In India there are ways of getting a Driving license without you being actually SURE that you can drive properly.
I had 2 options.
1) Either i could inquire among my relatives if there's someone who has a good impression/is friendly with the RTO Officer(The one who supervises the test). This would be pretty quick than the normal procedure you have to go through.
Or
2) I could Join a Driving Class, train there for few days, give the Driving test and Pass.
I Chose the Nobler way: Driving Class.
"Perfect"
That's what i was told when i joined the class.
Woman in the Office:
"You don't have to worry, we make sure you are able to Drive PERFECT and along with that we take care of the formalities required to be completed for procuring a license."
Me:
"So when should i start?"
Woman:
"You come on Monday, we will take you to the RTO so that you can give your test for the learning license. Here's the model question paper. Go through it, they are all multiple choice questions. Come prepared on Monday."
*She handed me the Model papers.The condition of the paper was pitiable. It proudly showed that it had been useful to many people before me.*
Me:
"All right, So Monday.Ok then Goodbye."
*Walking out of the office i was a smiling.Finally the first step to my driving license is complete.*
At Home:
Me:
"MOM,DAD!!!"
Mom:
"Why are you shouting? What is it?"
Me:
"What kind of stupid person sets such question paper for Driving license? If someone is going to apply for a learners license himself without the aid of a driving institute,he's really going to have a hard time answering this mess!"
Me:
"Look at this one ,How many road accidents happen per year?What is this ?Who knows?seriously if they dint have the answer sheet given to me along with this question i suppose even Googling wouldn't have made me sure of what's the answer"
Mom:
"Just brush through the question and answers. Its pretty easy."
*I continued going through the questions and tried to answer them on my own.Well lucky me i got 1 out of 10 right. I decided that byhearting the answers is the only way out.
I was almost going to finish when i saw this.
"Who is responsible for Most of the Road accidents?"
a)The Bad condition of roads in India.
b)Drivers mistake.
and some c) and d).
I felt that's so obvious BAD RoAds! what else.If you can drive here, then you can drive everywhere.
I checked the answer at the back. It was b).
WHAT?!!
I thought for a second that government doesn't want to take the blame.
Then when i read the question again, i saw "MOST" accidents.
Oh well i was wrong.
Monday:
~I hate Monday mornings~
I got up early 8:00am :P!
That's a amazing progress if you consider my usual timing of 11:30am.
I was supposed to reach at 9:30am
I reached there at 9:25am. I was of the notion that i was going to arrive last.
I was wrong.
I simply ended up being the first one to arrive and people were arriving at 10:00am :p!
There were 3 of us. All male *Sigh*
One guy was almost my age 19 and the other one was 17! [:o]
(Legally 18 is the age when you become eligible for applying for a driving license of a 4 wheeler.)
3 of us along with the Driver and the lady from the office
were all sitting in a Tata Sumo which seemed to me as a testing car used for testing crashes. Even if you press the accelerator to the maximum on the 4th gear, it can catch up only with 40kmph!
Slowly "Bumpily" and "Not so steadily" we reached the RTO office.
The Seat on which i was sitting, had fallen in love with my pant. No wonder it was after all a pretty expensive LEvIs jeans. The seat ripped off a chunk from my precious. Well i thought it my pant too wasn't that reluctant to give a token of love to the seat.
If i hadn't worn a long T-shirt that day, i bet i would have flunked in my test because all my attention would be on hiding the torn part :P.
I think luck was on my side that day the T-shirt hiding the torn part and then the question paper was sooo simple it had the same questions which i had read from that model sheet.
You had to answer correctly at least 6 questions out of the 10 to pass.
i finished the paper in like 10 mins and handed it too the supervisor.He took it, checked the answers in such a speed that i hardly could believe that he was actually checking how many answers i got right. Then he moved to the next person to collect his paper.
There was only one other guy who had completed the paper along with me.
He looked quite young, I thought maybe he just turned 18. He was staring at me or probably at my long hair. Well i had got used to such stuff :P. Long hair was like my signature.
Then finally when everyone was done the police officer who was sitting on the table right in front of us called out the first name "Pranav" The guy who was staring at me stood up went to him.
I had got engrossed in wondering how stupidly he dressed. His trousers didn't match his T-shirt at all.And moreover he had worn his trouser so high that you would think he wanted to display his butt shape.
