Moving on up

************************All characters are fictional********************************

"Hello ma'am your new car was delivered to the showroom last night, you're welcome to come pick it up anytime" said Paul with the right amount of excitement and glee in his usual dulcet tone as would make a satisfied customer rush to the showroom at one to pick up the prized possession. Anu hung up after promising to stop by in the next couple of hours.

As she drove to the dealership post-work she recalled the many trips that she'd made in this very car, a used (overused) jalopy of yesteryear. A "car" that she needed to get from point A to point B at a time when anything with wheels was a much better option than the thought of having to walk the distance or depend on public transport, with dwindling finances and sheer desperation.

[Begin flashback]
It all went back to the time she got a call from her recruiter that she'd done very well in her interview, the interviewers had been impressed and she should be packing soon to go to the faraway land of opportunities, challenges and ka-ching. This was all the catalyst she had needed to drift away into cloud nine land where the fast paced life coupled with limitless possibilities rode along life ...........rode along life in a....................convertible!

Thud, she fell on the ground with this dream when she realised that she'd probably have to start driving a four wheeler and couldnt manage to string along in two-wheelers like she had till now.

"Ammaaaaaaaaaaa" she cried, "I need to sign up for driving lessons, you know" she proclaims.

Appa looks up from his paper and smiles fondly for want of a better reaction at this scary to-do item. Ashu wears a look of horror at her sister's words, turns to her mom and says "Amma, I think Akka has lost it!".

Amma chips "Padma aunty's son went to Raja driving school right around the corner you know. I'll find out on my way back from school today, if you'd like."

Anu "Haan, can you amma? I can go for evening classes, around 5 maybe. I'll go early to work and should be able to come back early."

Two days later, amma announces over dinner that she signed Anu up for the driving class course- 3 weekdays at 5:30 for the next 4 weeks and then the driving test.

"Yipppieeee" screams Anu while Ashu has another horror-stricken face pasted all over. Appa pretends to watch news on TV.

On the first day of lesson, as Anu gets ready to head to class, Amma intercepts at the door with "Anu, I'll give you company for your lessons".

Anu accepts graciously enough as the two head over.

"Madam, my name is Kiran and I will be your instructor."

After initial introductions and the entourage seated, Kiran begins to explain the A(ccelarator)B(rake)C(lutch)'s of the car and driving. " Ma'am you first need to step on the clutch and move gears from neutral to first gear and at the same time let go of the gas pedal, slowly till the car begins to roll like thus and then (with foot still on clutch) shift to second gear(for whatever second gears are used for, the author is unable to recall) and then onwards to third(in a clear road with less traffic)" and with this demo, Kiran smoothly gets the car off the parking lot into an open field. He parks and smiles at Anu while asking her to get behind the wheel. Please note this would be the last time a smile adorns Kiran's face for the entire duration of the course.

The next 30 mins are spent exactly thus :

- Anu behind the wheel
- steps on the clutch
- moves from neural to first gear
- accelarates resulting in the car hopping a few inches in mid-air and then
- settling about a feet ahead with a thud and
- switching off and stopping.

wash, rinse, repeat!

Amma has an exaggerated expression of horror(akin to the one on Ashu's) with her mouth agape. Kiran watches patiently but with exhaustion dripping all over his face.

"Try maadi ma, you will get it" he says ever so encouragingly.

After 30 mins of this torture, Amma is in a near-palpitations stage and concedes. "Anu, do you want to try again tomorrow? Kiran-lets go back, this should do for today" she concludes.

"Let's try to park, we still have about 15 more minutes" persists Kiran enthusiastically.

He steps out of the car and sets two posts about the width of a car. He motions for Anu to step out for a minute and slides back into the driver's seat. Through the open window he coaches Anu on legal parking techniques.

Anu nods her head vigorously and decides not to try this new trick until she's mastered the first.

10 mins later, Amma chimes from the back seat "Shouldnt we head back now? I have to make dinner, you know."

Thus convinced, the entourage returns back to base. Kiran has the "how-did-i-sign-up-for-this-late-evening-nightmarish-session" look stamped all over his face.

Late in the night Amma tells Appa "You should teach her with your car, you know. She will learn better"

"Whatttttttt????" screams Appa.

"Well okay I know you dont want to ruin your prized possession, but this is your daughter. Who better to teach?" reasons Amma.

"Let her finish this course." dismisses Appa and turns over, settling into slumber.

Amma thinks she has a slight sprain in her back, probably due to the hopping car, but she dismisses the thought instantly. She sighs as she sinks into a blissful night's sleep.

Thus four weeks pass and slowly but surely there is promised progress. Every day Amma has grown a new worry wart in her system, her nagging back sprain has progressed into acute pain and Kiran's impatience has now emerged as a registered vice which shows in his demeanour(no longer pleasing and helpful). The late evening sessions are a daily test on the team's nerves, moods and dispositions.

"Ma'am your driving test is at 10am next Wednesday" announced Kiran on the last day of class. "And when you go abroad, can you get me a bottle of Scotch?"

"Sure, sure" says Anu averting Amma's scowl.

"So, what do you think Kiran? Will she pass?" asks Amma hopefully.

"Ma'am I will pray to all my Gods that she does. I cannot take any more classes!" concludes Kiran.

Between 10 am and noon on the day of the test a few people are in fervent prayer mode-Amma, Appa, Ashu and Kiran!

When Anu returns home later in the afternoon with a box of Anand Bhavan sweets, all at home are jubilant though Appa has some worry lines visibly evident.

Amma takes him aside and says "She is leaving in another 2 weeks, she wont use your car!"

"Phew" Appa sighs.
[End of flashback]

Anu's first car purchase in the "phoren" land after successfully getting the local license was an exciting trip for her friends more so than for her. She let herself be guided by the decisive calls made by them. And Voila! she was driving home a car of her own that evening.

The same car that had served her well for so many years. It had seen multiple road trips across many coasts that had improved her skills beyond Amma/Appa or even Ashu's wildest imagination. It had seen use and misuse, it had been the one asset she owned for many years.

And now, now after all these years, Anu had decided to get a brand new car, a stylish swanky one, in a color she had always dreamt about, every feature a luxury worth the wait. Some thing she had always dreamed about. And here she was, en route to picking up a beauty on wheels but trading in her best companion till date.

Sadness, mixed with excitement leaves an interesting after-taste.