My friend and I decided that we join a driving school to get the damn license. ME? I really didn't want to drive. I just needed that license. At least to escape all questions under the prototype “What? You are 23 and no license?” Hmmm. I wonder how that relates. But still I had all the answers in the world to convince people “Where is the thrill of driving without a license?” and every other answers under that prototype. Anyways, we decided to pay the advance sum and start off as soon as possible. W reached the place and were waiting in his office room. And after 15 minutes of looking at the clock, the calender, the table in front of us, the baldy and the road, we were called in. My friend had already spoken to him the previous day. I am not very good in making conversations. My friend was doing all the talking and I was sitting like a dumb dog changing my sight from person to person running the conversation. From time to time, jokes would bounce out and they would laugh, and would look at me to see if I am still there at all. I would laugh too. The only thing I could do best at that time to show 'em that I was in the conversation. Now the other guy would look at me from time to time when talking. I figured out that he needed me to say something. I would think of something to say, like “When did you become bald? It must be awful to find out that you are losing your hair.” But that would be completely irrelevant. So I shut my mouth and admired the conversation which was nothing more than when to start the classes. After paying the advance, I decided to do the ultimate. I decided to talk. I asked “So how much for the bike license?” He stopped writing the bill, lifted his head and looked at my friend in slow mo and asked in Mario Puzo's Godfather style “You told him everything we talked yesterday right?” His look was nearly vicious. My friend said “YYYesss Si Sir. I did” “Goood. Goood” he said. I should have kept my mouth shut like I always do. I nearly fainted.
Day 1 Time: Monday 7:04am Location: Some crappy place in my beautiful town. My first ever attempt in driving a car. Five minutes back I was sitting at the backseat watching my friend changing gears and pushing the clutch and brakes and NOW ITS MY TURN!!!! Yey!!! I removed my slippers as per the instructions given. I was shown the ABC of the car. Every instruction was smooth until he told me this, “Today, your lesson is only the accelerator. Just speed up and slow down the car as I tell you to.” My head spun. I did it when I was 8. My dad would ask me to step on the accelerator just for fun. Why the hell am I paying to do it again? But at least I had the steering in my hand (that's a dev!!! whaddya think??). But, he slowly lifted his right hand and rested it on the steering. “WAAAAAATTTTT!!!!That ain't fair” I shouted inside. He closed his eyes before starting the lesson. He was either meditating or praying. Of course he should, If I am not supposed to use the brakes. I just hoped that he would take away his hand from the steering after his frightening meditation posture. He didn't, God was laughing hard till his stomach hurt. Horrible first day. I didn't even step on the brakes. I was a 5 year old kid driving a big toy car with elders on my side enjoying the sight saying “OH! So Cute!” No clutch, no gear and hell yeah, no steering. The day's lessons were over and when we got out my friend said, “Hey, you did well.” I sure did buddy... I stared at him “I sure did.”
Day 2 Time: Of course, It's Tuesday!!! 7:10am Location: A less crappier place in the same town. Today I was in for a surprise (or surprises!!). My friend finished his turn. I was next in line. I took a deep breath and cracked my knuckles, sweat broke out of my temples. “Will I get the steering and gear today?” I was nervously thinking. Surprise!!! He asked me to push the clutch and change to gear one. Suddenly my world was filled with light and all those beautiful colors with angels dancing by my side. I smiled and no one could have been happier than me. The bigger surprise was I changed the gear by controlling the clutch with such ease. Of course he guided me through the gear shift. He asked me to speed up and so did I. But his hand wouldn't let go off the steering. It didn't matter, at least I got the clutch, the brakes, the gear and the boring accelerator. I changed to second gear and third and fourth, all without a hitch. I had mastered the art of clutch control and brakes on my very first attempt. Hell, he even made me use the horn (OK! I got a little weird on that one. Sorry!) Just when everything was going smooth, something was about to happen which would make me face the inevitable truth. A kid jumped into the road. Yes, this is my chance to prove myself and save the day. It all depended on me. I had to react swiftly and apply the brakes and save the kid. And even before I could finish thinking these superhero thoughts, the car stopped and the kid was saved. My instructor quickly shifted to the first gear and asked me to step on the accelerator. WHAT THE HELL???? I didn't apply the brakes and how on earth could he have changed gears without stepping on the clutch. I asked him the same and was expecting some really bad news. He politely replied me for the first time “I have a brake and clutch on my side son. I was controlling the brakes and clutch from my side all the time”. SURPRISE!!!!!!!!! He was doing it the whole time and I only had the accelerator. God must have fell down from his chair laughing hard.
