26 MAR 2017 AT 13:14

Our eyes on the board, I glare at it. I say "goodbye" and he just gives me a tight nod. And I feel like he's angry, it's coming off him in waves and his handlebar will break if he crush it any longer. I turn around in trance and take off. I see him in the mirror, still in that position and my tears fall freely much to my dismay.
I can't take that signboard off my mind, I saw it, he saw it too. It said,
Palakkad 👆
Pollachi 👈
Toll gate - 3 kms.
Everything in me screams for me to turn around and I don't know why, but I resist it a good while before giving in.
One last race!
I take a turn, praying it isn't too late.
I'm not. I race past him and our eyes lock a moment. Well, let's just say he's equally troubled and it shows. He's happy, furious all the same, his eyes flare at my sight. He knows my game and I don't feel a bit bad about my head start. And I hope with love and me at odds, our hearts win.
Figures, it's lucky day indeed.
Because I beat him to it, I win.

- Sara Jothi