Believe It Or Not Driving Car

Believe it or not;

But it happened with me. A true incidence. In a long forty years of service, I underwent as many as 24 (twenty four) transfers in service. I worked in the hills and terrains in the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, Orissa and the national capital of Delhi. During the tenure I confronted countless amazing incidents. Some of them are unbelievable. Series Post: No. 2.

Theme:: Duty hours: Follow, Sir Since my first car, I never engaged a driver. To day also I drive my car. In fact, I enjoy driving. Once, on my transfer from Guwahati, Assam to Cuttock in Orissa, I drove my car alone. At kohima, that was my first tour after joining my office on 19th March, 1982. My tour program was for Phek, a District HQ of the state of Nagaland. Distance was 275 km from Kohima. Kohima, being a hilly station and its unfamiliar roads, I thought to take a driver. The entire road was zigzag, narrow and hilly tract. Most of the portions were one way. The last leg of 11 km was FIRST GEAR road. Places were not safe, particularly for the new comers. But I was a person, once decided; no to fall back. However, one of my friends in the State Government office, knew my program and he offered me a local Naga driver from his office, who knew that area. ***** ***** It was Wednesday, 23rd of March, 1982. I was busy in my office. Time around 3 pm. --Good morning Sir,-I raised my head and found a Naga youth, around 25 standing in front of my table. (They did not believe in any formalities, taking permission to enter a chamber etc.) However, his pan-chewing reddish mouth with dark black teeth and uncombed hair immediately reminded my conversation with my friend in the Government office.

Good morning—I threw an assenting look at him. Sir, amak to Das Babu pathaichhe (Das Babu has sent me). Oh, good. What is your name? ---- He told his name, but I could understand that. Ok, do you drive a car? Yes, yes I drive. I drive. I drive Minister’s car. I drive long. I drive Guwahati. I driv…….. Ok, ok. – Look, I will go to Phek day after tomorrow morning. Can you go with me?—I told him very slowly so that he could understand. ---Drive kariba lagiba? (Have I to drive?) --- Yes.--- He flashed a smile on his face, as if he was happy. --- Kiman time te ahiba lagiba? (At what time should I come?)— --- Morning 8. Ok ?— --- Ok--. He moved towards the door. But swiftly he looked back. ---Kiman din haba. Aru kiman taka diba? (For how many days and how much would you pay?) --- 3 days. 50 rupees----- 50 rupees?—matlab Panchhach taka?--- he kept his mouth opened probably with astonishment and fully beamed eyes, in pleasing surprise. --- Ok, ok Sir. Haba, ami ahiba.( Yes Sir, I would come). He turned to the door. After one or two steps he again returned his face towards me and asked. --- Sir, apnikhan office duty-time too kiman ache? Amikhan hale 8 hours he ache, Sir (What is your duty hours, Sir. In our office it is 8 hours.) He told convincingly. --- 8 hours. You come to my office, here at morning 7 that day.--- without waiting I told. --- Ok Sir. Haba. Ami time te ahiba (Ok Sir, I would come in time.)Then he finally left. On the particular day, I found him right at 7 am standing in front my office. Good morning Sir-before I could talk, he wished me in a jubilant mood. Good morning, come – Sit ---I indicated towards the rear seat. He sat, but with bubbling. So we start? --- I told. Yes Sir, bhal para Jabi (Yes Sir, please go). I started my car towards Phek. It was Friday, a sunny Morning of 25th March, 1982. My car started climbing up and up. I enjoyed driving, however, his intermittent cautions like bhal para jabi (Go carefully), hills rasta bahut khatarnak (hills tracts, very dangerous) bhal drive karibi (drive carefully) etc. kept diverting my attention. Ok, ok, tumi bhal para bahibi ( you sit comfortably)—I told Nai Sir, ami thik ache. Apni to natun ache. Sei nimitte koi ache ( I am alright Sir, you a new man. That’s why I am telling you). Ami natun halebhi, garito chalaba jane (I am a new, I know driving)--- keeping my hands firmly at the steering I told him in self-confidence. Sir, apni gari chalaba pare. To amake ki nimitte aniche ( Sir, if you drive; why have you brought me, then?--an sense of discontentment in his voice.

