My Driving travails - have a hearty laugh

I go back atleast twenty two years when I went for my driving lessons at a motor school in Mahim. Even now I can rattle off my CBA (not ABC) in the middle of my sleep; namely Clutch Break Accelerator. My biggest stress point was when I was being taught to drive up a slope. My testing ground was the Mount Mary’s slope Bandra as we lived in Mahim then and that was the closest slope to learn.

Then dawned the ultimate day that entailed going for my driving teat to Bombay Central RTO, undertaking a driving test from a pompous and self- important person. In case you thought otherwise, I did get my Driving license that day. And Euphoric I was. And so began my escapades on the roads of Mumbai in my Fiat MMH 2902.

The first episode happened in our building. We were then living in Makarand Sahaniwas in Mahim, Cadell Road and I was attempting to reverse my car into our garage; and Lo behold the door was certainly not strong and I banged into one of the garage wooden doors. We lived on the first floor; exactly above the garage and this had Rahul Arte (hubby) come rushing down. If I had to describe the look on his face, he might as well as have climbed from the drawing room parapet and jumped onto the ground floor if that could have prevented anything. The damage to the vehicle was a slight dent and after a bit of introspection that I was plain unlucky, I decided to head to get my weekly stock of fish from City light market in the car. Never Say  Never has always been my mantra. Wink Wink.

The next goal post was to take the car to office every Saturday. We worked half days on Saturdays at DHL. The journey entailed a drive from Mahim to Colaba near Radio club. Shapoorji Pallonji center where DHL was then housed was yet to see a cleaner and whiter non Bawa car than mine. But back to my driving travails.

The office route entailed taking the Peddar road flyover that connected to Babulnath. And I dreaded the slope; especially if it was heavy traffic with application of the fine balance of the clutch and breaks. Hats off to the drivers who have struck the right nuance on this one. But where there is a Will, there are many ways.

And for anyone who knows Mumbai city well, my New Way was to take a detour from Haji Ali and onto Tardeo circle onto Gamdevi and then onto Chowpatty. That served a two-fold purpose. I avoided Traffic and the Slope. Wasn’t I smart? And I hope that well explains my slope avoidance fixation. Wink Wink.

The last episode brings tears of laughter even today is memories of driving Radhika; my partner in many a crimes and myself from Mahim to a colleague’s wedding at Crystal Springs in Bandra. Coincidentally, this was the first time she was in a car with me driving. She had high myopia; which entailed using very thick specs.

Radhika had just completed appreciating my laced dress with stockings and shoes as I got down from my building. After all, it was a Catholic wedding we were to attend. And then began her first of the series of shocks that would unfold during the short journey. She didn’t know her friend would take off her shoes and drive bare feet. Not that she had not seen bare feet drivers. Every Mumbaikar will know that most taxiwallas drive bare feet. She was for the first time seeing a different Swati from the suave Swati she knew. Wink Wink.

And then as I zoomed past Mahim causeway, elated  with my driving( no slope hurdles);showing my hand out as an indication to other drivers that I wanted to overtake, Radhika must have got a sixth sense of the possible risk. It was then that she decided to have her head firmly perched practically out of the window, throughout our journey of 25 minutes; preening through her glasses to ensure that there was no mishap. The highlight was when I had to park, she actually strode out of the car to ensure that the rear left wheel of the car did not land into the drain as we parked close to the drain in the narrow Bandra by lane. That evening she made a decision as we sipped our respective glasses of port wine at the reception that we could well afford a cab the next time we were going together.

While I think my driving faux pas may have amused many of you, the takeaway for me here is that sometimes the ability to laugh at oneself can be the biggest stress buster and I recommend we all do it once in a while. Also, we may not have the best skills for every activity; and that is fine. As they say, some people are meant to  ‘Enjoy the ride’.

Well! Since then, Radhika has undergone lens implant procedure and does not need glasses anymore. I have now migrated to reading glasses and give enough attention to choosing the right frames, lens and brand in eyewear that suits me. If it is a necessary aid, it better be classy.

And I must admit that driving did not evolve to be my forte. And that is just fine. Cheekily I say; it is good to be driven around and one can still do the back seat driving basis what I learnt in Bharat Motor School, Mahim on the CBA.

Adios for now and wishing you all a Happy and Merry week ahead.

