Joy of driving my FIGO (or myself ??)

Dear All

I sit and type this out at 7 AM on our Independence Day with a satisfied heart after a long ride of my cute new FIGO - for the first time - all alone. I drove just around 25 kilometers but what an experience it was !!! Is it a co-incidence that this happens on Aug 15th ?? Well, go on......!!

There were many FIRSTs in today's drive. It was a trial that took place after losing touch of driving a little bit - past three days I had not driven Him. In this limited 1 month period of possession, I have observed that there are always bit of teething problems and lack of coordinations happening to me when I dont drive for a full day. It was not very unusual for me to find that I was making basic mistakes like gear change, pressing of clutch, steering control, seeing the mirrors (yeah, I had teething problems in all departments like Indian Cricket).

It was good to have the car taken out of the gate of our flat at 5.30 AM with our security man helping me out. In fact this is the first of my firsts....taking Him out without much of nervousness and doing the right things in terms of wheel turning - both front and reverse. I heartily thanked him before I left for my outing.....(must be needing him at least half dozen times more...!! better to keep the relationship oiled, huh ???)

After getting used to the basic lessons (my Driving Guru was shouting at me in my mind for each of my flaws), I stopped Him at the entrance of GN chetty road and put on my seat belt to get ready for a simple target (dont laugh at me)....to apply FIFTH gear some how during today's drive. Aristocratically, I started off smoothly in the first gear and raised the tempo....and the grand big new bridge of GN chetty bridge swallowed me with warmth nudging me to try the simple goal right on himself. When I moved to 5th gear, was startled a bit...has the engine went down or WHAT ?? Enjoyed every moment of the stillness of the intensity of the engine before I came down to my safe third and fourth..... ("it is good not to in high intensity too long until you are sure of the technology of holding yourself on to it" - Sadhguru).

How am I going to put all my other firsts of today.....?? Its too awesome. To add more colour to my firsts, I have hundreds of policemen assembled near Marina Beach (I totally forgot that it was aug 15th and they should all meet up so that we have a peaceful independence, right ??). While my original idea was to take a U turn after Lattice Bridge and drive my little BOY until Besant Nagar, I did not want to take chance with rubbing shoulders with the huge population of police force all of them assembled in the other side....I took left turn towards Central station.

Zooming perfectly in the same lane thru' out, I was admirably handling the brakes at the signals (at least a dozen in total) and except one instance, was able to get started without engine going down....(yeah, it happened at Nandanam signal and an (as usual) impatient innova honked at me....and showed me his hand and went overtaking me....THANK YOU SIR....!! What else do I derseve), and managed the gear changes extremely well.

Does it mean, did I not do mistakes. Of course quite a number of times.. Noticing suddenly that my boy was screaming at the pitch of the voice after taking off from one of the signal, I realized I was driving him at the same FIRST GEAR; (I am sure he drank a litre of petrol for my little forgetfulness. I should not mind on it too much). At Anna Fly over, I made a mistake of chosing the wrong lane to go to cathedral road and had do one full circle (Happy that I was doing it in the right direction, east to west......) before getting it correctly......

There were few miscellaneous firsts too that I overtook few slow-yees (may be they are learning still, huh ??), honked and edged a fat lady to the end of the road as she was walking like LORD Labakkudas, switched off the head lights when it was not needed, used the right mirrors at the right time.....and so on.

Well, there were some moral confusions when I did not mind the signals as I had to go along with the flock (naturally, no policeman around) and I dutifully obliged signal when I was alone....BUT ok yaar...chalta hai.....!! lets not try to think too much objectivity around such aspects and it is better to take a call based on expediency of the moment.....!! Any way I carried a 500 Rs. note with me .... JUST IN CASE.....!!

I am forcing myself to close this musings as I have to do my breathing exercise now. The single biggest moment of today's ride was.....that intense stillness of the TOP Gear. A tiger which tastes blood is never the same again - people call it blood hound. I wish to be one...a nice smiling but cold blooded beast. If you are getting reminded of last shot of Anniyan, I dont want to trigger you about that !!

YES, The sweetness of freedom is always a sufficient motivation to break all the chains. My little boy would have been puzzled today what happened to his master all of a sudden ? He does not know today's experience with him and this posting is not actually about him and it was just a experiment on self assurance for the master....!!

Forgot to tell, Happy Independence DAY.....!!! Keeping rocking - all of you (too)

Lots of love
Suchoo