The day I got my driving license

"You will lose your touch if you don't come in for a month", the driving coach said to me when I said my exams were coming by. It was the second week of November and the exams were scheduled to begin on November 25,2006. Only three or four classes were pending including the two classes for reverse drive. He wanted me to finish it as soon as possible. So I agreed with finishing the remaining classes and attend the driving test which was scheduled on November 18th.

The remaining classes went smoothly and with ease. Driving the scooty was left to me as I had to practise driving the vehicle in the shape of 8. I practised two nights before the scheduled test. Irrespective of the place, whoever stood there, especially kids, stopped their work in order to watch me drive in the shape of 8 as if I am doing a stunt show. After practising every night, I was ready for the final show.

November 18, 2006.

I was asked to be at the RTO in the morning and I made it correctly on time. We were asked to go to a place where I first started driving. That was the place where the two wheeler test was supposed to be conducted. I started practising along with everyone. I was almost making the shape when I realized that the road was empty and I was the only person there. Everyone else had left. I circled the area to find any group standing there but there were none. Just then I received a call from my driving master that the test is in the RTO office itself. How did I miss that announcement?

I was back at the RTO. I was told that the senior most police was there for inspection and his policy is to keep it simple. Thats why he wanted the test to be conducted at the RTO itself. Everyone taking the test were allowed to use their own vehicles. They took turns in riding their two wheelers in the shape of 8. Almost everyone succeeded in doing so and got a nod from the police.

My turn came. It started out well. Almost made the shape and then I had to take a U-turn. That was when I kept my legs down. I thought "Gone!". But this police was not really strict and gave me one more chance. I have to do it again from the beginning. I started again but this time, it ended up in a worst scenario. Before I could make the U-Turn, I placed my legs down and even went out of the path. The police need not say anything. I knew that I had lost the battle.

I was waiting out with my scooty for the car test. Just then the driving assistant came to me and said, "What is this? Why couldn't you balance your vehicle?" Then came the turn of the coach, "What happened? If you fail in two-wheeler, there are high chances that you will fail in four wheeler as well. Let us see what happens!". That was great news for me! If that happens, that would totally be unfair. "If only I had one more chance", I thought.

The two wheeler test had ended. All of a sudden, the coach came running to me and said, "Start your scooty fast. He wants to give you another chance". I couldn't believe it was all happening. The police is giving me a third chance? But why? I immediately took my scooty in. I was almost near the starting place when the coach told me, "No, he didn't call you. I misunderstood". I got frustrated and looked at the police as I started turning back.

The police looked at me again and gestured to me to come back. I got my third chance! I started again. It seemed the entire place was too silent. I completely concentrated on what I was doing. It came out simple. I completed the 8 and also took the U-turn and brought it to a halt with a hand signal. I looked at the police to know the result. After giving a brief thought, he gave a nod. I had passed the test!

Then came the car test. Again the police wanted to keep it simple. Instead of the usual drive in the road, here we just need to start the vehicle, move it to a little distance, stop, put the reverse gear and move back the vehicle to where it started. As simple as that. It was easily finished. As I was little upset about my performance in two-wheeler test, the coach came and cheered me up. It was indeed a day to cheer up as from then, I was licensed to drive in the entire nation. "Why don't you drop this old man in his house on your way?" The coach told me pointing to an old guy standing nearby. My experimentation with driving had begun. It began on a happy note! :)