The Spirit of December beckons

Just as the calendar slips into December and the clocks strikes midnight to usher in the last month of the year, I find myself moving into a joyful and happy zone. The festive spirit filled with cheer has begun to manifest itself all around me; and I have made it my mantra to usher more friends and family into this mood.

As they say, if you know the power of positive thoughts, you wouldn’t let a single negative thought cross your mind. And likewise, it is like all forces have come together to make it an even more extraordinary month for me and those around. It has been a month of jamming with my closest pals to celebrate life and our knowing each other.

We celebrated Rajesh Bhatia’s birthday over some fine wine and dine with hubby Rahul and my closest pals Radhika, Bala, Anita, Jaya Ashar and my favourite boy Shantanu Ugrankar. My evening with Asha Kulkarni Almeida and Asavari Dubhashi, my two close school buddies  just happened  out of the blue when we connected at 11am and decided to catch up later that evening after work over some retail therapy at the mall followed by gapshap on what we call as ajoba (grandfather) reclining chairs on how our lives were unfolding. Food and I go hand in hand and so we wrapped the evening with some steaming sizzlers and ravioli. . Don’t analyse the combination, but in the right company; all things fall into place.

But not before we planned a date in January to brunch at Olive.  Though each one of us is so different, with one being a research microbiologist and the other an Ayurvedic doctor and me from the corporate domain, our shared bonding over  naughtiness and  what we choose to believe as our evolvedness that keeps us together. We have a name for us Trio; but that is for another day.

Can’t let this month pass without mentioning my school bestie Promila Jethwani who is in Dubai, but just a phone call or a chat away for me. I have made this special buddy a December promise to be there for her next birthday so long as it is somewhere in Asia. ‘Prom, I hope you are reading this and not going ahead with Las Vegas; mujhe naukri jo karni hai. Am not going to give up on convincing you that  Koh Samui is so us; all the wine, fish ,sand and sea. Beach party toh banti hai’.

Parsi bhonu(food) is my hot favourite and what more could one ask for when our close pal Jaya  hosted us at her old world charm of a gymkhana PVM at Cooperage on a sunny afternoon over white wine and sas ni macchi, bheja fry, the signature cheese samosas of PVM, Salli boti, prawn cutlets . A parsi meal cannot be complete without having  good old Dukes Raspberry; and that we did have in plenty. They must have run out of bottles that afternoon.

And then my pal Rachana (whom I possibly know for a short while; but we seem connected like from decades from an approach to life perspective), celebrated her 40^th birthday along with her hubby Vishal over a rocking evening. Flower themed decoration, khazana wala khana and crooning into what I understand continued to be 'A Party all night'. Meeting with my baby niece Rhea was the highlight of this weekend. She is an epitome of innocence, delight, joy and mastic all bundled into one. Got me to play Hide and seek after decades and insisted she won despite my desperate attempt to find the ultimate hiding space.

We also celebrated two birthdays in our building Ganpati group at our famous Essbel Khau(Eatables) katta (place of sitting) and homes, It was a Happy Birthday for Rajesh and Avinash and so no dinner at home on those days as ‘Khane walon ko.. Party ka bahana chahiye’.

At work, we hosted some children (girls)from an Orphanage run by nuns and it moved me to see them so happy and carefree as Santa made them merry. May God bless the nuns who love and take care of them like mothers and teachers. This is true selfless service and I do hope all of I for one can make a difference in the lives of those who may not be as privileged.

We are missing our friends Rongsen Anungla(Anu),Gautam  and their sweetie pie daughter Jiah this  month as they are visiting home in Nagaland. Not a year has gone by without one long evening with them during the Xmas week.

So, as December unfolds, I have finally got started with my 2015 resolution to write my blog. My motivator to this blog has been Manisha Talim, Rahul"s cousin who has managed to multi task with her profession as a doctor as well as her interests and hobbies.

So much more happening in the last ten days with a Christmas get together with my near and dear gang at our friend Anita Bhatia's warm home; followed with some bonding time with them in Mahableshwar. Mahableshwar will not be complete without at least two meals at Dinas where Hormuz has preserved British and continental recipes handed down three generations along with divine Parsi food. Radhika and I charted out our day wise plan at 3am last week. That calls for some spirit;, doesn’t it?

This is also my month of heartfelt thanksgiving to God for bringing people in my life who have been with Rahul and me through thick and thin. So Aai(mom), don’t say I missed you on this one.

Adios for now as I sign off with one of my many favourite quotes. ‘Life is short, Buy the Shoes, Drink the Wine, Order the dessert’.