New Roads: Smooth like Butter, Until You Hit the Bumps.

Do you remember that feeling when you first hear about a new road being built? You are on your bike, riding along the same bumpy path, avoiding puddles and close calls, and you say to yourself, "This is it. This is the moment I have been waiting for. A smooth, pothole-free ride!" Then the news arrives: new roads are coming, bike-friendly surfaces, everything you hoped for. You're all geared up. Now go on, put the helmet on, lower the shades down, and you're on. You've got this smooth frictionless bliss ride without dodging potholes every 30 seconds. So here's wishing you this one's going to be your turn.

But wait a minute. Like always, India's road-building story does not go as planned. Builders come in with their shiny tools and big hopes of transforming a dusty place into something "world-class." You begin to think, "This is it! The day I become a road king. My bike and I will finally feel what real roads are like.".

Then, finally, they finish the new road. You're as excited as anything, revving the engine like some kind of mad road warrior. You finally arrive, and your hopeful eyes scan what you just saw. Wait. it's wrong, somehow. For the first time in your existence, you do not get to see the smooth road. You are beholding a surface so badly laid that it resembles something a tool-wielding blindfolded monkey might have conjured. The road gives the impression that it was somehow made by someone who lost focus midway. It's like they decided, "Let's lay down some asphalt, forget the planning and just wing it."

Just when you think it's all right to ride, just when you're getting around to having fun, that is-real fun-the real fun starts. Someone says: "Hey, we forgot the pipeline!" and suddenly they start digging again. The earth shakes as your hopes break down along with your suspension system. Now you're riding on the road that's just been dug up, only worse than the one before the repairs; it feels like when you get a new phone and let it drop the next day.

But the twist? The fix they chose to do is not a simple mistake—it's a comedy show. They did not just hide the dug-up spots; no, they took the "patch it, hope it works" approach. And just when you think you've avoided the worst, you hit one of those "surprise patches" on your bike. Your front wheel just hops right over it, like a bunny on a trampoline. You grip the handlebars so tightly your knuckles turn white. "What was that?" you yell, moving your body like you are trying to hang on to a wild horse.

You're going up and down, swerving from side to side, holding on for dear life as if your life depends on it-because, honestly, it kind of does. The road isn't smooth; it's like a series of small bumps that make you wonder whether you are riding a bike or getting ready for an off-road race.

But wait, there's more! The whole journey is like some sort of challenge thrown to some "extreme sports" competition. One jumps over water puddles that have suddenly turned out to be small lakes by avoiding workers probably still enjoying their "lunch break." You dodge cars like you would play some game of "Indiana Jones: Highway Chase." Even at some point, you half-expect to see a camera crew filming your funny moments to some viral video. It is road or a game show

And the best part is that, just when you want to grumble about road work and the roads in general, someone tells you, "This happens everywhere, buddy. It's fine." They make you feel it is normal to travel on hard roads. So here you go, shaking your head, and thinking, "Okay. Okay, I'll just go through this mess like it's just a normal Tuesday.

The next time you prepare to ride, remember this: New roads in India do not mean things are getting better. They are just another part of the "Who Forgot to Plan This One?" story. This part has bad repairs, hidden pipes, and the nagging thought that your bike's suspension is the only thing keeping you from needing a chiropractor soon.

Thanks for reading. Please do follow me on Instagram for more updates about my blog. Also, follow me on Facebook for more rants and updates. You can send me a message to share your bike stories, and I'll try to feature them on my blog. For those of us who are riding on Indian roads, we're all in this bumpy, shaky ride together.