The officer then called my name. I got up and in an effort trying to hide my pant :P i was struggling to get out of that ruddy rusty piece of junk on which i was sitting. Finally i went forward.
Officer :
Whats you name?
Me:
Azhar.
Officer :
Full name please.
Me:
Azhar Ahmed ...... (Well my names pretty long .hehhehe)
Officer :
OK ok , Tell me where do you stay?
Me:
You want the complete address?(But he just looked at me. Oh well i told him my complete address).
*He handed me the sheet on which i had written my answers and told me to proceed ahead on the left where two people where sitting*
As i moved towards them,both of them seemed rather interested in me.
1st guy:
"Oh boy,Straightening.Good good."
I smiled at him.
handed my paper to the guy sitting next to him.
1st guy:
"is this Straightening permanent?"
Me:
"Yes, 8 months."
1st guy:
"How much did it cost?"
I thought i shouldn't tell them the actual cost, but then i thought what's the big deal, as if am going to meet this guy ever again.
Me:
"2000Rs."
1st guy:
"Wow, nice."
Me:
"Ya, but you have to maintain it a lot."
1st guy:
"Ya, i know"(Now addressing the 2nd guy)"We should try this, hehehe."
2nd guy:(Addressing a Bald guy sitting on a seat just besides the two)
"See i think that guy there needs a straightening, could you lend him 2000Rs."
(Looking at me)
All the 3 of us laughed.
He handed me the paper. I smiled at them again and went through the door and down the steps to the lady who had accompanied us from the driving institute and showed her the paper.
She took it ,told me to go home and assured me that the driving instructor would come to pick me up tomorrow at my place.
I was thinking that they would drop me back home or at least till the office of the Driving class.
I looked at her hopefully.She said "You can go now."
*Sigh*
I removed my wallet, thankfully i had 30Rs.
Took a rickshaw and reached home.
___________________________________________________________________
Next day i got up early again though reluctantly. It was as if all this was just a dream, i had not joined any classes then why am i getting up so early and then it felt as if i was drowning. I got up startled. My face was wet, my brother had actually poured a glass of water on my face in an effort to wake me up.
9am :
I was standing near the Gate of my complex where the teacher was supposed to pick me up.
10 mins passed , no sign of him.
I got restless took out my mobile checked my balance , it was 0.64. WHAT THE HELL!.
I ran back home, dialed the number of the Driving institute on my landline.
Lady:
"Hello, ... Driving classes"
Me:
"My name is Azhar, someone was supposed to pick me up at 9am today for my 1st day."
Lady:
"Oh sorry, can you please come down at the office. The person doesn't know the place where you stay exactly"
Me:
"Oh all right"
I took a rickshaw and reached the place ,but by that time it was already 9:20am. My training was supposed to be for 1 hr. and already 20mins wasted. DAMN.
I then accompanied the teacher to the vehicle. It was a Qualis. Not in a bad condition surprisingly.
He then instructed me to go and sit on the drivers seat.
He was sitting on the seat next to me. The Drivers seat was pretty uncomfortable. so i had to adjust it by pushing it a little back. (You have that lever down you seat which you have to pull upwards and then push the seat backwards or forward according to your convenience.)
Teacher:
"My name is Pawan, and if you follow my instructions properly i assure you you will drive the car in just 10days, You don't need to complete 20days course to learn driving.I just need your cooperation and a bit of confidence."
I smiled at him
Me:
"Sure."
He then showed me all the parts like the accelerator the clutch etc. and their functions(Though i knew them i was just nodding my head when he was explaining).He showed me how to adjust the mirror and put on the seat belt.
Handed me the Key of the car. "Start"
So it finally begun...
Driving was fun.
I had switched 3 teachers and 4 cars :P.
First car was Qualis...Then Sumo, Santro and finally the most decent and in the best condition Indica.
It took me almost a month to finally complete my course.
Lots of things happened it between.. the Qualis was sent for repairs so the driver din't come for 3 days. I had gone to Delhi with my dad for 2 days. I had my Laser eye surgery and i couldnt drive untill my eyesight was back to normal and when there was not much danger of infection.
Finally!
The DAY before my Driving Test at the RTO.
I drove perfectly well that day.Thank you very much.
The Teacher was quite happy. I handed him 50Rs(My wallet had 60 rs. :P).
He then asked me whether i know all the rules.
I said yes i knew about all the road signs and the Traffic police signals.
