Pathanamthitta: For most, a scooter bought in 1999 would be long retired, rusting in a corner or sold off for scraps. But for 69-year-old Saleem and his wife Zeenath (63) from Muvattupuzha, Chetak is the vehicle of dreams, memories, and a love that’s still riding strong.

Zeenath always dreamed of seeing new places, but life had other plans. The strains of household chores, raising children, dizziness and nausea made long-distance travel difficult. Buses were uncomfortable, and cars didn't help much either. Slowly, her dreams took a backseat, until her husband decided to change that.

“Let’s start travelling together,” Saleem told her three years ago, seating her gently on their old Bajaj Chetak, a scooter he had bought for ₹13,000 back in 1999.

Their first trip, in 2022, was to Marayoor, a hilly region 125 kilometers from their home. That successful ride opened the floodgates. Soon came journeys to Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram, Munnar, Ooty, and countless destinations across Kerala. All of it on the same scooter.

“We’ve travelled most of Kerala,” Saleem says with pride. “And always on our Chetak." He says the rides feel smoother when his wife is with him on the trips.

Saleem, who once worked as an auto-rickshaw driver and spent six years as a mechanic, handles all the repairs himself. Their scooter, though aged, runs like a charm.

At a vintage classic scooter meet in Pathanamthitta on Sunday, Saleem and Zeenath arrived on their trusty two-wheeler. While others displayed polished machines, the couple brought a story of enduring love.

Now, the duo is planning their next trip, this time to Bengaluru, to visit their grandchild who is studying there. “Maybe in five or six years, we won’t be able to travel without our children’s help. Before that, we want to see as much as we can, together,” Zeenath says.

Their children, Najeeb, Nejiya, and Nesiya, support their parents’ unique adventures, proud of their courage and bond.