India, Oct. 2 -- As an avid biker, I've roamed the length and breadth of the country with my gang - some astride thumping Royal Enfields, others on screaming Kawasakis and wild KTMs. Of course, I have had my fair share of close shaves. But let's be honest, can you really call yourself a biker if you haven't had a tryst gone wrong even once? Not really.

While I don't keep a count of how many times I have flirted with danger on the road, there is one instance in particular that still sends goosebumps racing down my spine.

It was the monsoon of 2023 when I decided to hit the Western Ghats. Like many bike enthusiasts from Bengaluru, I, too, had an itch for a weekend ride along the scenic roads, threading through small townships, mist-laden ...