An unforgettable experience

Carrying a passenger on a bicycle is an offence punishable by law. Everyone knows

that but still some of us do it.
I had done it many times before until something happened to teach me never to do it
again. It was not the police. Rather it was an unforgettable, and unpleasant,
experience.
It happened one evening when my friend Segaran and I wanted to go and visit another
friend who lived some distance away. I had a bicycle. Segaran did not. So, as usual,
he sat sidesaddle on the hori!ontal bar of the bicycle while I pedalled. "e had done it
many times before, so it should not be any problem.
#ear my friend$s house, we got onto a gravel path made slippery by the recent rain.
Still we managed to wobble along, thoroughly en%oying the rough ride.
&s we passed by a stream, I made the mistake of going too near the bank. 'he rain
had softened the soil and it could not hold our combined weight. (ne moment we
were going along merrily, the next we were tumbling head over heels into the stream as
the bank gave way beneath us.
Splash) Splash) Splash) "e plunged into the river bicycle first, followed by Segaran,
then me. #ormally the stream is only a few centimetres deep with clear water. "hen
we fell in, it was a metre deep with foul black water. 'he water prevented us from
getting badly in%ured but we also had to pay the price of gulping some of it. It tasted
horrible. Segaran got the worst of it for being sandwiched between the bicycle and
me, but it was not too bad. "e had only a few cuts and bruises. (ur pride was far
more hurt.
"e retrieved ourselves and the bicycle from the stream. "e were both dirty and
soaking wet. (bviously we were in no condition to visit anyone. So we decided to go
home.
"e walked all the way home. I had to push the bicycle because its front wheel was bent out of
shape. *rom that moment I vowed never to carry anyone on a bicycle again. #ever again do I want
to be dirty and wet with cuts and bruises all over my body. (nce was enough.

gravel small rounded stones, often mixed with sand

wobble shake or move from side to side in a way that shows a lack of balance

tumble to fall +uickly without control