Lose Control!!!!!

August 2003: Job confirmation letter in hand I finally decided to invest in a 2-Wheeler (though I felt buying an Auto was lucrative deal, invest 1.5 L Rs. It would drop you wherever you want to go & then would earn money for the whole day, but I was scoffed off by all). My criteria in selecting the vehicle was simple

• The vehicle should be within 30 K
• It should be light enough so that if it falls I don’t have to look left right & center to get it picked up
• It should be different from what everyone was using. Bole to a big NO to TVS Scooty.

11th September 2003, I was a proud owner of Kinetic Zing. But before buying I did something very important (Those who laugh at next sentence are not getting any free lifts from me), I enrolled myself to a driving class and yes it was for a 2- wheeler ;)…With license in my pocket I was all set to drive my vehicle but lack of confidence coupled with a rowdy traffic made my vehicle stand in the building parking for a month. However, in the month of November I braved everything and was out on road. It took me 15 days to gain confidence.

Cut to present, last week the security guard in my office gave me a chotu lecture. He said “Madam you drive too fast, you should drive slow” I was like oh yes and off I was, zip zap zoom……

After 4 years of driving in the mad crowd of Ahmedabad and 6 months of driving in the much madder crowd of Mumbai I am ready with my own set of rules for driving.

They might be wacky but useful for sure..

~~ Ya Aar Ya Paar~~

Driving for me is about seconds. You think for more than a minute to decide and you are gone. So Socho mat Haank lo….

~~ Let Loose~~

While driving leave all your tensions behind. Just concentrate….so for girls no staring at a new shop & guys not staring @ girls.

~~Helmet~~

I still remember the coconut ad on DD. But seriously helmets are a must for all & invest properly in it. I remember I saved money by borrowing somebody else’s helmet it was two sizes big for my tiny head. I could take it off even while wearing my specs.

~~Explore~~

While driving never hesitate in exploring new routes. It not only adds to your confidence but these short cuts are handy to beat the traffic snarl.

~~Honking~~

Avoid pressing the horn as often as you do. Everyone is in hurry & blowing the horn doesn’t help. And as a survey says blowing horns is bad manners :)

But the devil in me says Keep blowing the horn because…

• You never know the person in front of you is idling around ;)
• You never know the vehicles in front of you would fly over the aage wala traffic to pave way for you ;-)
• You never know they would graciously squeeze & clear the way for you, bhai Patiala ki rani/ raja a rahe hain ;)
• If somebody behind you is continuously honking off, give them the way and as soon as they cross you, keep honking to them. It gives immense pleasure.

On a serious note I hate people who go bombastic in a subway. God grant them manners.

~~Say Not to Mobile~~

Talking while driving?? Well you can decide between talking for those few minutes or talking forever….its your choice at the end of the day. I make it a point to keep my mobile inside the purse, na dikhta & na sunta hai….out of reach out of mischief.

~~Highway Beckons You~~

You have time on hand? Pick up your vehicle, with your hair loose behind the helmet go for a drive on a highway. It gives you a liberated feel and you’ll surely feel light. But yes to avoid pollution, cover yourself well with gloves & all.

~~Respect others~~

We tend to curse while driving. It’s a habit of mine to curse the cycle Walla’s, they have a tendency of taking sudden turns. But at the end of the day we should respect all & be a bit more patient.

~~Respect the Traffic Signals not the signals from an attractive guy/ gal~~

I still remember some of my male colleagues going gaga over long hair of a female driver, well if you want to see them in real life, better concentrate on the road ahead.

~~No Driving after watching movies like Dhoom~~

I vividly remember we saw this in a late show. When we came out the road was empty and I had the two wheeler. My dhyan was towards the movie and was humming the soundtrack; I zip zapped & zoomed which was quite hazardous. These are the moments when we loose our concentration. They give us a momentary high but we can loose much more in those moments.

~~Accessories~~

Quite a few of them besides helmet are very helpful, Sunglasses, Gloves, dupatta. Staring at the last one? Ever been to Gujarat? Female’s there cover there head with the dupatta, on surface we all look like “Dacoits” but its blocks heat, dust & male stares ;)

~~Who Are the better drivers~~

Obviously men…they are born drivers. So they are expected to know how to avoid accidents. So God forbid if you end up in accident blame it on the guy, bhai they are known to be better drivers so they should have saved themselves. But if both the parties are female then blame it on the traffic ;)

~~Gaddi De Papers~~

Always carry a copy of them, you never know when the need arises for them.

My Favorite incident while i was driving (I still smile remembering it)It was one of those days, was driving back home and near the turn to my home this guy was strolling down on the middle of the road. Horn & honking all went to deaf ear. Being the person I am I just slowed down near him and bang into his ear "Out on a walk is it?" and zoomed off....though would have loved to see his face but it was great fun playing that prank :)

These are my set of rules, what are yours???