ROAD RAGE

As I sat behind the steering wheel after 5-6 odd months I suddenly got first day jitters. You know the feeling you got on the first day of school..well, the jitters I got were similar. I have been driving since I was thirteen years old, so that gives me a lot of practise.
Driving in Calcutta is unlike anywhere else in the world. Noone here follows any rules, and the worst bit of it all is noone can stop honking! Driving in this city is an experience of its own.
The buses here are over filled with people, most of the passengers are hanging out of the door, and the taxi drivers think they own the streets and will not hesitate to corner you, especially if you are a girl driver! So there I was driving very carefully, not to bump into anything or anyone!! Another thing, in my beautiful city noone believes in walking on the pavements adding to the woe of the driver who has to avoid them in order to avoid a brawl!
The distance I had to achieve was short, as soon as I turned out of my house gates my ears were flooded with honks and beeps! Everyone seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere and I didn't know why. I have never heard so many cars honking at the same time. It was beyond crazy. I tried to keep my cool and continued to drive cautiously, I did't want to get a bump on the brand spanking new car !
I tried, honestly I did. My mother was sitting right next to me and I avoided losing my temper which leads to a lose tongue. But there I was screaming arsehole at the bloody cab driver who parked his car right on the middle of the road. Twenty minutes down my driving experience and I was already suffering from terrible road rage!
I am a calm driver, but with what seemed like a mllion cars beeping I hardly had an option.
The point is, I miss driving in London and I am so glad I drove. I love driving and I think all the road rage is worth it :) Only wish I had a car in London I could drive, life would be so much simpler.
Anyhoo driving in Calcutta is an achievement, and I applaud myself for being able to overcome my fears (of buses crashing into me) and making my little journey. YAY!

xx