Biker crushed on way to collect bride’s dress

MUMBAI: Biker Harish Pillai (31), who was crushed to death when a speeding double-decker BEST bus tipped over on Friday evening, was on his way to collect his fiancée’s wedding wear. He was engaged to former colleague Sowmya Shetty and was to tie the knot on May 3.
Sowmya’s mother was distributing wedding cards at the time fire brigade officials were trying to haul up the bus weighing 7,600 kg and release Harish’s body crushed underneath.It was only on Saturday that the family was told about the accident.
Sowmya, who has been inconsolable since she heard the news, had called up Harish’s friend Ashraf Khan to confirm if the dead biker was indeed her fiancé. Sowmya’s father Ramanna said the news has shattered her. “We were all very happy about the wedding and have been busy with the preparations. She was supposed to go on leave from May 1 and look how her life has changed now,” said the father. Khan said Sowmya was trying to reach Harish’s phone all night and called him when he could not get through.
The Saphalaya Cooperative Society in Gorai, where Harish lived with his brother and parents, wore a sombre look as his family and relatives returned from the crematorium after performing the last rites. His younger brother Santosh said BEST officials had met the family and offered condolences at Bhabha Hospital, where Harish was brought dead.
“They have not come to our place as yet. We got to know about the compensation only through media reports,” he said. Santosh said the family was too much in grief to decide whether they would pursue the case or let the law take its own course.
Sowmya’s father blamed the accident on the driver’s callousness and called for appropriate action against him. Harish’s father was not in a position to talk. His mother, already suffering from a hip problem, has taken to bed.
The bus driver, Jalimdar Bhosle, was produced in court on Saturday and released on bail.
Khan, Harish’s friend and colleague for two years at the BPO Capita in Andheri, remembered introducing him to the world of bikes. He described Harish as a reserved guy who loved to spring surprises. “He was never predictable. He would never inform about things beforehand and would just surprise us. His wedding announcement too came the same way,” he said, adding that Harish was a foodie and they often used to explore new eating places. Of late, Harish had developed a love for photography and purchased a high-end digital camera.
Harish’s other colleagues described his untimely death as a huge blow to the organization. “He was an asset for us. He was promoted just five months ago to the position of team coach and always went that extra mile to facilitate work,” said Harish’s senior Kavil. He recollected that Sowmya too worked in the same team with Harish before moving to another organization.