Behind the Wheel!

The time had come to face my nightmares. I had dreaded this for weeks now. And last week when I dreamt about me driving a truck and smashing every possible car in the vicinity, I realised that I had Driving Phobia!

So I decided a week before that I needed to take the car out on my own. Lets go to class!! Well I thought that was an absurd idea too cos if I got stuck there then that would have been humiliating infront of 600 kids. Anyhow, I announced my plans 3 days back to my brother, who had been constantly pestering me to take it out on my own.

D-day arrived. And I was really anxious. Butterflies in the stomach. I asked my brother if he could escort the car, on his motorcycle to the class, which he expectedly refused. The previous night I had dreamt about leaving the keys in the car, adn locking myself out. That would really be amusing (not!).

So I asked him if he could atleast watch me take the car out of the parking, and if I felt nice till then I would go on, or else I would back off. And so we started. Not a good start, I grazed the bumper while taking it out of the packed parking. And then on my own we go. I was sweating.......oh yes I was.

And then we come to that dreaded slope that has to be overcome each time we have to go somewhere. And why does one have a red light on that slope. And why is it always red when I arrive there!! Some really cosmic secrets that cannot be discerned. Waiting waiting waiting...and its green....cars behind me honks....and I press the accelerator hard. Yayyyyyy, I didnt get stuck.....thats one obstacle out of the way.

And next up ITO. The Bus Junction.....another slope....not as steep though. But its a red light!!! I stop...and a motorcycle behind me....and the car is going back...and it nudges him a bit I think.....I glance back.....he is smiling somehow....maybe my kiddish face makes him smile....whatever!

At this time I realised that my whole shirt was drenched in sweat......Nervousness sweat.....And it almost seemed someone had poured water on me. And then I safely arrive at the class location....quite an isolated location this.....I had come half an hour early to avoid parking blushes. Yes! I find the best and easiest spot available. This would be easy to get out of too! And then I park and get out and thats that.

8.30pm....I am getting nervous again...Its almost time to go home. I have never driven at night before....atleast not side by side with BUSES! What have I got myself into? Shud I plead with someone to drive this machine home......

I ask my friend rajat, if I can drop him off till the bus stand....I warn him I am not a good driver....This would ease off my nerves...having someone in the cockpit! And yayyyyy I do really well....I back well and then I turn well....and then I drop him....and then I go steady and handle the buses well....and then we're almost home....

And this is where everything went wrong! I enter the parking area....its unusually crowded at this time....ofcourse it is, I arrived 20 minutes earlies....sir left the class early today!! Whatda... Ok ....lets go slow....and then it was CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.... I hit something....multiple objects and scraped metal.....Its those autos lined up....diagonally....whatda....

Awwww! there goes my Order of the Merlin first class!!! I was sooo happy till then having made it safely home. And then I wasnt even able to park well. The parking attendant got frustrated with me. "Aapko Back leni nahi aati kya"

I am trying you moron. Ok finally I backed, not before I hit two cars, one from the front and one from the back. And the guy is making them look ok. I get off and assess the damage....at first everything seems fine.....and then!!!!! Oh!

The left fender (as I am informed today what its called), had been badly damaged.....wayda go kiddo! With sighs allround I walk back home.....Only 10 minutes ago I was sooooo happy! But thats life for you! But I think I did ok really.....atleast I didnt kill anyone!

But driving a car as one is a great responsibility...and me being scared is reflected in that. I owe it to other people on the road and ofcourse the car owner (my brother), and maybe to myself as well.....so its not bad to be scared....its actually quite ok to be apprehensive.....