Whims of Mind

The Black Rider

"I saw him yesterday!" Raj had exclaimed in the morning, "He is back in town."

Raj was an idiot. A rich idiot. Despite having every toy that a young boy of eleven can think of, one thing Raj could never have was peace. He was a showoff. He loved all the attention he could garner for himself, and he always wanted more. Aarav felt sorry for him sometimes.

But Raj was right. He was indeed back in town.

The Black Rider.

Aarav did not remember who coined that name for the motorcycle rider, but the first time it was used, everyone knew who it was referring to. And yet, nobody knew who he was, where he lived, why he disappeared sometimes, or if he even was real or just an apparition. So, everyone did what people of a small town do best: they made him into a legend.

The Black Rider was famous across the town, and every time somebody saw him, he became a hot topic for discussion. The elderly, who had nothing better to do with the remainder of their lives branded him as the town's scoundrel. For them, he must have been a spoilt brat. That was the only explanation why he rode his bike so recklessly, endangering the life of others. "His parents must be real proud of their brat." Anyone who drove their own vehicle knew the rider never rode recklessly.

The adults did not bother themselves much with the rider. Some would try to click pictures if they ever encountered him, or his bike, but that was purely to brag in front of their children.

For the young-adults and teenagers, he was a blazing vanguard of rebellion. They would be the one to circulate his blurry photos on the social media. Boys made videos around the black bike and it's specifications, and the black helmet. Girls made reels about his black leather jacket, black jeans, and black boots and where one could buy it if they wanted to. Everyone would try to copy him: his dress, his aura, his bike riding skills. No wonder the hospitals had an influx of these youngsters every time the rider was in town.

"He has a lion tattoo on his right arm. I saw it yesterday!" Aarav had overheard a senior girl whispering to her friend on the bus when he was returning home, both blushing. That was new. Then again, something was new every time. That was when the entire bus had suddenly started cheering. Aarav had taken a moment to realize what they were cheering for: the Rider had just passed them, swiftly as always. Everyone had stood up from their seats to look at him; even the teachers could not help themselves but look. Aarav could not care less. He just wanted reach home so that he could play Valorant with his sister, who had come home from college for summer break.

Aarav got down from the bus and walked towards his house. He lived in the outskirts of the town. His father had wanted a peaceful location, away from the hustle and bustle of the town's population. He was the only one who the school bus dropped at that location. He wondered what he would tell his mother about how his day went. From the corridor to the cafeteria, from morning till dismissal, it had all been about the Rider. Even the teachers were talking about him.

He opened the entrance gate, entered and closed it behind him. He walked on the paved path in the middle of the courtyard and carefully slipped passed the parked bike. His father had turned the courtyard into a beautiful garden, and it always felt peaceful to walk in the shade of the trees. He entered through the grill that was already open, sat down on the chair, loosened the knots and slipped the shoes off his feat. While he was pulling off the socks, Shalini Di emerged from inside the house.

"What's up?"

"Don't flex your celebrity status on me,"

Shalini chuckled. "What's new?"

"You have a lion tattoo on your right arm," Aarav replied nonchalantly.

Shalini looked at him with surprise. Then, a playful smile ran across her face. She took a seat on the chair beside him. "They could see that from inside my jacket?"

"Apparently, they could,"

Shalini contemplated something for a second. "Maybe, I should get a tattoo after all. A lion on the right arm would be nice," she said thoughtfully.

"Certainly not!" their father's voice echoed as he emerged from inside the house holding two cans of Cola-Cola. He handed them to Aarav and Shalini.

All three of them burst into hearty laughter. Only this family carried the true secret behind the legend of the Black Rider, a tale so wild it could only be shared among them.