D - A DAY FROM MY PAGES

A DAY FROM MY PAGES

At the showroom, someone asked, "Have you got a driving license?" I was
so engrossed in completing the paper works that it took a few minutes
to reply. I lifted my head and looked into the eyes of a pretty girl
standing next to me. I gave her a smile and said, "Yes." She smiled
back and said, "thank you."

I was there to take the delivery of my new car. A white car stood
before me. One of the men handed the keys and opening the door I slid
into the driver's seat and drove away. The feeling of happiness
engulfed me and my emotions, my feelings and my sensations reached its
height, but I was missing someone at this very moment.

When I was three, my parents gave me a tricycle on my birthday. Three
wheels, so no chance of falling down. The first time when I sat on the
seat, I couldn't pedal it. I was pushed gently from behind, my little
hands couldn't control the handle and the cycle moved madly to one side
and hit the wall. Thank god I was unhurt. My dad helped me to use my
feet to pedal and helped me to use my small hands to grip the handle
and move about on my own. With a few days of help from my dad, I was a
perfectionist in riding a tricycle. My little cycle went about the
whole house and at times it caused hindrance to my mother, but it never
bothered me. Sometimes I did let my baby sister occupy the back seat
and she enjoyed it for she would giggle and babble out of excitement.
Whenever my mum would ask me to get something for her from the other
room, I rode on my cycle and the back seat was used as the luggage
carrier.

The happy days of riding a tricycle ended. With time I grew up and it
was small for me and I had trouble riding it as my knees touched the
handle and brushed hard against it. So it was put away.

On my seventh birthday, my dad gave me a bicycle as my birthday gift.
The rear wheel had supporters on either side to help me get my balance.
After school, I would spend a lot of time on the bicycle. Some children
were jealous of my possession and even there were some others who asked
for a ride. But I had been very selfish and didn't let anyone touch
it.

Very soon I got my balance and one of the supporters was removed. After
a few days, my dad removed the other supporter and I could ride on two
wheels and I thought what a wonder it was to balance the bicycle and
ride about joyfully. The children of the neighbourhood envied me.

Time began to fly as though it had wings. I grew tall and healthy but
my bicycle was the same old one. I pestered mum to get me the standard
size bicycle.

That was my fourteenth birthday and my birthday gift was a yellow
colour bicycle with changing gears. It was a costly one and I was very
happy. I started going to school on my bike. I enjoyed riding my new
bike and took utmost care to keep it clean and shiny so that it looked
as good as new.

A few years passed and now I was interested in learning to drive a
two-wheeler __ my dad's scooter. There were no objections from dad,
instead he told me about the clutch, the gear, and the brakes and under
his guidance I started my driving lessons. During the first few days of
my training, dad would sit at the back and I was made to drive. I took
my first scooter driving lessons in a big field and then on the roads,
during the early morning hours, when the roads wore a deserted
look.

The next step was to get my driving license as I had attained the
permissible age. I filled up the form, gave my medical certificate and
I was given my learner's license. One day I was called for my driving
test by the transport authorities. I felt very nervous but dad cheered
me up and everything went off smoothly. A driving license for two
wheelers was my proud possession.

I was into a job and was in dire need of a personal conveyance and was
in a dual mind to choose between a motorbike and a scooter. Dad helped
me out and gave preference in going for a scooter without gears. Though
my first preference was a motorcycle, I reconciled with my dad's choice
for my confidence in him.

My driving lessons did not stop at that juncture. I wanted to learn to
drive a four wheeler. Again this was possible with my dad's help. He
gave me his car to take up my driving course, and he was my trainer
again. I found nothing much of a difference in driving a car from that
of a two wheeler.

I applied for a four-wheeler's license, and this time nervousness did
not creep in me during my test ride. I got my valid license.

Today I have got my own car but I am missing the presence of my dad who
could not make it to this town for he stay's five hundred kilometers
away. I have talked to him and I could feel the excitement from his
tone. He told me that he would be with me at the earliest. Sitting
here, all alone in my house, I am waiting for that day when dad will
come and sit on the driver's seat and drive this car down the streets
with mum by his side and me, watching him at the steering wheel from
the rear seat.