Okay, I have reason to be proud today!
I have finally got my drivers license, and no, not for a four wheeler. A goddamn TWO-WHEELER!! And that too after having to renew my Learner's license, THRICE!!

Now now before u jump to any conclusions about my driving skills, which by the way many people i know do not trust at all, because of the amount of times Ive met with accidents and fallen of the bike and once seriously injured myself and one of my friends Cynthia. If I may say though, most of these times that I've fallen off a two wheeler, I've been a pillion rider. Like the one time, we were driving to Westside to sing for the winter Carnival at Westside and Cliff dropped me when i was wearing a skirt into dirty water, my white t-shirt was black and torn, and I was forced to wear a jacket and sing "Jingle Bells" even though my butt changed colours from black to blue, to a very ugly purple-y colour over the next 2 weeks that followed!! I've actually only met with an accident, because of my own fault once, when I'd just learnt to ride right after 10th grade, once when a dog came in the way, and one other time when a few kids in the locality were learning to ride a cycle and I tried to avoid them. Ok, so thats a lot of times, but thats besides the point here!! The important thing to note here is that, all these times, I've been trying to save someone else from getting injured, namely the dog, the little kids etc etc....and you think Im just a bad driver!

The 1st time I made my Learner's license, forgot it had an expiry date and hence forgot to give the driving test in time! (Yes, see besides being selfless, Im also a law abiding citizen, who gives these driving test thingy's, while most others pay the dalal and somehow twist and turn the rules and get their permanent licenses without giving any such driving test) THEN, since the 1st license has expired Im forced to make another one, a Learner's again. This time I make sure I give the test before the bloody thing expires again. But alas, i FAIL!! The 1st "test" I've ever failed in, and it has to be a driving test!??!...In my defense though, the girl ahead of me knew nothing about Road Signs, every question was answered with a, "Sir, nahi aata" accompanied with one of those smiles thats supposed to mean, "Im just a pretty, innocent girl, won't you just let me slip by" And then this "officer" fails me!!...ME!! Just because I extended my LEFT hand when I was talking a LEFT turn! (now you ask whats wrong with that, for those of you who might not know, in India, officially, when your taking a left turn, you're supposed to extend your right hand, and rotate it, THAT is the signal for a LEFT turn?!!? Why couldn't they just use some common sense, and make it easier allow people just extend their LEFT hand when they take a LEFT turn?!?! doesn't that make more sense??!? Or just let them use the bloody indicator, what else is it there for?!?

Oh well, so I fail the test, and Im required to make yet ANOTHER Learner's license, if you've lost count, this is lucky number THREE!
SO today is the day, I go to give the test a second time, I attend the 1st class at college, I would have bunked altogether, but Kaalmegh is on my tail and would positively strangle me if i bunked one of her classes again! So i attend her class, and then bunk English to go give the test. The 1st time I gave the test, I had one of those guys from the driving school along with me, the 2nd time dad came along with me, this time however, everyone has just given up on me, and Im all alone. Nothing bad about that, except that at these government offices nothing ever seems to happen unless you know someone sitting behind the desks. I brace myself, telling myself I can do it. So what if i can't speak Marathi, I can still understand it! I then realize i spoke too soon, coz all the counter's are clearly marked, in Marathi, but it's not those simple words i know, "Majha naav Melanie aahe", now thats simple, but this was all gibberish to me!! Anyhow I ask around, making many rounds around the whole building in the process, and then of course, there is the occasional uncleji, who seems ever so interested in helping a "maydum" who has a completely clueless, almost desperate look on her face. Of course the uncleji who helped me out, referred me me as "baby", I guess he's pretty old then..

Paper work done, fees paid, now all I need to do is pass that blasted driving test!! (I hope your noticing the "law abiding citizen" bit again) DAMMIT, there's a line, a long one that too. Now what am i to do?? I have to get back to college at 1pm, coz this time Kekte Sir is gonna be on my tail, and he too will positively strangle me if I miss another class, and plus this time I've actually completed my assignment! I need a plan! I decide to jump the line, I casually walk upto random girl and ask her about whats happening and how we're supposed to go about his whole thing. I stand there for 5 minutes, asking questions at regular intervals, so as to not break the momentum. 5 minutes turns to 10, and before u know it, voila, it's my turn!...Smooth as ever, cool as a cat, or is is cool as a cucumber?..whichever. I give my papers in, do the "figure of eight" ride around. This time i make sure to indicate LEFT, by rotating my RIGHT hand! Funny how Im nervous, despite knowing there's no way Im not gonna fall off my gaadi or any such thing.

But it's finally over, I rush back to college just in time for Kekte Sir's class, oh well actually we was already in class, but i sneaked in when he was writing on the black board :)

Im smart AND I get my permanant license in 10 days! HA!