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.