Think motorcycle with a sidecar and the primary picture that pops into one’s thoughts is of Jai and Veeru from the long-lasting cult film – Sholay. However 77-year-old Mohanlal P Chauhan has a unique opinion. “Overlook Jai and Veeru, when you learn our story the motorcycle with the sidecar will solely remind you of us,” he tells The Higher India.

Mohanlal and Leelaben (71), have coated over 30,000 kms over 4 street journeys on their 1974 classic Royal Enfield (bullet) bike.

The primary few solo journeys that Mohanlal launched into have been for enjoyable however he says that he missed Leelaben’s firm. The will to journey collectively led Mohanlal to repair the bullet with a sidecar.

In 2011, Mohanlal, a former worker of the Oil and Pure Fuel Company (ONGC), suffered a coronary heart assault after which the docs forbade him from even climbing stairs.

“Not one to be sitting at house he determined to reside his life on his personal phrases.” says Leelaben.

After choosing voluntary retirement from ONGC, in 2015 Mohanlal began happening quick solo journeys. “I bear in mind exploring close by locations with my father on his scooter as a child. After my retirement, once I began happening journeys, I felt nearly like I had a brand new lease on life,” he says.

“In 2010, Leelaben had a fall and fractured her leg which left her in ache and likewise barely handicapped. I knew I wished her to journey with me however on the similar time I wished to make the trip straightforward on her. This was what led to the attachment of the sidecar to the bullet,” Mohanlal provides.

Do Deewane Shaher Mein (Two foolish souls about city)

The music — Do Deewane Shaher Mein from the film Gharonda (1977) superbly captures the essence of Mohanlal and Leelaben’s journey. In 2016, after having the sidecar hooked up, the couple launched into their first journey collectively. Ranging from Vadodara in Gujarat, the couple went via Maharashtra, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Whereas the couple was trying ahead to crossing the borders and visiting Sri Lanka, they have been in a position to go solely as much as Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu resulting from some political pressure. “The dawn and sundown at Rameshwaram was one thing else,” says Leelaben, who provides that witnessing this pure phenomenon was an expertise she’s going to always remember. Whereas the couple returned to Vadodara after this Bharat darshan, they have been already planning for his or her subsequent journey.

Requested the difficulties of the planning course of, Mohanlal says, “The planning was not the issue, answering questions and allaying fears and doubts that individuals had was the issue. Many have been satisfied that we might not final past a couple of hundred kilometres.”

However in February 2018, the couple took a second journey. This time the vacation spot was Thailand. “On our journey to achieve Thailand, we went via Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, after which Meghalaya. Sadly, once we reached Meghalaya, the landslides began and we have been suggested to not go ahead,” he says. The couple regrets not having the ability to make it to Thailand, however, in the identical breath, add that each vacation spot they crossed has left them with recollections to final a lifetime.

Not with out their share of pitfalls

Throughout their journey in 2018, when the couple was passing via Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, Leelaben had a fall and fractured her ankle, for which she needed to endure a surgical procedure. Having to spend near a fortnight within the hospital, Mohanlal says, “This woman is manufactured from very sturdy mettle. She didn’t let the autumn deter her spirit. With a forged on, she received into the sidecar able to go. Not as soon as did she say she wished to get again house. She’s the second battery to my bullet.”

Leelaben additionally prides herself on being the finance supervisor of the staff and says, “Now we have budgeted between Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 as our per day expenditure. This contains our meals, keep, petrol and different miscellaneous prices. Up to now we might have spent Rs 2 lakhs on every journey of ours.”

In 2019, they coated Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and went upto Jammu.

“Now we have coated nearly each state in India. Each is prettier than the opposite, and even if you happen to requested me to choose my favorite, I wouldn’t be capable of,” says Mohanlal, anticipating my query. Whereas most individuals really feel homesick on journeys, Leelaben says that staying at house for too lengthy makes them reasonably sick.

“We want to have the ability to journey and discover locations. We’re not made to remain put in a single place,” she provides.

The final journey that the couple took on their bullet was in early 2020 once they visited Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh. What retains them going is their easy outlook on life. “With each cease, I be sure that I attain out to the chef to request for easy meals to be made for us. We’re vegetarians and aside from onions and potatoes, we eat all the things,” he says. Mohanlal shares a number of the meals that he likes consuming and says, “Paneer paratha, tomato soup, vegetable pulav, Masala bhat, curd and one full glass of milk is what my eating regimen consists of. Regardless of the place we went – South or North, our meals necessities have been at all times taken care of.”

With the world grappling with the novel Coronavirus, journey plans for this 12 months have been placed on maintain. However reminiscing about their journeys collectively, Leelaben says, “He’s my husband however once we journey collectively, he turns into my greatest pal. I take pleasure in driving with him.”

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)