Since childhood, I loved cars, roads and driving. My early year pictures show a five-year-old boy sitting in a car, holding all sorts of toy cars.

When I grew a bit older, I started playing car and racing games on the mobile phone. I was fond of taking a trip in the car with an elder, even if the trip was to a nearby shop. Days passed by, until I became old enough to operate a real car. That was when the desire to personally drive a real car hit me with a strong force.

Looking for the best time to place my demand, I decided to ask for my first drive as a birthday gift. At first, my father was hesitant, but sensing my urge and realising my interest in cars, he complied with my request. But of course, on the condition that he too would sit with me.

After much waiting, the big day came. I had already watched videos related to driving a car and was fully prepared for it. Soon, I found myself seated in the driving seat, my foot on the accelerator, my hands on the steering wheel and my body locked by a seat belt. I was ready to go on my first drive!

To better understand the experience, just visualise the working of a manual car with a clutch, a brake and an accelerator. I had heard that operating a manual car was quite difficult, but I was ready to prove this claim wrong.

As soon as I pressed the accelerator, along with the clutch, the car started moving! I could see the road drift backward, I could feel the tire roll smoothly and I could hear the engine roar! Everything was real! I had done it!

I was tempted to press the accelerator more and increase the speed, but my father had restricted and warned me not to exceed the speed by 30 kilometres per hour. So, I kept it smooth and gentle and enjoyed the feeling of the car carrying me along. It was so easy and comforting!

And then the trouble started. Perhaps I had become too comfortable. A car was coming from the opposite direction and I managed to apply brakes. But, I forgot to apply the clutch simultaneously and the car turned off. I re-inserted the key and pressed the accelerator while releasing the clutch. But I released the clutch too quickly, and the car again turned off. It was becoming irritating.

However, on the third try, I was successful and drove steadily on a sloped street. As the road bent downward, my father advised me to leave the accelerator as gravity would move the car itself. Now both my feet were free from the pedals.

Suddenly, a cat came from nowhere. Panicked by the unexpected arrival, I threw my right foot on the brake. But instead of the brake, it hit the accelerator. The car picked speed and drove over the cat!

That was when I realised what had happened. Till then, my father had pulled the hand brake and the car drifted to an abrupt halt. But the cat was badly injured. We got off from the car, my father took the cat gently and we drove to the nearby veterinary hospital. After the initial treatment, the cat was completely bandaged and handed over to us. Meanwhile, both I and dad were silent. It was an odd silence.

It was an annoying experience. I silently came and sat in the passenger seat as my father drove us to home. All the anticipation of driving a car had resulted in this. That day, I promised not to be over-excited and drive when I was mature enough to handle the responsibility of taking a car on the road.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 7th, 2023