Silent companion: A bike stands guard at a rider’s last horizon
Love can bind us to people, memories and even objects — sometimes so profoundly that it becomes impossible to imagine life without them. In a deeply emotional and rare scene witnessed in Sirmaur district, this truth unfolded in the most heartbreaking manner during the final journey of a young man whose bond with his motorcycle transcended even death.
Karan Sharma, a vibrant 24-year-old from Ungar Kando village in the Shree Renukaji Assembly constituency, was a free spirit, known widely for his love for bike riding. To those who knew him, Karan was not just a rider — he was the embodiment of adventure, passion and dreams lived on two wheels. He was the boy who felt most alive when the wind roared past him and the open road stretched endlessly ahead.
But fate, in its cruelest form, struck too soon. On Thursday, while in Dadahu, Karan suffered a fatal electric shock. In the blink of an eye, a young life brimming with hopes and laughter was extinguished, leaving a void too deep for words.
The news of his sudden death sent shockwaves through the community. Friends, family, and villagers struggled to come to terms with the cruel reality — that Karan, with his ever-present smile and roaring motorcycle, would never ride again.
Yet, it was during his last rites on Friday afternoon at the serene banks of the Giri river that the depth of Karan’s bond with his beloved bike touched every heart present. In a sight that few could witness without their eyes welling up, Karan’s motorcycle was placed carefully and respectfully near his funeral pyre, as if standing silently by its master one final time.
It was not just a machine for Karan — it was an extension of his soul, his silent companion through countless journeys, and in this final, inevitable journey, it refused to be left behind. Friends arrived in large numbers, most riding their motorcycles, their engines roaring softly — not in celebration, but in mourning, each rev an unspoken farewell to their brother. The air was heavy with grief; the sound of engines mixed with muffled sobs and the rustle of the river’s breeze. The young man who once rode fearlessly towards life was now being ridden to his eternal rest by the very spirit he loved the most — his motorcycle.
Standing at the riverside, hundreds of mourners watched, many unable to hold back their tears. The setting sun bathed the scene in a soft golden light, making it even more poignant — the bike stood there, gleaming but lifeless, its rider gone beyond reach, yet somehow still present in spirit.
One of Karan’s close friends, tears streaming down his face, whispered, “He loved this bike like his own heartbeat. It was not just a ride for him — it was his freedom, his escape, his identity. Today, he rides free forever.”
As flames engulfed the pyre, friends placed their hands gently on the bike’s handlebars, as if to pass their final goodbyes through the metal, hoping their love would reach Karan wherever he was now. Some placed flowers on the bike, a silent prayer for the soul who had made every journey an adventure worth remembering.
Social media too became a river of grief, with people from near and far sharing pictures, memories, and heartfelt tributes. Messages poured in mourning the loss of a young life so full of promise and saluting the touching farewell given to a boy whose first love was the open road.
This was not just the funeral of a son, a friend, a brother — it was the final, emotional journey of a rider who lived every moment chasing dreams, with the throttle wide open and his heart fearless.
In the stillness that followed, one thing became clear: Karan may have left the world, but the road he carved with love, passion, and courage will live forever — in the hearts of all who knew him, and in the silent echo of a motorcycle’s engine whispering through the winds of Sirmaur.
Himachal Tribune