SPEED

November 8th 2015

1:55pm

The day of the Avalon concert in Bangalore. 60km away from the venue and we have so much to do. “Bro, you’ve got to pick up Avalon and make sure they’re at the concert grounds by 2:30pm”, Karun says. With my driving skills, I know that’s impossible. He looks at my car, which we both know can’t go fast enough to make it on time. “Take Aaron’s car”, he says.

I get into the car. Half an hour to drive 30km, pick Avalon up from the hotel, and drive another 30km to the concert grounds. My hands start sweating. With a quick prayer on my lips, I start the car only to find that it’s low on fuel.

“That’s just great”, I think to myself, but I cannot waste anymore time thinking. I rush towards the hotel, hoping to find a fuel station on the way. Fortunately for me, I find one in five minutes. I enter, hand the guy a thousand rupee note and ask him to fill it up. I don’t even wait for the bill. At this point, I know every second counts.

2:05 pm

I’m rushing towards the hotel as fast as I can. I get a glimpse of the speedometer flashing 140km/hr. I don’t think I’ve ever gone this fast in my life, and for a good reason. Ten minutes later, I get caught by the cops for speeding. I don’t even bother arguing with them. I quickly pay the fine and drive away.

2:20pm

I reach the hotel. Amy and Jeremy Richardson from Avalon get in and I realize my hands have begun to sweat twice as much. I’m not sure if it’s because I have AVALON in the car or it’s because there are eight thousand people waiting for a concert and I have ten minutes to get there.

Once again, I punch the accelerator and drive like I’ve never driven before.

2:45pm

I’m almost there. Fifteen minutes late isn’t so bad, I can still make it on time. Just a hundred metres away and I can finally stop panicking.

2:46pm

The car stops in the middle of the road.I spend the next five minutes shuffling between trying to get it to run and apologizing to Avalon (who, by the way, are very patient with me).

it’s of no use. I call someone from the concert venue to come pick them up. I call Aaron and explain the situation to him – telling him his car has stopped randomly. He tells me he’s on his way and will see what the matter is.

The only thought that’s running in my head is how rough the journey has been and how, at each step, an obstacle has slowed me down. Eight thousand people gathered at a concert to worship God and I know for sure that lives are going to be touched. I’m amazed by how there are always forces that try and stop you when something big is about to take place.

My phone rings. It’s Aaron.

“Hello? Nestin? Did you fill fuel in the car?”, he says.

“Yes, yes I did”, I reply in full confidence.

He pauses for a moment.

“Did you fill petrol in my diesel Nissan Sunny?”