The drama began when I decided to learn driving. It is a nightmare to drive on Delhi's killer roads. If anyone can drive on Delhi roads, he can drive anywhere. The concept of lane driving is different here, so are the road rules. If three lanes have been designated for the traffic then people will create six lanes out of three. You can overtake only if you have the bigger vehicle.
Keeping this in mind, began my tryst with driving. After much coaxing and cajoling, I learnt to drive. The D-day came when I had to go for my driving license test. With nervous butterflies in my stomach, I reached the test centre. (For easier understanding, from here on Test Centre with be called TC in this post.)
My driving school had fixed the day and time of the test for the people in my batch. A motely group of people (including me) were told to come in a back lane near TC at a certain given time. All of us assembled there (a college student, an office goer, a teacher, a doctor and other assorted people). We huddled together in a group. It looked like we were involved in some shady drug deal as passerbys gave us suspicious looks. I didn't know how the day would unfold.
After a roll call of all our names, we were told in a low voice by the driving school guy “Aapko fikar karne ki koi zarurat nahi hai. Aap test may pass ho jaogey.” Then he gave an all knowing smile and told us to follow him.
We walked in the lane towards the TC. At the TC, we entered from a back door and then proceeded to walk past counters where the normal junta was not allowed. Then we stopped and signed a form at a particular counter. The list had already reached the counter wallah guy. By this time I realized that a few palms had been greased so that our license would be made without much difficulty.
Then we went to the area where we were supposed to drive the car. Again, the driving school guy told us in a tone full of conspiracy “Dekiye abhi apka driving test hoga, sirf 100 metre agey jaana hai phir 100 metre reverse. Bas. Apka test khatam.”
The car in which we were supposed to give our test arrived. It was a car provided by the driving school. It had double accelerator, break and clutch. Now comes the fun part.
The person who was supposed to take our test, stood on the road (with loads of money in his pocket - This I deduced from what happened next). He did not bother to get in the car to test us! The driving school guy sat in the car with each one of us. A college student whose number was just before mine looked a bit nervous coz she wasn't sure about reversing properly. After the test, she got down and with a puzzled face came upto me and said “Kuch bhi nahi hua.”
My number was just after hers. Before I could comprehend her statement, I was called for my test. With butterflies playing circus in my stomach I sat down in the car. The driving school instructor told me - don't put your foot on the accelerator. Just hold the steering wheel and pretend you are driving. I told him I can drive, but he ignored that! With a questioning look on my face, I followed his instructions.
I held the steering, he put his foot on the accelerator, moved the car forward. Stopped. Asked me to look back and yet again pretend that I am reversing the car. He then reversed the car and we stopped. With a smile on his face he told me “You have passed the test. You can collect the license in one hour.“
What test? That was a driving test? I think it was an acting test.
Needless to say, I have a driving license and that too for twenty years!
P.S : In retrospect I just wonder, if people get license like this, no wonder road accidents are increasing day-by-day.
Originally posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 11:42 AM
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