The Gypsy

1991

While out for an errand on the streets of Colaba, I happened to lay eyes on an open Jeep parked at a Petrol Pump just behind our residence. The black coloured, open Jeep, though a bit dilapidated, was a sight to behold and I simply couldn’t resist.

Of the many interests I had in that age (I was in the First year of my engineering), sports, food, movies and cars were the mainstays, and within cars of course, Jeeps always caught my attention. And this one was no different. I had no idea of the make of the Jeep, but I started visiting the petrol pump of and on, to gaze at the Jeep as it lay stranded for days,  and one fine day I mustered courage to enquire about it from one of the workers at the petrol pump.

My guess was correct, the Jeep was up for sale. On further enquirers I found that it belonged to an actor who wanted to get rid of the same and was even ok with a 40k sum for it. 40k was not a small amount, but still I broached the subject with my father in a very subtle manner, not showing much interest, but at the same time trying to put my point through. My father appeared as disinterested as the actor in having the Jeep, and my little hope of acquiring it vanished in a jiffy. However, as all young men do, I decided that one day I will surely have a Jeep of mine.

2001

I had been working for three years now, had acquired a car too, when again I noticed a Jeep (a vintage Willy’s), parked for sale very near to my house. It looked simply gorgeous and I felt that my wait of acquiring a Jeep could well be over. In my enthusiasm I contacted the dealer, had a vague look at the vehicle, and convinced my father, who on this occasion, purely out of  his affection for me, agreed and even paid the token amount to the dealer (though I was earning).

However he asked me to get the vehicle checked up from a reasonable mechanic. The outcome of the same was disastrous. The vehicle was simply unpliable (though we took a ride in it, it felt as if it might just disintegrate), had lots of technical glitches and actually required a complete overhaul. The deal had to be cancelled. The token money was gone  too and so was my enthusiasm. But my dream still lived on.

2014-15

The focus in the interim remained on my career as I travelled to four different cities in the space of a decade. I had been doing reasonably well but this desire for a Jeep continued to burn and push me on. During a casual conversation with a colleague and a good friend I came to know of a dealer who sold auctioned Maruti Gypsys. This was a great opportunity and I was not going to let it go. The dealer was contacted, a Gypsy selected and sent to the Garage for requisite repairs and modifications. 
After a period of more than 6 months, the Gypsy was ready. It really looked good and truly matched the vehicle which I had envisaged all these years. I kept it a secret from my parents and when after a few months they came to visit me, they were surprised no end to see my Gypsy. My father was fairly startled. Though he appreciated, he was not all that happy seeing me invest in an old vehicle. I got a bit upset, though never showed it. 

2017

It was two years since my Gypsy had arrived. My father too had taken a few rides in it but still he didn’t appear convinced. One fine day, I got a call from my father. He very candidly said that he saw my Gypsy closely and found it a very good one and that he was extremely happy and proud of me that I had eventually realised my dream of owning a Jeep, which I had harboured all these years. I felt a great sense of relief. His words made me so happy. A couple of days later my father injured his hip in a freak accident at home and in less than two months he passed away.

2021

Dream Big and then go all out in pursuance of them. It may take time as the Gypsy took so many years, and today as I stand at the cusp of a change, I haven’t stopped dreaming. There will be heartbreak and failures on the way, but eventually if you hold your ground long enough, your dreams will be realised.
So go get your ‘ Gypsy ‘.