Steering Ahead

I will tell you the story of my driving licenses. I enrolled for a 25 day driving course here recently. After the 22nd class there was a test for ladies and my teacher asked me to give it.

The first test was on April 1st. I made plans to entertain people by the story of me getting license. I passed signal test and was send to take an L on a hill. I was sitting in the car and could feel my heart pounding violently. When my turn came my hands were cold and frosty, I steered the car to the slope. Stopped it on the way and continued to climb. Then I descended. So far things were very good. After that I steadied the car and waited for it to go in the reverse direction. Instead of going back it went forward. Soon a man came and told me to relax and park the car immediately. April fool! I would have passed if I didn’t forget to change the first gear to reverse gear when I was at the top of the hill.

I am late for work and everyone knew the reason. To their “What happened?” question I replied in a self consoling manner.

On the next test I was relaxed. My master had given two more classes. It was on 14th of April. I hope to get the license as a Vishu Ki Neetam from God. I take the car and my car goes off on the hill and I get a mood off. Still I was sent for the parking test, which means I clear the hill test. I get a sudden mood lift and I am off to the box for parking. I expected to pass it too and waited till they declared the results. I was unlucky. A back tyre had touched the formidable lines.

I am late for work again. Everyone asked “What happened?” I said, “What can happen? I have to give one more test.”

On the third test I was very relaxed. At least I am passing a test per test, first signal test then hill test like that. I hope to pass the 4 mandatory tests one by one. The teacher had given a last class. Parking went well. The road test was also easy but I made a mistake. I didn’t wear the seat belt before taking the car.

After the test I was hopeless and didn’t wait to hear the results. I was worried about taking extra classes for the next test which will be the ultimate test. If ever I fail on the fourth attempt to get the license I have to go for training again and give all the four tests. It means more investment and more time.

In the afternoon I get to hear I passed the test. In the evening I had the license in my hand. I had to fight the urge to run into people and declare this fact. My son was ill and I had taken that as an excuse for late coming at work.

I got my first driving license when I was 21 from India. I did it during a two month vacation period during the college days. Acquiring it seemed very natural. On the test day I took a perfect H and the road test seemed very simple. I really was boastful of this. It made my road troublesome this time.

In between my 29th birthday passed on April 21st. I deduct that the learning capabilities and concentrating power of females with similar background are at their peak in the early twenties and gradually diminishes and become worse at late twenties.

I am practicing on my brother’s car now. I too ascertain with many others, learning at any age is a wonderful experience. You are mentally revived by the process. I had a lot of fun while learning to drive in Qatar. I just pray to Almighty to free this country from traffic jams due to me.