Mitsubishi Lancer SLXi. Bought by my dad 3 years ago. Allow me to call it Mitsu.
Mitsu came to our family’s life in 2001.
The colour of the car was termed Silver Pearl.
It was handsome and I liked it from day one.
When we used to go for long rides, there was hardly any sound.
Only the silent drone of the engine, as they say.
And it was so comfy.
My mother used to keep telling to others, We never feel that we had travelled when we reach our destination.
I am not an auto expert so I cannot go into the specifications and other aspects of Lancer. You can get a better opinion in any auto publication.
But please keep reading.
One fine day, on a night of 2003, I got a call from my mother, Manoj, we are in front of a toll bridge near Cochin. Our car crashed a minivan which had stopped to pay toll. We are safe, including the driver. But the car is smashed. The front is gone........
Later my mother told me how the locals there had rushed to the accident spot and looked stunned to see that my parents & driver had come to no harm. Because the looks of the car gave a different picture. The entire front portion (including engine) was smashed & turned inwards. It was a miracle that our driver came out of this accident with only a swelling in his leg(not serious) & a minor cut on his head (from the front broken glass).
This incident reminds me of an article published in a Sunday paper of Mathrubumi (one of kerala’s leading daily newspaper). The article was of a doctor couple & a driver who was involved in a car accident. They were travelling in a busy road. Their Lancer was hit from behind by a speeding container truck. The force pushed the car forward and it rammed on an oncoming bus from the opposite direction. The picture of the car was shown. There was nothing left of the car - front or back. And to think that the couple & driver came out safe, with minor injuries! God, I silently wept reading this. They were taken out of the car after hours of efforts from the locals & the police. The truck driver, body shaking was crying non-stop & apologising to the couple. They hugged him in return.
The article was aptly titled, Daivathinde brake (God’s brake).
Mitsu was sent to the garage later.
It was judged unrepairable & sold as scrap.
My eulogy to Mitsu: You sacrificed your life & saved my parents & our driver.
Thank you friend, I miss you.