Learning to drive in Andheri, Mumbai - part 1

Long long ago, around 1986, I started cycling in South Calcutta roads. I used to enjoy the slow paddling along the lansdown road or the suother avenue close to the lake, famous those days as lover's corner.

One day, I was trying to cross the road near lake market and had a very close save. The auto ricksaw driver was skilled and just about save me. He got wild and abused me. I abused him back saying, he shuold have gone over me and who asked him to same me. I was a teenager those days.

Much later, I used to drive a scooter in Bangalore and had some close save.

I moved to Mumbai and stayed very to close to my work place. Hence, I never felt the need to be mobile but I guess I missed out on the girl scene because of it.

I got married and a dear son arrived in our life in 2002 onwards. The visit to the doctor for various inoculations became routine. And it hurt us taking him around in a autoricksaw or taxi. The pollution was too much and moonsoon made it worse to move around without a vehicle.

Thus the desire to have a car was born. Off course, prinx, my wife, was all for it.

I have learned driveing when I was in Bangalore but that was four year ago. So I enrolled again to a driving school.

My masterji was Munna, an ex -truck driver who after a sever accident realised its much safer to teach that to practice.

He loved to talk and being from UP, had many aquintances in the nook and corner of Mumbai. He would use the the teaching session to socialise with these folks. Thus I came to know about road where one has to fight with cows for right to move forward.

Sometimes, he would share gems gleaned from experience. Like if a dog comes in front of your car, never try to save it, it might lead to accidents. He was however silent when asked what to do in case a human being comes in front of the car.

One day, I overtook a car and deftly took a turn. I saw a hint of a faint smile in his chekered face and nodded his approval. Later, he said, I should be able to manage driving.

Getting the driving licence was a farce. The inspector is known the driving scool woner and it hurts his weak soul to test and may be fail their student.

Thus I became a bonafide licence woner.

Soon, we bought a Maruti zen VXI.

To be continued....