Teacher:
"Ok, then tell me what's rule 122?"
Me:
"Huh? I don't know what's that!."
Teacher:
"Din't they give you this sheet? He took out a piece of paper which had all the Road signs ,Hand signals and the rules."
Me:
"No!, and you are telling me this on the LAST DAY!"
Teacher:
"These Classes people, what have they got to do. They have got their money .Sha, ok take this paper and go through it properly and come prepared tommorow at 10:00am. The RTO officer can ask you during the test."
Me:
"Oh thanks a lot."
That day i spent 2 hours learning the rules and all the road signs etc.
Morning 7:15 am.
I got up on my own, no alarm :).
Got refreshed ,ate a decent breakfast.
by that time it was 9:40am.
I took a rickshaw and reached the Driving institute exactly at 9:52am.How punctual i am :)!.
Again i was the first one to reach there.
The Lady sitting there asked me to sit on one of the chairs.
Lady(addressing a instructor):
"Why do you people tell the students to come so early at 10:00am.You should call them at 10:30am."
I was like - Oh Great!
Instructor:
"Its raining heavily, and there are so many potholes its better they leave early so they don't get stuck up and arrive late."
Lady:
"People will come anyhow at 10:30am if they want to."
It was almost 11am when everyone whose driving test was on that day had arrived.
3 Girls *Blink Blink*
and rest all male population.
We were almost 15 people.
We had to sign some papers one by by one.
Then the girls were first taken to the RTO office in some vehicle.
We were next.
I got down fast so that i could get a seat.
I ran towards the Sumo. Unlucky it was already full.
I rushed towards the Indica hoping to get a place. 2 people were already getting inside from the door on my side and one more guy trying to get in from the other side. I thought i wont even get this car. Luckily the other door was locked so i and the 2 others sat in the car feeling that finally we are on our way. :).
The Driver started the car and then parked it again.
WHAT?!
We saw as others who had been left standing were sitting in another car and were off.
Then why the hell are we not starting?
I then realized that Murphy's Law really do apply in Human Life.
"If theres a possibility of something going wrong,It will!"
*Sigh*
We waited there hoping that the Driver would come soon and we could move on.
The third person was already busy with his phone calls
"Ya so what's the Sensex today?"
I noticed the person sitting next to me was very familiar.
Very Very familiar!
Actually we used to be friends when we were kids.
I wasn't very sure.
I knew his name was some prashant or something with P.
Well forget it, i had more pressing matters to deal with. it was almost 20mins up and we were at the same place.
I got down from the car,went inside the office and asked the lady
"Are you going to take us to the RTO or what?"
Lady:
"Oh the test has already started, can you people please take a rickshaw and go."
I wasn't going to argue and spend more time.THE TEST HAD STARTED.
We took a rickshaw reached the RTO in like 10 mins.
We had just entered the Gate and i heard someone shouting my name from a distance. Looking ahead everyone(The 12 people who were along with us in the office and 4 of the instructors) were standing there and one of my instructor was calling out my name and beckoning me to come fast. I hurried toward him and he handed out a paper to me. He did the same for the other two who accompanied me.
We stood there for like 15 mins more and then finally the officer who was supposed to take the supervise the test arrived. I felt pretty good that my Driving institute people had sense and had taken the place which was nearest to his office. So we were the first to be tested :).
I could see other Driving institute cars nearby. So many! i had not even heard about most of them.
The instructor called me
"You can drive the Sumo right?"
I had as a matter of fact spent 4 days learning to drive on the Sumo but i wasn't actually prepared to take it for my test because the Gears in the sumo were so reluctant that you had to put enough force so that they can submit to your command.
So i told him
"No, i want to drive the Indica.Won't it be coming?"
Instructor:
"Ohk, Then wait."
I waited, thinking how can the indica come here?. We 3 were sitting there in the Indica waiting for someone to take us to the RTO and there was no driver there to bring the car here.
I realized it's going to be a long day after all.
Maybe i would be the last one to give the test.
The first car to be taken for testing was Indigo. It was much bigger than Indica in length.
Two people took their test in that car.
The instructor told me that even i should go take the test now.
I thought maybe he is right i just need to get it over with as soon as possible.
So what if its lengthier than Indica, the controls are the same.
I walked briskly towards the car only to find that the officer was out of the car.
Then i realized that once the officer is out of the car. That car's done with.
