After 3 months the long tournament ended...
And Wick's team came out victorious...
After that one day...
The morning sun is yet to cast long shadows across the sleepy town, barely stirring the dust devils dancing in the unpaved streets. Pinky, Vikram's maternal aunt, stood by his closed bedroom door, hands on her ample hips.
"Get up already! How long are you going to sleep?"
Silence emanated from the room. Pinky sighed, already used to his sleeping habits.
Growing concerned, Pinky pushed the door open. The room was empty, the bed neatly made.
"He's gone again without telling me"
,she muttered, her voice laced with a mixture of annoyance and fondness. It was typical Wick. He'd disappear for hours, sometimes days, driven by some inexplicable impulse, only to reappear as suddenly as he vanished, his eyes gleaming with adventure.
Meanwhile, a few miles away, a group of young men idled near a makeshift garage, their faces etched with impatience. Aakash, paced back and forth.
"What were you doing, man? You took so long! We've been waiting for you forever!"
Vicky, chimed in, his voice tight with anxiety. "You know, if we'd waited any longer, everything would have been ruined".
From the back, Aryan and Deep, emerged, holding a gleaming black key. "Here, brother, take care of your treasure. My responsibility is over. She's quite the diva, you know. Aryan chuckled, then added with a wink, "Don't worry, no one else touched her."
{Wick doesn't like to share his bike with anyone else rather Nick Deep or Dipanshu}
Arjun, playfully complained. "You don't even let us touch it! It's like only they are your friend! And even your brothers doesn't let us! You love her more than your own life, so why don't you keep her at your house?"
[Sunny is a new addition to the story he is a pilot by profession(currently student) he is Aryan's friend and they met him in the tournament]
A newcomer to the group, Sunny, Aryan's friend, raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Hey guys, what are you all talking about? Tell me, too."
Aryan grinned mischievously. "It's Wick's top-notch, bold, sexy Z900!"
Vikram finally appeared, a wry smile playing on his lips. "You were just scolding me! What happened now? You're wasting time yourselves, let's go!"
The group piled into their respective vehicles, the rumble of engines filling the air. As they prepared to leave, Sunny couldn't resist a dig.
"Honestly, I don't see what's so special about this bike. Why all the hype? My Triumph Triple RS would beat it in seconds!"
Aryan, his eyes wide with apprehension, hissed, "Hey, shut up for a minute, will you! If this crazy maniac hears you, we'll be walking into the jaws of death!"
Sunny scoffed. "Oh? Your best friend is that dangerous? Fine, whatever. He's your best friend, so you'll obviously take his side."
Arjun, ever the pragmatist, interjected. "A lot of times, the rider matters a lot in a race. If you give a new rider an H2R, they'd still lose to a Ninja 1000SX. Now, be quiet."
Unbeknownst to them, Vikram had overheard their entire conversation, his face a mask of suppressed amusement. He leaned against his beloved Z900, a glint in his eye.
"So, how about we have a race? Then we'll see if the rider or the bike is more important!"
Aryan, his face a picture of panic, stammered, "Hey Sunny, don't you understand? Can't you stay quiet for a bit!"
Sunny, ignoring Aryan's frantic warnings, persisted. "Alright, then, where do we start?"
Vikram's gaze hardened, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "There's a point up ahead, from there it's 10km to a Danger sign. We have to stop right there."
A collective gasp swept through the group. Aakash paled, Vicky swallowed hard, and even Arjun looked uneasy.
"That's a dead end! If we don't brake there, none of us will make it out alive!"
Sunny, assuming Vikram was just trying to intimidate him, scoffed.
"Nah, don't worry. He's just bluffing to seem brave."
Confident he was right, Sunny agreed. But Aryan got so worried. He knew what Vikram could do, and how fearless he was, especially when challenged. He just didn't want to lose his friend just in case if any miss happening does occur.
Aryan desperately tried to convince Vikram to move the endpoint, trying to make Sunny understand that that turn was impossible, that even if you survived, you wouldn't be the same. But when Sunny laughed at this, Vikram just smirks.
Sunny just can't help but taunt. "What happened? Are you scared? Looks like you found an excuse because of your best friend!"
Sunny just pushes back on Aryans face, so Vikram makes a decision.
Vikram, eyes shining with that dark energy, finally speaks "You know what," he says, a glint of something wild in his eyes. "We will keep the danger sign as the endpoint. If you think it's so easy," he continues, turning to Sunny, "then you all can lead. I'll let you go first and see how it is, " Wick finished, nodding towards the road ahead.
A tense silence hung in the air as they prepared for the race. The air crackled with anticipation and a touch of fear.
The Ride
The first few kilometers were a blur of asphalt and adrenaline. Sunny, fueled by ego and arrogance, took an early lead, his Triumph Triple RS roaring ahead. The road twisted and turned, but Sunny, confident in his skills, navigated each curve with ease.
As they approached the more challenging sections of the road, it was a different story for Sunny.
The crucial turning and traffic that Aryan had warned him about began to appear. Sunny was forced to slow down, making him furious. "I could easily be ahead of I wasn't careful" Sunny thinks to himself.
Vikram, his face impassive, was like a shadow at this point. He has gotten past Sunny as they began the more difficult parts of the race.
Sunny attempted to catch up, revving his engine and pushing the bike to its limits. But Vikram seemed to glide effortlessly through the traffic and tight turns, his speed increasing with each passing kilometer. Sunny knew that if he just keeps a good speed ahead, the victory could still be his.
Aryan and Vicky, who followed, stayed a good distance away. They can not help but look at the valleys that are on the sides of the road. Both knew that it was dangerous for both the bikers.
As they raced, Aryan and Vicky were in constant communication with both Sunny and Vikram. This communication was to make sure both of them was aware of the dangerous areas of the race.
As they approach the final kilometers, the landscape changes drastically. The road narrowed, flanked by sheer cliffs and treacherous drops. The air grew colder, and the wind howled through the valleys. The infamous "Danger" sign loomed ahead.
Sunny started to have a flashback. During his biking race, being on this dangerous road was not helping his stress.
Vikram, seeing Sunny's hesitation, used the opportunity to make a move, shooting past Sunny with a roar of his engine. He was now in the lead.
As the danger sign drew closer, Sunny realized that it was not just a sign, but a dead end. With a surge of fear and realization, he saw his mistake. This was a one way track. Brakes have to work, otherwise there's no point in even being here. Sunny tried to slow down, but his hands trembled and he missed the timing.
Vikram, however, his eyes blazing with focus, seemed unfazed by the looming danger. With a slight adjustment, he manages to halt the bike right at the edge.
A stunned silence descended as Vikram climbed off his Z900. He turned back to look at Sunny, whose bike had now slowed and stopped a couple of meters away. Sunny was just at a loss for words. He was outdone.
Slowly, they began to make their way down.
Aryan rushed forward, relief flooding his face. "Wick! You crazy son of a gun! You actually did it!"
Vicky added, "Damn, I thought for sure we were going to lose both of you. But you somehow make it here, safely!"
Vikram just smiled, but had a bit of concern in his face. "I did not want anyone to get hurt, that was not the plan. I just wanted him to see that the rider is important, and not just the bike.
To be continued...