Of Mud-guards, Meetings and Maledictions

The rains are back. And so are soggy biscuits, damp towels and muddy roads.

Indore (or rather most of India) suffers from an incurable malady of roads that turn into slushy-muddy pathways at the first drops of rains. Anyone driving too fast and applying sudden brakes has a 99 percent probability of slipping (especially when driving a two-wheeler). Yes, I know the owners of CBZ xtremes and Royal Enfields and such other bikes would shake their heads indignantly at my assertion, and would go on to prove how their super-bikes have balance controls and other technical gibberish that I fail to understand, which keeps their bikes from slipping even on the Indian-Rain-fed roads.

But that is not my point. My point, which these bikers refuse to acknowledge, is that looking at the condition of roads (which are streams of brown water at some places, and mounds of melted chocolate at others), the one thing that can be as important as a parachute for a skydiver, is... (drumroll)... mud-guards.

A mud-guard is essentially a small piece of rubber (or whatever material is used in bikes) that covers the rear wheel of any bike. It is a shield over or behind a vehicle's wheel to prevent mud or water from splashing onto that vehicle or a following vehicle. So basically, a mudguard is an epitome of selflessness. By using one, you not only protect others from getting splashed with mud and slush, but also prevent that from happening to yourself.

Imagine you are driving your two-wheeler, dressed for a meeting, through wet roads, precariously maintaining balance through potholes and mud, when another two-wheeler zips past, without a mud-guard, decorating your dress with a fine spray of brown slush (ok, assuming you are not wearing a raincoat). You got late for your meeting. Boss was waiting for your report, which of course, he did not get on time. Boss's boss was waiting for boss's report, which could not be finished due to absence of your report. Boss's boss gets angry, threatens to fire boss (it was month-end report, it had to do something with tax-saving and now the company loses a fine amount in taxes due to late submission). Boss pours the blame on your shoulders, (which are still covered in mud) and of course you cannot blame it on the guy without the mudguards.

So I agree it is purely hypothetical, and I also agree that people should wear raincoats to protect their laundered garments, but still, I want to emphasize on the importance of that little thing which can save jobs, and even lives (a little overboard, I know). So my message to the world: USE MUD-GUARDS, prevent maledictions, live happily (everafter). :P