Licensed to drive

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It’s almost 15 years since I first discovered and fell in love with riding a bike. It’s been close to two years since the time I set out on mastering driving a car.

But, in all this time, I never had a Driver’s License for either a bike or car. Yes, I did have a Learner’s License from time to time. But, I never owned a Driver’s License, not once in 15 years.

Now finally, that has changed. I am licensed to drive – a car and a bike (the later after 15 years of being a bike person).

The day that I set out to get my license was a lovely, almost rainy Tuesday evening, It was one of those days when Koramangala looks particularly beautiful.

I joined over 70 nervous aspirants (who all hoped to be licensed to drive soon) on one of Koramangala’s by lanes. All of us waited patiently for the good part of half an hour, and then the RTO official appeared.

The bikers had to go first. It was a curious test. About 35 of us lined one behind another. Then, when we received the signal, we had to ride to the end of the road, take a U-turn and return.

Having satisfactorily performed the exercise, we were deemed fit to ride on the streets of Bangalore.

Now it was time for the thing that I was most worried about – my driving test.

“Madam, you go first” the instructor told me, trying to be gallant and let the only woman in the queue go first.

“Damn”, I thought to myself.

But, I tried not to let the lack of confidence show, and I got into the car. I felt more than a little concern for the safety of the RTO official and the other three “hoping to be licensed soon” drivers who joined me in the car.

Almost automatically, I reached out to fasten my seat belt.

“No, no, no”, the examiner told me, as if I was making a grave mistake.

After that, things did not start too auspiciously. I waded through what seemed like a sea of humanity (the other 70 still waiting to be tested) till I was forced to break. Then, as I moved from first gear, the car stalled.

Once.

Twice.

“You are going to flunk this one,” I thought to myself.

“You are not accelerating”, the examiner said, extremely irritated.

I tried to focus on the instruction, while shutting out the irritation in his voice and the fluttering fear in my heart. Almost miraculously the car started.

I tried to move into second gear, but the metallic stick refused to budge.

“I am sorry. I am not used to this car.” I tried explaining to the RTO official. But his face registered nothing.

“Right”, he barked, a little too quickly.

I just about had enough time to make the turn.

“Indicator is not on”, I muttered to myself. But, he did not notice or care.

“Right”, he said again. But, this time more slowly. I even managed to switch on the indicator and make the turn, while changing gears.

Next, I had to stop by the pavement.

“Reverse”, he said.

I immediately adjusted my rear view mirror.

“No, no, no”, he said again. But this time around the protest seemed more justified. It seems that it is best to physically turn and reverse. It’s unsafe to do it via the rear view mirror.

Once the car had moved backwards by a few paces, the RTO official asked me to stop.

I stopped and moved to neutral.

Then, my right leg mysteriously moved to the accelerator. With the car still on neutral, my leg pressed on to the accelerator. The car almost brayed in protest.

The other three “hoping to be licensed soon” drivers audibly gasped.

I apologised once more.

Then in an attempt to demonstrate my awareness of safety procedure, I pulled up the handbrake and got out of the car.

I knew that I would probably get my license. But, I couldn’t help thinking that had I been in the US, the UK, Australia or the Middle East, I’d probably have flunked that test.

Having said all of that, it does feel good to finally join the ranks of those who are licensed to drive. And trust me, it has been one helluva journey.

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