Lessons I learned From My Car!

Maintaining a car requires a lot of things to be taken care of--such as washing, oiling, servicing, repair and replacement when there is a damage and so on and so forth. I know the nitty-gritties of a car now! After all, I spend one-fourth of my salary on the car’s monthly installment and another quarter on all these.

Petrol alone doesn’t keep a car running

The first lesson I learnt after buying a car is that it does not run on petrol ALONE. If you ever buy a car thinking petrol is the soul needed to keep it running, please think again.

Here’s some free advice: Getting up early every morning and running to catch a train is definitely better than an empty bank account!

Everyone likes comfort, but no one likes to pay for it!

“Taxi-walas and rickshaw-walas charge in excess. He has a car; travelling is certainly cheap for him.” This is the most common myth people profess about car owners. And that’s the reason they always expect a lift from you. Not just a lift; plans are made counting your car in. 

But when the car gets rickety and starts to require expenditure, nobody shares the price of the damages. I have never come across a single person who sat in the car ever saying, “Don’t worry, I too have traveled in it. Let me share the expenses with you.”

Actually, why would they? After all, it’s YOUR car and YOU should be the one paying for it. Hence, the second lesson learnt: Everyone likes comfort, but nobody likes to pay for it!

Here’s another thing to remember: Owning a car is the most expensive ticket to nowhere.

Second hand car? My lips are sealed!

One of the biggest problems of buying a second hand car is, it’s SECOND HAND! You go out with your family in the car, and your car decides to suddenly stop in the middle of the road, leaving you embarrassed and your family angry.

When I had decided to buy a car, no one from my family supported me. But I still bought it.

The one thing I dislike here is, when it’s running fine, no one--not even my wife--ever came back and told me that buying it was a good decision.

But whenever it stops or requires spending, even the little boy next door is ready with criticism for purchasing it.

So, the third lesson learnt: When the car performs properly, no one praises it. But the moment it comes to a halt, you have to take all the criticism with sealed lips.

Not every day is good; not every ride is smooth

The moment I sat behind the wheel, I realised that it’s the most difficult place to be. Literally. However, I am a quick learner; I pick up things real fast and driving is one of them. I became perfect the third time I ever had the wheel.

But not every day is a good day and not every ride is a smooth ride.

Once, I was driving on a highway at 80 km per hour. It was quite romantic: There was rain and Arjit Singh was singing away to glory from the stereo. Suddenly, a truck driving ahead of me stopped. Why? I don’t know, but it was unexpected.

I slammed the brakes, and here’s where people learning how to drive will empathise with me. In the panic, I forgot to shift my foot from the accelerator to the brake. Instead of coming to a halt, the car moved towards the truck at double speed.

More panic, but I instantly shifted my foot and applied the brake as hard as I could. The car stopped with a jerk just an inch shy of the truck. For the next few minutes, my mind went blank and I was shivering.

That day, I learnt the most important lesson: The distance between your accelerator and brake is the difference between life and death! 

One second more, and I would have landed myself in the hospital, or worse. I don’t fear death, but dying this way is just not acceptable. 

A very important piece of advice here: Before you start driving, learn your ABCs perfectly--accelerator, brake and clutch. The difference between them really matters!

Whatever others may say or think, I love my car and am proud of owning it.

-Experienced by Arfan Dossani

-Written by Husna Advani Dossani