Ford Fiesta: NH-04

Long Drives have always been fun especially when you’re travelling back to home for a long weekend. Yes I agree it more joyful for the unknown roads, but sometimes travelling by the same old path to your home is also mesmerizing.

I travel Pune-Kolhapur almost every weekend (@*@** I hate my Job) so travel isn't a big deal for me, I have been doing the same since last couple of years.

The journey remains the same just that the co-traveler differs....Sometimes it’s a Friend in his Car, Sometimes it’s with Father in our Own Car, Sometimes a known relative but most of the Times Neeta Travels.

It was yet another Thursday & as always I had planned to travel to Kolhapur on the next day i.e. Friday.

Meanwhile I got a call from my friend Shripad, that he is also travelling to Kolhapur & asked me to join him. I readily accepted the offer as travelling in Car saves an Hour of travel so I can reach home & join family for Dinner.

Later next day again Shripad called to inform that he has some important work in Pune & wont able to make to Kolhapur,,,But asked me If I can take his Car to his Mechanic as there was some maintenance work to be done.

I was OK as there were few other friends also travelling with me (I had never driven anyone’s car in his absence & it was the 1st time for me).

So now members travelling were myself, Vaibhav, Akshay & Hrishikesh.

The Josh Machine Ford Fiesta

Vaibhav & Akshay picked Fiesta at Shripads office. I directly went home from Office where they picked me up. Hrishikesh had joined them at Swargate.

Surprise entry was Prashant AKA Anil Kapoor...Who had almost boarded Shivneri before he was pulled down by Vaibhav. He was forced to join us on way back home.

So the journey began at 7:30 pm from Pune towards Kolhapur. I had bought Fruity for all members in Car, Journey se pehle kuch metha ho jaaye....!!!

Akshay was a good driver as he has been driving since a Kid, they had couple of cars in there garage. I got a call from Wife that they are goin out for Dinner (Tambda-Pandhara). So I asked them to bring me parcel, how can I miss Mutton!

We were slowly slowly gaining speed in journey, Crossed Khambatki ghat in no time. After Anewadi Toll Naka Akshay asked me to take driving seat,,,I was more then happy. Diesel car was new to me,,,,As I have been driving Petol car since I learned driving. Fiesta is really a Josh machine,,,, There is a small lag in pickup as compared to Petrol,,,but once it gets going its Fun to Drive.

Even though it was Friday there was not much traffic as expected. We crossed Tasawde toll naka,,,,,There was a Swift along with us since long time So there was this little race going on,,,,!!!

I remember Fiesta was having lot of Smoke behind as I pushed the accelerator but usually Diesel cars to give lot of Smoke when on High RPM so we avoided the same. We had almost crossed Karad,,,by the time I had gained lot of confidence over Fiesta & I was speeding above 100-110+.

Suddenly I felt a thrust in engine, the engine gave up. I can feel that the accelerator was not responding. I said to my friends something is wrong here and the engine has stopped, fearing the worst I took the car on the side of the road. Dint knew what has happened I tried the starter couple of times, but there was no response. We all got out from the Car, opened the Bonnet just for the preliminary check what has happened. No one knew the car mechanism & not a single hint what to do. I was very afraid to call Shripad as he had given car on my responsibility.

NH4

I called him to inform the scene what had happened, he first thought I reached Kolhapur so I called him up. But he as expected wasn’t happy listening the entire story....He was angry as Fiesta never ever had never broke down since her arrival. I called up my Mechanic friend & explained him the story, But he said wont be able to solve the problem over the phone & has to come down to the car for inspection. Everyone tried there references for the same.

Anil Kapurs Photo Session

So here we were at 10pm, 5 of us somewhere near Islampur with a Broken down car with no idea what to do. I got a call from Wife enquiring what time I shall reach home, I told her the story & also informed her I will be reaching late. We saw some hotel on the right of the road some distance away & were hungry so we pushed our Fiesta till the hotel & planned to have dinner.

We knew that now the way out was to Toe Fiesta till Kolhapur anyhow. So we searched the options which are possible. Vaibhav had meanwhile called Suraj who stays at Wadgaon & was the only person who might come for rescue & more importantly he had BOLERO, Which can pull our Fiesta.

One Word: Exhausted

We had spent more than an hour investigating what might have happened to Fiesta & how to get out thus situation. After we pushed Fiesta till hotel it was 11 pm, fortunately the hotel was still serving dinner. We somehow had some food. Till then half of the Kolhapur had came to know our disaster,,, thanks to whatsapp.

Not So Happy Faces

We had called some of our other friends also for help. Sanket Aka Rock Aka Kamgar & Sanjeev aka Don had also started they journey from Kolhapur, we had asked them to bring Engine Oil with them as primary conclusion was there was no engine oil in Fiesta.Meanwhile Dr. Ashish another friend also came to know @ the situation & he came all the way from Kagal. Sanket & Don came in Dr. Ashish's Ford Figo (Yet another Ford).

We poured the engine oil in Fiesta & tried the starter but no positive reaction from Car. Now We were waiting for Suraj. Suraj went from his home to his Crusher plant for a Chain to Pull Fiesta & came again back to highway till Islampur. All were happy seeing Suraj with his Bolero. Suraj who is Akshays Brother is also a hard core driver & has been driving since many years. He inspected the engine & asked to give a starter,”Piston arent moving",,,,first reaction. He knew what had happened.....thats why Dr. Ashish said "This is why they Say Suraj has 9 Degrees".

Left to Right : Vaibhav, Akshay, Don, Dr. Ashishs Friend, Dr. Ashish & Sanket

By now we had made arrangements to Toe Fiesta to Bolero till Kolhapur by Steel Chain. It was almost 12:30pm. Sanket pulledput a Cake from Car. It was Dr. Ashish's Bday. What a time to celebrate Bday & what a location,,right on National Highway NH-04. We did clebrate Dr. Ashish's Bday on NH-04. So now there were 3 cars in a Row. Ford Figo,,,,then Mahindra Bolero,,then the Ford Fiesta. I remember even Police jeep had stopped by us to enquire why are we waiting side the road. After the Bday celebration,,,,the Toeing journey started.

Suraj was in Bolero with mobile in his hand & over the call on other side was Akshay who was now in Ford Fiesta. Toeing the Car with a Flexible Steel Chain is a real Talent & also to control the car which is behind also requires a lot of driving experiences.

So now the Josh machine was been toed at 20km/hr Speed. We were only seating in the car which was controlled by Bolero in the front. It was a long journey from Islampur to Kolhapur. It took more than 2.5 hours to cut the distance.

We reached Shripads home around 3:30 am in the morning. We Parked Fiesta outside the Society & Suraj dropped me home while driving back to Wadgaon.

From that very day I never ever drive any friends’ car in their absence!

Anything can go wrong at the very right moment...!!!

But it was a Lifetime Experience...!!!