Saturday, April 19, 2008

How I (almost) lost my license

Ok, I almost lose my driving license the other day.

I went to the Gurdwara (sikh temple) to meet this gyani jee (religious person) who has come from Germany to teach us Kirtan. Although the classes were to start the following day, we were there early to plan the week.

But I insisted that he teach me something NOW (eager as I was.) Sooooo what happened was he listened to me (he thought I was crap and need to practise more…boohoo!) But then I sang a shabad /hymn) I had practised on a few times. My mind kind of “got stuck” into the shabad, the tune, the words etc.

While driving home I was still stuck in the shabad and kept singing (yes out loud while driving!! ) I just looked forward and kept on driving. After a while I realized there’s a “copcar” behind me. I got a bit distressed and focused on the driving and tried to keep to the speedlimit.

After a while he turns on his front sirens, so I drive the car into the bus stop hoping that he’d pass by. But no, he stopped behind me and came forward.

“Is this your car?”

-Yes,

“Are you in a hurry?”

-Yes I’m pregnant (No I’m joking – I was well frightened so I squealed a barely "hearable" ‘no’ - I was in no position to joke around then.)

“We’ve been following you for a while. Why were you driving 100km/h where there was a speedlimit of 50km/h?”

- (I’m SHOCKED – was I ?? I wasn't thinking about my speed while driving, I was still stuck in the shabad haha) “I was?"

“We want you to blow into this machine” (I blow into the "alcometer." No I wasn’t drunk, they could conclude. (I actually do acknowledge wasn’t driving normally. A bit like druk people drive..)

(He looks at my license)

- “Getting a license isn’t easy, nor cheap”

- No. I’m really sorry, my mind was somewhere else. I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again. Actually I’m going to be honest with you, I came from a music class, and I was just stuck with the song, and I’m REALLY REALLY sorry, it won’t happen again

(He looks at the photo of the handsome man on the license he was holding)

Again, I squeal - “It won’t happen again, I’m really sorry”

- Don’t let it happen again!

I was scared as HELL. If they would fine me, the find would be HEAVY – and they could’ve taken the license as well. But that’s not the worse bit. The worse bit would be the chitter (beating) I’d get from mum! She would LITERALLY KILL me. Literally. Did I tell mum? Yes I did – I told her there was a alcotest, and they checked my license. Nothing about the speed. I don’t want jutiya (beaten) for nothing.

But I’m alive, and happy and still have my license!

Woohoo!

*drives of at 150 km/h at a 30km/h road…*

Lesson to be learnt: If you wanna drive bloody quickly - do LOOK AROUND if there's any cops around! and look properly.

Coming up: my germany trip!