrs

"Ceiling Plaster art" in my bedroom 

.Luckily it didn't happen at night while i was asleep and thanks to watching the Tokyo 2020 Olympics(Live) on T.V that saved me from serious injury or even death !The plaster fell directly on my bed and now as seen in the photo bizarrely resembles a  " CEILING ART EXHIBITION" painting on a white canvas background which is the bedroom freshly painted white coloured  ceiling roof..Resembled a giant painting on my bedroom ceiling wall akin to Pablo.Picasso's "Guernica"  in the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid that i have personally seen and hence the comparison with a little bit of modesty. "Guernica" depicts the turmoils of the Spanish Civil war while my bedroom ceiling canvas depicts the  era of "Coronavirus Pandemic" that is devastating the Globe least of all Mumbai  and has spared me as a victim of this pandemic . Flat A/604 situated above my flat had redesigned their bedroom structurally fitting a toilet/ Bathtub and this has weakened my bedroom ceiling. This is the second time this ceiling has fallen and in the first instance I repaired the entire ceiling with my own personal funds.Now after 2 years it has happened again and to see the better side of this accident i am lucky to be fit and alive without any injury.I normally always do my addictive reading and now in the "Internet Era" my "digital reading/writing" lying down on my bed and providence as well as the Tokyo Olympics 2020 saved me on this fateful evening when my ceiling plaster caved like a pack of bricks onto my bed.

Ceiling debris on my bed

Normally no "ALTERATION OF CONSTRUCTING OF A TOILET/BATHROOM IN A BEDROOM" is allowed in any apartment without prior permission from the Municipal authorities as it endangers the building structure.Informed the building members and residents about the sudden collapse of my bedroom ceiling plaster and building committee President Mr Mohit.Kapoor an alumni of my school and now a proprietor of his own family corporate law firm had informed me on phone about necessary action that would be taken by the building repair architects and contractor.Ironically 46 year old "Vaibhav Apartments Condominium" on Old Prabhadevi road is one of the wealthiest buildings/per capita in the locality having one of the best garden's for a private building within Mumbai city.Hope the building doesn't go into redevelopment in another few years and hope the structural repairs give a facelift and extension of life to this building.Ironically this near miss bedroom accident has changed my opinion of life, death and living realizing that death or destruction can strike anytime and at anyplace irrespective of the safety factor which could be your own house.

Symptoms of "FOOD POISONING".

Tuesday(5/4/2022) A unexplainable mysterious case of "FOOD POISONING" :- As mentioned previously i am allergic to eating certain cold food from the fridge and that mostly includes fruits. Hence a heavy consumption of cold watermelon to remain cool in the severe April heat wave over a period of 2 day's left me with a severe cold and cough since Saturday(2/4/2022) which after self medication using the traditional common "Vicks Vaporub" ceased after a day. Presumed i was back to normal health condition and on Monday(4/4/2022) had been to the fish market as usual returning home in normal health condition after purchasing the day's fish menu.Lunch was "Fish Curry/Rice", our usual staple diet with my favourite non-veg food being sea food.In the night after having dinner felt a bit uneasy in my stomach and almost had a sleepless night.Next morning as usual had breakfast feeling a bit uncomfortable in the stomach and later went for my routine 45 minutes swim at "M.G.M.O" pool.After returning home i again felt uneasy in the stomach and later in the afternoon passed my first stool of "Loose Motion". Since childhood during the monsoon season i have had the occasional annual dysentery which required a visit to the doctor and later into adulthood have always had a weak stomach and diarrhea was my only nemesis to a otherwise perfectly physically fit male of my age.The Diarrhea that took over my digestive system on Tuesday(5/4/2022) was something i never experienced in my 62 years of existence on Planet Earth. Throughout the night i passed absolute watery stools akin to a water tap fitted to my anus and the tap continuously left open ! My "Lady Friday" Housekeeper Sabina Dias advised me,the Nomad  living the desolate lifestyle of "Robinson Crusoe" to drink some electrolyte solution which definitely helped in keeping me hydrated.The "Cancer Phobia" struck me again and was wondering if i had developed some form of digestive cancer and was prepared to get myself admitted to "Jaslok HospitaL for treatment in case i became too feeble to function physically.On Wednesday(6/4/2020) decided to first visit Dr Ashish.B.Merchant who has regularly treated me for the "Cold Allergies".Dr Merchant prescribed some medicines and akin to a mechanical machine my human digestive system got back into routine functional mode.This was definitely a case of severe "FOOD POISONING" and hope its the last as in future i have to be careful of my diet although have always been careful about my quality of food.On Tuesday(12/4/2022) cycled to "M.G.M.O" pool and after a week's gap and recovery from a near hospitalization due to "Food Poisoning" swam 900 meters of the pool in the stipulated 40 minutes time interval.My regular daily swim was 2Kms + before "Covid 19" pandemic closed the pool in March 2020 and now although open in 2022 the restricted timings means only 800 meters/1 Km daily.

"LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE ?":- Ceiling plaster debris on the bed.This second ceiling plaster caving could have at worst killed or  at most hospitalized my housekeeper Sabina.Dias .Heavy slabs fell on this bed.If anything happened to her i would be answerable .

Housekeeper Sabina.Dias has narrow escape.

Reply from "BMC" to my complaint.

Friday (24/6/2022):-  The Bedroom ceiling plaster of my bedroom collapsed at approx 1940 hrs and this is the second time this has happened. We again had a providential escape from serious injury.Since it's late in the evening no one was available in the office .This is a old complaint where a toilet has been installed in the bedroom of the flat above us A/ 604 belonging to Mr Mirang.Shah. . The last time the ceiling plaster collapsed on Wednesday (4/8/2021) he reimbursed me for the repairs of  Rs 8000 but nothing beyond that and the toilet is still intact..Have left the bedroom untouched for inspection tomorrow by the " Building Committee"

"Ceiling Plaster Art" in bedroom.

.Its akin to a " HORROR TOURIST ATTRACTION" . Note :- DIVINE PROVIDENCE ON A SECOND ATTEMPT ON MY LIFE IN MY OWN BEDROOM ? Has anyone survived two " BEDROOM CEILING COLLAPSES" just by sheer luck ? Gave complaint letters to " BMC", " Registrar of Housing" also visiting " Dadar police Station" to lodge a complaint which the police said they don't deal with as it was a civil case. Staying 47 years in " VAIBHAV APARTMENTS " this was the first time I visited the " BMC" office.Later corresponded with Mr Mirang.Shah, owner of " A/604 " through " WhatsApp " and he agreed to pay for the complete repairs. Contractor Mr Deepak.Suthar who has undertaken repairs of numerous flats  in our building took the  contract of repairing our bedroom including painting  which was finally completed on Tuesday(26/7/2022). 

A unbelievable miraculous escape at a " Signal Stop" where the Port( Left side) front wheel of a white SUV car rolled over my right foot.This photo was taken much later after the almost near hospitalization accident for projecting the photographic description .

Saturday (9/11/2024): A miraculous escape from serious leg foot injury.On my way to Bandra at a traffic stop signal near Kirti college put my right leg down for support when suddenly I felt something quickly going over my right foot  leg.Realized the SUV car which was behind me had its left side front wheel ride over my right leg foot.Luckily my costly Adidas shoes provided the perfect cushion effect and it felt like something rolling over my foot.The biker behind me was stunned and asked me If I was alright .Truth is stranger than fiction and both the shoe and my right foot was in excellent condition.A photo of that foot and shoe after the  accident is depicted above.

DIABETES PHOBIA 

Elton John blindness tragedy and a wakeup call to my own toe foot infection :- In the last week of October  some tiny particle had penetrated my right foot toe which i completely ignored considering it would heal by itself.A mild boil formed on the toe thumb and i continued with my regular swimming although i felt pain on that particular spot of my toe .Later as mentioned above a car ran over that same foot and toe and miraculously my foot didn't get crushed.A case of lightning striking the same foot twice.Later i went on a 15 days tour of Nainital, Jim Corbett National Park, Dehradun and Mussoorie  with the tiny foot infection not healing but still not detrimental to my normal hectic travel activity.After returning from my travel on  Friday(29/11/2024) got a bit worried that my foot sore was not healing.Elton John along with Elvis Presley has and is one of my favourite all time English language music artists .In 2002 had  the priviledge of seeing Elton John perform " LIVE" in Bangalore. Although i never got to see Elvis.Presley " Live" but saw his movie " Elvis that's the way it is" upteen times as a college teenager .Read the tragic news that Elton.John had gone partially blind due to a eye infection and this made me worried as i too am 50% blind in my left eye due to a eye injury and now my left toe foot pin prick just refused to heal.Rang up Dr Ashish .Merchant but since he was not available as he was on a holiday  later during the week decided to visit my house-keeper Sabina.Dias's locality physician Dr Rahul.Saudagar in Worli Koliwada.Dr Rahul.Saudagar examined my toe foot and prescribed me antibiotic capsules.Finally after over a week of treatment the tiny penetration wound  finally healed but the pain on that particular spot persisted.Now hoping Elton John regains his eyesight for as a celebrity he made me realize  the dangers of infection which we middle class Indians normally ignore. 

