Driving A Way Out

I started travelling alone, when I was in class nine. Thanks to all those extra classes that called in for our early hours attendance. We met only in the town, where we would take another bus to school. So, till then it would be just me in the crowd squeezing myself in.

KSRTC buses were the only ones that complied on our route to town. So, you least expect it to be empty. It was always jam packed. The conductor would be the next person after you, crunching in for your tickets. None here, bothers to pass their money to his seat which, on the contrary is a prevalent practise in Chennai when the buses are crowded. 

With every brake, which is applied often owing  to the condition of the road and the geography of the kand, everyone except him breaks from their inertia. It is usually the crowd that jams him in otherwise it calls for skill. With legs spaced, with a foot forward he seldom falls. Touchwood.

Years later. 'Chetak' was being replaced by 'Activa' and white 'Ambassadors' with 'Maruthi 800'. Technically, almost every one could drive except a few who dreaded riding down the slope even on a cycle. (Any how, I overcame that fear recently!)

I turned eighteen, I didn't bother to take a license. I tactfully pushed all calls to learn driving. I knew the perks of driving, since my mother could drive with elan. I admired it, but wasn't inspired enough to join driving class. May be,  she is there to take us around or because I had time in hand to wait for those tardy buses to town. 

Living amidst, successful drivers, those with and without passion, I was made to analyse, the perks of knowing how to drive which makes you your own boss, self-reliance and what not. My claims of using public transport in order to save environment and fuel were not strong enough, to prove my point.

I took the call. In this uber-less town of ours it is a necessity. Necessity was the driving force to learn driving. Still clueless, I managed to get my license. 

May be I can drive. I should just practice. The practice happens in my head, not on the road. The thought of people on the road, traffic jams I could possibly make gives me jitters.

But, I know there will be a way out, at that very moment. It's such moments that proved I could do things which I thought  I couldn't.

Few months or years later, I imagine myself driving, when I don't have time in hand, heading to my office not waiting for bus, train  or anybody but being my own boss.

Could I? Rumi says, 'feel the delight of walking in the noisy street and being the noise.' I may not want to be the noise, but dissolve in it. Like how we dissolve in that crowd in a bus. Lucky enough if seated near the window, seeing what moves past you, looking out for your favourite spots. Feel that breeze on your face, close your eyes for a while. 

One might not be able to enjoy these perks when you are driving, which I would start missing soon.

 Yes, I'm driving and I'm busy focussing on what I'm missing en route.