Driving Lessons - Naga's World

Nagalakshmi’s late. She walks in huffing and puffing carrying with her all the potholes, bus problems, jams, snarls and pollution of the roads, which of course is why she is late. As she settles into her seat and logs into the computer she says, “The buses, Madam, never on time. And then there is a traffic jam, if there is no traffic jam, there is a political rally. If there is no rally, no jam and the bus is on time—then I miss the bus. What to do, Madam? Get ready, cook, pack lunches, get the kids ready, drop them at day care—I tell you I cannot do without public transport but it is still the bane of my life.”

Why don’t you try using your own vehicle, maybe like a Scooty, Naga?

“Oh Madam, that is a story by itself—I will have to learn driving”

It’s not really that hard.

“But it is full of dangerous pitfalls, my driving efforts. First time I drove the Scooty, I drove straight into the neighbor’s compound wall.”

Oh my, were you Ok?

“I was fine but the wall collapsed. My husband had to pay for bricks and cement—even the labor charges. Very expensive.”

Well—that doesn’t mean you give up.

“Yes but the next time, I drove into the neighbor’s chicken.”

And was it alive?

“See, Madam that was the point—the chicken was still alive and not entirely dead. So I argued with my neighbor—“Why should I pay for it, when it is still alive. You give it first aid and then we shall see?” But he was adamant and wanted me to pay.”

Then?

“While we were arguing, the poor chicken seemed to be alive less and less. And this neighbor of mine still wanted money, instead of caring for the chicken. See, Madam, if he cared for the chicken, he would have tried to do something to keep it alive, no?”

I suppose so, Naga.

“But all he wanted was the money. Then I saw the chicken breathe-ed its last breath. The neighbor began jumping and dancing around saying—“See it is dead—you have to pay for it now!” Shameless, heartless fellow, I am sure Madam that he was already thinking of dinner instead of feeling sad for the poor chicken.”

“I took very strong stand, Madam. I said to him, “ You are a human or a pumpkin? I am sure you have been planning to eat this chicken since the day you bought it. No remorse you are having over its untimely death. I think I have done you a favor, but since you want money, I will only pay only for the masala that you will use to cook it with.” ”

And to think it all began with a driving lesson.