So I finally drive a car independently! I learnt driving in driving class, some 15 years ago, in Pune. I even got my driving licence. But did not have hands-on driving. The urge to be a confident driver, came that day…
We were going to Indore from Ujjain. My husband was driving the car. He was feeling pukish since morning, but no one else knew driving, so he had to drive. In the midway, he threw up. I felt so sorry and decided right away to learn to drive.
My husband and I, both were not comfortable with me learning from a male instructor. It was difficult to find a female driving instructor in Ujjain. But to my luck, during the lockdown period, Ragini Jacob Mam, a teacher at St. Thomas School, started a noble job of teaching driving to many ladies like me, who are comfortable with a female instructor only. In just 7 days, she taught me so perfectly and with patience, that I will be grateful to her throughout my life.
The first part was done, but the next and most important part was practising. For that, I will give whole credit to my husband. Keeping patience is very difficult for him. But he did it and got me to practise hard. Parking a car in the crowded lane of ours is an art, which he only taught me. He also inspired me to drive alone on my own in the morning hours( to drop my kids at school) and on Sundays, as there is less traffic during those times.
Driving on my own gave me real confidence. First I was reluctant in night driving. The lights used to confuse me. In that too, my husband helped me a lot. Finally, I m pro at driving. I feel so confident and self-dependent.
Real fun and confidence booster was my favourite, plants shopping from Anubhav nursery on the highway. Bringing plants, fertilizers, mud, pots and that too from the nursery on the highway, was always a puzzle for me. This time I did it all on my own through self-driving.
So ladies, stop depending on others for something as simple as transportation and learn to drive. It is a real confidence booster I say.
