This December, my Maruti 800 completes 15 long years with
me. It travelled along with me all these years to all the places I stayed. But
my wife and children are not very amused by my special attachment towards the
cute small green car. They tried all these years to cajole, coerce and
intimidate me to buy a better car. All the three of them used to show me every
new car on the road and narrate the advantages of buying one of them. And I
hated any such narration and retorted them with the merits of my Maruti 800. I
keep telling them, ‘as long as this car
takes us to our destination without any trouble, I don’t think there is any
necessity for a change’. Though its use has come down these days because of the
leased vehicle from the organization where I am working, I used to travel
hundreds of kilometres in my Maruti on my trips to my native place earlier.
On one of the trips to the hills in 1998 (scanned photo) |
My Maruti 800 has never left me stranded on the road all
these years. I have never spent any large sum for repairs. This is in contrast with my first car, a second
hand ‘fiat’, bought from my maternal uncle, just before my marriage. That car
almost ruined me both emotionally and financially. Imagine, you learn driving
in a car that gives you all sorts of mechanical and electrical complaints every
now and then.
Unfortunately, all my prime energetic young age was spent in classrooms and university libraries. I never thought of learning even to ride a two wheeler at that time. Main blame for this should go to my mother. She said ‘Two wheelers are very dangerous. Don’t ever think of riding even a bicycle’. She also used to say: ‘Don’t play, you will get spoiled; Don’t pray, you will become a priest’. So, my childhood was without any toys or many friends, but a lot of ‘General Knowledge’ books!
Unfortunately, all my prime energetic young age was spent in classrooms and university libraries. I never thought of learning even to ride a two wheeler at that time. Main blame for this should go to my mother. She said ‘Two wheelers are very dangerous. Don’t ever think of riding even a bicycle’. She also used to say: ‘Don’t play, you will get spoiled; Don’t pray, you will become a priest’. So, my childhood was without any toys or many friends, but a lot of ‘General Knowledge’ books!
(Photo of a fiat car. I used the same model. My blood boils even now)
First few months of valuable family life were spent learning
the art of driving and repairing the car. My friends, staff, and many strangers
extended their ‘push’ at unexpected times when the battery, wiring or the engine
failed. Finally I managed to get a buyer for the car. (And even now, if I see a
fiat car on the road my blood boils and my mood spoils. And my wife laughs and
tells our children, ‘there goes Appa’s favourite car!’) I decided to buy a car
on my own without any help from my doctor wife, rich in-laws or my mother. I
approached a relative of mine who is the manager of a scheduled bank. He said,
‘loan can be sanctioned at 16% interest, but bank requires original document of
land holdings in your mother’s name’. Ridiculous! Apart from the hypothecation
of car to the bank, I have to pledge the agricultural land to the bank! I went
to a nationalized bank and they sanctioned the loan in two days for much less
rate of interest and without any other collateral security. And thus I
possessed my Maruti 800.
I get really furious whenever there is a demand from my
children to throw this car. I ask them, 'in our city, whether it is a Maybach Exelero or a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce Phantom or a BMW, all can go only at the
same speed as the Maruti 800. Then why do we need a better car?' But I know, I
may have to abandon my favourite car one day. My children say, 'send it to the
vintage collection of classic cars museum'. I said to my son, 'we will do that
only after you get a licence learning driving in this car'. But my daughter is
the most scared person since I told her, ‘this Maruti 800 will be our gift to you
when you get married, may be after another fifteen years!’
( With my car on its 16th year)
Thanking God for His protection all along!
This is very nice post. I admire your attachment with your possessions. We share something like the late learning of driving. Similarly I am attached to my bike, and my posts often have the mention about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tomz. We tend to get attached to our 'old' possessions. Hope you will hold on to your bike for some more time!!
DeleteI can see you're attached to that car. May the humble car have a long life and may it take you many, many more miles. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your wishes!
Deletehey I am new to your blog. loved the post and picture of the car with that garland is adorable.
ReplyDeleteThanks Meenakshi!
DeleteInteresting writeup ...Art of learning any new skills is honing us on all levels :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Uma, each learning experience trigger freshness in life!
DeleteWonderful car!! Looks so pretty!!! I can understand why you defend it!!! If anyone wants to change it, scare them away by telling them that you'll get a Fiat instead. But why is it garlanded on the 16th year as if it celebrated its 60th year???
ReplyDeleteOh! For my Maruti 16 is like our 60! Thanks for the appreciation for my dear Maruti 800! I will definitely take the 'Fiat' weapon to scare those who demand for a change!
DeleteVery nice !
ReplyDeleteThanks Ravee!
DeleteI can fully empathise with you since I have a similarly bizarre bonding with my ZenLX(1999).The only - factor is that I am having to wait for a samaritan-minded strong male to disconnect the steering wheel that would have sunk deep into my stomach and knock me out of the driving seat to the other side. I have forgotten the time when I last disembarked from my car normally like a gentleman.. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can Sajjive! All the best!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon, you are right!
DeleteI agree Ashwini. Women are less prone to this 'disease'!
ReplyDeleteClearly one from the heart. We really do love our automobiles don't we!
ReplyDeleteI really hope you keep it for many, many more years!
Lovely feeling and attachment sir, I understand the attachment. Lots Lots & Lots of lovely memories are linked with the possession which will seem as if they will go along with the car. At this time your decision is right. Wishing you to pick up the worlds best-est car Sir, All the Best.
ReplyDeleteYour blog brings back the memorable days of the struggle with my fiat as well. A truly down memory lane of a sort..
ReplyDelete