Dizzy Roads: My experience through the daze of getting a Driving Licence

 I shouldn't have written anything about this experience. In a way, this could also be an exposure of my luck and stupidity.

But the way I struggled to get a Driving License is really worth writing about.

I drive well in city or other places but when it comes to DL test....

So people share their experiences when the best happens to them or the worst happens or something unexpected happens.

And the unexpected happens to me in an area you don't know about,this is my experience in getting a driving license.

Usually, before getting a driving license, you have to pass a test which is called learning license.

There are two ways to give the learning license test, through online Aadhaar authentication and by visiting the RTO. So I chose online mode.. and gave the exam.

So the rule of online test is that you have to sit in front of the camera and give the test. I was not so familiar with those questions so I asked my friends to help me with difficult questions. So out of 15 MCQs you have to pass at least 9 questions. Well I passed the exam.

According to the rules, one has to apply for a driving license within six months after the learning license.So I applied for a driving license after a few months.

I paid 200 fees during my learning license but during driving license I paid 640.

To take the driving license test, you will have to take an appointment for it. That you have to book the slot and for this you have to book the slot at 7 am in the morning only unless the driving license is away from you because everyone is waiting for this time.

And finally I booked the slot with the help of one of my friend. And finally the day has come which I was waiting for to give the driving license test but I think this is the real test of my driving skills. My friend and I went to take the test.

That day we were busy with some work in the city like college work and others. As per RTO rules, one has to reach the test center 30 minutes before the DL test.

We are already late and I was very nervous and scared about the test.. finally we reached the RTO testing center. 

The security guard at the gate stopped us and said only one person is allowed to be tested. But with some pretense my friend also entered and came to guide me as he knew the whole process.

Later got my documents verified and went to the testing venue. Many people were also seen giving test of two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

My turn came, I went to take the test.. there were a lot of people there. And it was my first time, I wore helmet and went to the test track, I was driving well..honking well and using indicators well too, but the narrow road was troubling my mind. And the presence of people disturbed my mind and I felt nervous, I made a mistake in the middle of the test, I touched my foot on the ground and I failed the test.

The embarrassing incident of failing in front of people changed my entire mindset. I and my friend came from there.

My friend said that you should be confident and ride with a calm mindset, there is no need to panic. But I know what I was going through.

I was worried about this failure the whole day.. I felt as if I had failed in a college exam. After some time I came to know that for taking the test for the second time I would have to pay additional Rs. 300 as retest fee.

After few days re-test fee was paid.. and then same process early morning slot was booked and so on.

On the day of the test, I again reached the testing venue with my friend and again we both entered inside with pretense.

And this time I was a little confident and also had an unknown fear.. still I controlled myself and went to take the exam. Ride well, honk well, use indicators well too. After the test, the test supervisor shocked me, he said that your right indicator is not working and your friend is also shooting the video of your test. Don't you know that only one person is allowed inside and videography is not allowed here? etc.

I was really disappointed because my efforts did not yield the expected results.

I requested, even my friend requested the officer “Please provide my license, it was my second attempt” He said I can leave you as the indicator is not working but videography is not acceptable. Then both of us requested that we remove the video. Still the officer did not listen to us. What else could we do?

I also contacted one of my uncles who has some contacts in RTO to help me by contacting the supervisor, but it did not work.

The whole day was full of disappointment and regret. Who is to be blamed..the officer's cruelty or the right side indicator not working at the right time, my friend who made the video or my luck?

I told some of my friends and also my family about this incident.. some blamed, some criticized, very few consoled me saying its okay, try again..

I paid the re-test fee again, oh the pain of raising money for such mistakes, having less money and asking money from family for such mistakes is really hard. This was my third attempt and if this attempt failed then I came to know that I would have to wait for 6 months.

In the last two tests, I was riding my friend's bike, in the first attempt I touched the ground, in the second attempt the indicator was not working, video shoot etc.

On the day of 3rd attempt..it was my test day and also my brother's DL test day. So my brother and I went to the testing site on our bikes for our testing. 

But................

The saddest part is.. because this was my last attempt and if it didn't work I would have had to wait another 6 months.

So I adopted a way, I am ashamed to write, I took the help of a broker of RTO, who used to pass DL of people for extra money. 

This path was optional, I was looking for it in case I failed.

I took the test. And everything went in my favor and I passed the test.

I was thinking that I will not go to the broker as soon as I pass the exam. But after some time, I made another big mistake because I said that my brother's test was also on the same day. He went to take the test. 

He rode very well with all the rules, but half way I realized that he was not wearing a helmet and look where the helmet is in my hand, I forgot to ask him to wear it.

Unfortunately brother failed the test, we requested the officer to give the test again to my brother with helmet, officers said, no. My brother said to me, "You should have remembered to wear a helmet."

All roads were closed so we went to the broker for help, we narrated our ordeal, he said that despite taking money he could not do anything as helmet is mandatory. The shocking thing is that despite passing the exam well, he asked me for money. He argued that since you asked me for help before the test you have to give me money.. After many arguments he took some money.

While returning from there, my brother said something which hurts me even today. He said, "Being a student of political science, despite passing the examination fairly, you chose the path of corruption."

After a week, brother paid the retest fee, and so as not to forget again, he went from home wearing a helmet to take the exam. and luckily he passed.

So this is my weird experience of getting a driving license. I can't express in words how much I struggled and made mistakes to achieve this.

Many such untold incidents have happened to me.To anyone reading this, please don't criticize me or tease me about what I had to go through to get a DL. 

My message would be that sometimes the days are not really yours and you make some mistakes you never thought about.

Every exam has to be passed, Like I drive well everywhere but when it comes to driving test it took me 3 attempts.

Likewise India played and won every match but in the final where it was a big test, India failed.

Thank you for reading..

~Sugyan Nanda

Post graduate student of Political Science

Rajendra University, Balangir