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.