My toe injury remained dormant and on arrival of my family doctor Dr Ashish. Merchant from vacation visited him regarding the injury.Was again put on a dose of antibiotics but the pain on that particular spot although decreased was still niggling me. Regarding " MEDICAL TREATMENT" in Mumbai it is very expensive in comparison to average wages earned by the average Indian citizen. Both " Insurance Premiums" and private doctor consultation and personal private treatment visits are expensive.Government hospitals do provide free medical treatment to the lowest economic classes but getting access to this "Free Treatment" is akin to winning the jackpot as such is the rush for Government medical hospital free or subsidised treatment.In the lower income localities of Mumbai the doctors fees are less in comparison to plusher localities .Hence Dr Rahul.Saudagar charges are less in comparison to Dr Ashish. Merchant because of the locality with Worli Koliwada being a " Lower Income Locality" and  majority of patients unable to afford high private consultation fees as also expensive medication. Also cost of maintaining a dispensary differs according to the locality with Prabhadevi being one of the costliest location in  India let alone Mumbai. Hence I have pasted Warren Buffet's quote regarding money.Every Indian realises the value of money when they are either jobless, become bankrupt in a business or seek expensive private  medical treatment as also when they  pay hefty annual insurance premiums.Warren Buffet's quote of. importance of money in anyone's life is very true and relevant whether belonging to the lowest income,middle income or a  High Net Individual of society.Finally on Monday(23/12/2024) got my right foot big toe examined by Dr A.Merchant and thankfully.my doubt of initial signs of " DIABETES" was put to rest as the puncture wound had healed.It took me 2 months and cost me approx Rs 4500 for getting a tiny right leg foot toe  injury healed. A common injury i took for granted during my teen and youth years of running and playing barefoot and occasionally stepping on a thorn on numerous occasions. So far so good .

Saturday(28/12/2024) 5th Motorcycle Fall   :- I had ridden my motorcycle to the "Cooperage Bandstand" in Colaba to attend the "N.C.P.A @ the Park" programme. After having a excellent evening of Rock/Pop music performed by "Dr J and Kelly Collective" followed by "Stand Up Comedy" by Mr Tarang .Haldikar,Siddharth.Dudeja and Vaibhav.Sethia rode back home to Old Prabhadevi.Nearing Worli Naka petrol pump turn a lady riding a scooted with a piggyback male rider suddenly brushed against me and i lost balance.Luckily i had braked bringing the bike to a standstill but the scooter tilted against my bike on the port side causing me to fall on the road with the bike over me.Luckily the bike handle took the brunt of the motorcycle weight with my right leg stuck under the motorcycle.A few people lifted the bike and i got back to my feet amazingly without a leg fracture.The lady and her pillion rider friend took off on their scooter while i kickstarted my "RE 350" and rode the short 1.5 Km distance to our building.This was no fault of mine but the young lady who tried to overtake from the wrong side thus brushing against my bike.Luckily i was back home and not in a hospital ward.My previous motorcycle fall was in Gujarat on Wednesday(27/1/2021) almost 5 years ago.Will i stop riding a motorcycle after 5 accidents ? Definitely "NO" as just sitting in my house the collapse of a roof plaster as had happened twice before could land me in hospital.So far so good.

Thursday (6/3/2025):- " HAT-TRICK " of " Ceiling Plaster " collapse in my house .The plaster in my hall gave way and miraculously no one was  injured.

View of the " CEILING PLASTER SLAB" that collapsed.
3rd time lucky.A " HAT-TRICK " of surviving " CEILING PLASTER SLAB" collapses in my own house since 2021.Script for a " Stephen King" novel with a little bit of " Bollywood Masala" ?

Thursday (6/3/2025)INCLUSION INTO " Limca book of Records" ? :- HAT TRICK OF SURVIVING CEILING PLASTER CRASHES OVER THE YEARS IN FLAT A- 504 .My Hall ceiling plaster block suddenly gave way and miraculously no one in my house was injured .Again after a gap at 1140 hrs the remaining ceiling slab fell down and this time on my back while I was bending down to pick up a few of the previous fallen debris.This is the 3rd time the ceiling plaster of my house has crashed ,previous 2 times was in the bedroom a few years ago.Have raised a complaint to the building committee before when my bedroom ceiling plaster gave way on 2 occasions.The reason for weakening of my flat ceiling plaster is the 50 years age of the building as also massive flooring renovations done by Mr Shah who stays in flat A/ 604 above my flat .He knows the same as I informed him when my bedroom ceiling gave way as he had constructed a unauthorized toilet / bath in his bedroom above our flat.Request the building committee to view the damage and who will get my hall ceiling repaired ? Should I leave everything on display till building undergoes redevelopment ? Photos of my hall plaster ceiling collapse has been attached for viewing.