He would be really mad at the Instructors for not organizing properly.
Again its going to be a longg day.
The Sumo was next.
I was determined that i wont be Driving that car ever at least not on this day.
The first student was done with.
The Instructor looked at me and said
"I think you can drive the Sumo, Go now before the officer gets off."
Holy shit! Fear took over me. Thoughts like i am sure am going to fail, or i would crash somewhere, or maybe the car wont start at all, started flooding my mind.
Again Murphy's Laws Hold true.
I opened the door and sat myself in the Driver's seat.
The instructor was sitting behind me.
He told me, "Don't take tension only the reverse is a bit tricky. You have to press the gear down and then push it forward for the reverse gear."
"All right." i said.
Handing the paper in my hand to the officer i started to check whether the car was on neutral.
Wherever i moved the gear it seemed to be on neutral because the gear was so loose that it just dangled anywhere you move it. Finally i seemed to find a spot where it was totally free. I breathed a sigh of relief. While i was trying for the Neutral, The officer asked me my name and where do i stay. I don't even remember answering him, or maybe it was involuntarily answered by me cause the officer didn't ask me anything else.
Officer:
"Lets take a reverse."
Me:
"Ok."
The Hardest part.
Putting the Gear in reverse.
I tried 3 times to put the gear on reverse but it wont budge.
Finally i felt Divine Intervention when i asked God for help.
The Fourth time i was successful.
I took the car to reverse and then he asked me to go forward.
Pressing the clutch completely i shifted to the 1st gear.
Then steadily i pressed the accelerator after like 10 seconds i pressed the clutch again and Tried to shift to second gear and then suddenly there was a noise "kkkhhhhrrrrr" . My heart jumped. Oh god i did a mistake it putting the 2nd gear. I didn't shift it properly but on my second try it was good.
Then i was asked to take a U turn and then straight back to where we started.
I thought i had failed.
The officer just signed my sheet under my photo and gave it to me.
I said "Thank you" and got down.
My instructor patted me on the back.
"You did it."
I asked,"Really?"
Instructor:
"Of course."
I still had doubts whether i had actually passed or not,but his reassurance made me feel better.
Yahoo! Sumo wasn't so bad after all. :P.
I called up my father and narrated him the incidence.
He was like "Good, see in life everything won't go the way you want them to. You have to adapt to the change and move on."
Ya he was right indeed.
It was 12:01 pm now and lots of other were still waiting for their test to be completed.
I was asked by the instructor to go to the cashier and give him my sheet .
The cashier attached some sheet to it which i thought was some kind of bill.
I suppose the Driving class would take care of the money.
Then the instructor told me to come and sit in the car rather than standing outside straining my legs.
I went and sat inside the car and before i could realize , i had fallen asleep :p.
I got up suddenly when i heard a car give a sudden screeecchh loudly.
Looked at the time 12:41pm .
The instructor who had taken our sheets was no where to be seen. He had told us that just the sign of the RTO officer(Not the one who took our test) is needed and then you can all go.
after like 15 mins he was back. By that time i was looking at the group of 3 girls who had come along with us and were going through the sheet with the road signs and stuff.
Oh My god!
If theres going to be a viva next i would be in trouble. In this entire scene i had forgot about Rule no. 122.
I took out the sheet which i had folded in eights and as soon as i opened it.
The instructor was back and everyone was crowding around him.
I got out of the car walked towards him bracing myself to hear that now we are supposed to go inside one by one for out vivas,but i only heard is "You all can go now, except (he pointed out to a guy who was shorter than me but looked he was in his 20's) you."
Phew! Completed,but when i looked at the face of the boy he looked really scared.
He asked"Why me?"
The instructor told him,"Don't worry,They just pick someone randomly for a retest.You have to just ride the vehicle again and show it to the officer."
I was too relieved to show pity for him.
Walking hurriedly i got into a rickshaw and reached home.
It would take almost 8days for the license to be made.
As i reached home my mom looked very happy. I thought me getting a driving license was the reason but she was like
"Good,But do you know what happened today? your brother had a Marathi paper today and he had studied Hindi!"
I looked at my brother in shock. He was smiling.
Mom continued
"He's saying it was easy and he will surely pass."
"Wow", I said,"Brilliant, i couldn't have passed if it was me. I never actually had much confidence in my Marathi :P."
ALL WAS WELL!
