With overprotective father at home, I never had a chance to face Indian roads before marriage. Either catch a bus or catch my brother to move myself outside the territory. Life changed after marriage...and moving to US left me with no choice, but learn driving. The feeling of freedom that I'm not dependant on someone <to move myself> is dangerously addictive. The statement "No car...no life" seems so true. With everyone following traffic rules and lanes, driving becomes a piece of cake.
Now we are back to India, to give kids the best of both worlds. We thought of buying an Automatic car, but settled with manual car to save some bucks. Even though we know driving, didn't want to take any chance on Indian roads..especially with manual car. There comes the dependency factor...hire a driver...safe and hassle free. Well, with petrol prices skyrocketing, driver costs are skyrocketing too. After two years, started questioning ourselves...why should we depend on a driver when we have driving experience for so many years? So took a chance and started driving...
Moment of truth....can I drive a manual car? Moving from auto to stick-shift is indeed a big challenge. Anyways..went with the attitude "let's give it a try"...first gear......drrrrrr....stops...again drrrrrrrrr...stops.....had the feeling if I ever get the car going. Now feels funny when I think of those days. Anyways practice makes a man<even a woman> perfect.
What next? Yes....driving the car on busy Indian roads. Felt like I was playing a video game with joystick in my hand. God, why don't I have a microphone to announce my car is coming, please give a way. Well....that sounds odd, so had to settle down with the honk. Wait....how many times do I need to honk? In my dozen years of driving in US, hardly used the honk....but now, my hand can't stop honking on the roads....gosh...noise pollution...but can't help it. It's sad to see that Indian roads officially the most dangerous in the world.
On no divider roads, what to say of vehicles racing towards me. Sometimes makes me feel like "Am I in a battlefield to face the opponents? Why are they rushing towards me? Am I the one going in wrong direction?". And in the night, it's no less than a laser show to the eyes.
On no divider roads, what to say of vehicles racing towards me. Sometimes makes me feel like "Am I in a battlefield to face the opponents? Why are they rushing towards me? Am I the one going in wrong direction?". And in the night, it's no less than a laser show to the eyes.
Also started driving with my husband sitting next to me...not to help with driving, but to add extra eyes to the upcoming surprises on the road. Feels scary when I see four wheelers kissing the two wheelers. Sometimes people don't even follow the traffic signals, but they sincerely follow the crowd. And the most scariest part is my bodyguard sitting next to me...telling me to go fast. For me... SAFETY FIRST SPEED NEXT :-).
But is that going to work on India roads? Not always...if you don't move yourself, you are stuck on roads for a long time. Now I learned the art of keep moving - others wait if I move, they'll move if I wait....haha...mystery solved.
Neverthless to say, it feels proud to drive on Indian roads. And the feeling that I'm driving like the people in the video leaves me with this great feeling... if you can drive in India, you can drive anywhere in the world.
Driving in India is not just driving, but a great exercise for the eyes, mind, hands and legs. For the computer geek with no eye exercise at home, go drive on busy Indian roads...you can't go wrong in moving your eyes 360 degrees ;-). Anyways, Happy and safe driving Punya!!
