A Rendezvous in the RTO

I had been planning to learn car driving for some time. It materialized a week back when I joined a driving school. I had applied for my learner’s license the very next day I joined. I was asked to ‘prepare’ well, was given a pamphlet with all sorts of road signs. I did prepare and made a mental note of the difficult ones. On the morning of the test I set off with my husband to accompany me. He kept reminding me what a shame it would be if I didn’t clear. The pressure got on to me by the time we were at the RTO. I was taken to a room to get my picture clicked and to get the documents verified and then was asked to wait to go for the online exam. My name was called in 10 minutes and I climbed the stairs to reach my exam hall. There I saw around seven others waiting for their turns. There were three officials sitting on their desks and two examinees writing or rather attempting to write the test. Then I see that the questions were in Tamil, in which I was as ignorant as in Greek or Latin… well, I also noticed there was a lot of help being offered. One lady called out to the officials, almost yelling,” Saar, enakku ithu onnume puriyile”(Sir, I don’t understand any of this). One of the officers there got up and went and stood beside her, pulled the mouse from her and completed the exam in 10 seconds and declared “Pass”. I was flabbergasted. I was called next (courtesy of being a woman, women were being called first). I went and sat in front of the system. Someone came and explained to me about how to use the mouse and how to click on the right answer, I felt a little self pity there, as I was a software engineer!!! I then declared that I didn’t know Tamil and that I need the questions in English. He looked at me as if I had asked something inappropriate. And then said, ’’Madam, English no help, Tamil I help ’’. I explained to him that I can’t read Tamil, to which he offered to do my test for me in Tamil. I declined the rather very lucrative offer and went ahead with my exam in English. I passed with flying colours; I got a seven out of eight. The officer was glad and seemed happier than me. He said,” Very good, very good madam.” And ..AAha..I felt proud of myself. I will be starting with my practical sessions soon, waiting to see what that has to offer me…