A Narrow Escape from a Passing Train

I was looking for William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice book for the last two weeks to discuss it with a teacher of mine as both of us wanted to make use of our spare time. I looked with my friends and none had a copy. A short while ago I called Lake House bookshop in Anuradhapura and they said there is one copy left and I thought of hurrying up and buying it. I took the bike and drove fast. I did not remember today is Saturday (trains from Anuradhapura to Mihintale run only during weekends) and was speeding up. Suddenly I heard a horn of a train and the train was very close. I was in a dilemma whether to go ahead or stop the bike as my speed didn’t allow me to hit the brakes. (There wasn’t a rail gate in this crossing and there was only a sign warning that trains could come and be causes.) Instantly I decided to hit the brakes and the bike stopped and it nearly hit the train. The driver of the train was furious and so was another biker on the other side of the road. He said he expected worse and I too think if not for the timely brakes, it would have been the curtains for me.