My car was moving and moving in upward direction, kilometer clock hand tittering at 40. Amake chalaba dibina. Apni paicha kharcha kari aniche. Ami nachalale thik nahaba, Sir ( sir,let me drive. You spent on me. It would not be good, if I don drive). He repeated in low and sober voice. Ok, I will give you. Wait. We drove for about 2 hours. The deserted, zigzag, tape like road made me felt for a cup of tea. In the entire road we passed, there was not a single restaurant. Even the whole area was free of human habitation, only forests, way side stones and sometimes the cool water small natural streamlets flowing down and down and down. In 2hour’s time we could not cover even 6o km. I inquiredHey, cha paba karabate( is tea available somewhere?)Iyate to napaba. Alap pachate eta CRP camp aru tar laga cha dukan ache (You won’t get here. There is a CRP camp and their restaurant after some distance). Meanwhile, a road side small board indicating towards “CRP camp ahead” came to my notice. After about a kilometer, we arrived an open field like space with a way- side restaurant. That area was specially made for CRP personnel who on their en-rout to Pfutsero or other distance places go through that road. I halted my car. The atmosphere was windy but pleasant. We went into the restaurant and found it almost deserted. The manager of the restaurant, supposing to a military personal received us very politely and inquired where from and to where were we going. I gave my identity and place of my visit. Oh, Phek? Sir, you have still to cover more than 200 km. you would be late.----he told in a nicely manner. No No. I would halt at Pfutsero.—I replied Pfutsero is another 5 to 6 hours’ drive, Sir. Then no problem.—he asserted. I looked my watch. It was past 10. I calculated. 6 hours plus half an hour here (in the restaurant) plus 10; means by 4.30 or latest by 5, after noon we would reach Pfutsero. My attention got shattered— Sir coffee.—a neatly dressed military police offered me a cup of coffee. No tea?— Sorry Sir, very cold place. People do not like tea here. Ok . can we have something, Nasta type?— Yes Sir, you can have aaloo partha— Both of us took. We sat for some time. It was about 11 am when we left that place. Before I sat into the car, my Naga young man started arguing that he would drive the car. I told that next day he would drive. No, he did no agree. Sir, malik log gari pich seat te bahe. Amito driver ache (Sir, only the owner sits in the rear seat, I am your driver). I got his point. But, i did not allow him to drive. In fact, I was not so confident with such a new and unknown driver, to take risk of that road. I firmly reacted and seated him. Ultimately he sat seemingly with a heavy heart. I started the car. Again the road led upward and upward. The left side of the road was the hills.

My car with a continuous droning sound kept moving up. The Naga youth kept silent. Looking back I found him slept on the whole seat. I felt safe and with a sigh of relief, I concentrated on the road with my firm hands on the steering. Time kiman hoiche, Sir, ( what is the time, Sir?- I got shock at his sudden voice. Two.—I told without looking back. Thik ache, bhal para jabi (ok please go) I kept driving. After negotiating a narrow sharp turning, I saw a horrifying scene. Hey what is that?-Oh, Sir accident—he replied as if nothing so serious has happened. I saw a big bus seem to be collided with a big wayside boulder and got smashed totally. The bus was down the hills, about 2oo feet down. Some damaged parts of the bus were still lying on the road. A pathetic scene indeed. I felt very bad. I stopped for a while and wanted to have a full glimpse of the fateful accident. I got down. He also got down. I looked around and started gazing at the site. My mind was full of grief. How many would have been wounded? How many might have lost their lives. The entire area was serene We again drove and going up slowly and slowly. I forgot how much time I drove with my mind lost in the accident, until a loud voice awakened me . Sir, time kiman hoiche (Sir, what is the time)?— Three.—without looking at my watch I told. Three? Bhal para chabi na Sir ( Is it three- tell me correctly sir.)? I looked at my watch. Incidentally, that was three. Yes, three- I affirmed. Three? Sir, gari rakhibi (Three? Stop the car Sir) Why?Rakhibi na, Sir (Please stop the car). I thought he might have nature’s call. Ok.- - I stopped the car. He went out and without waiting started going along the down. Although the left side of the road was the hills and forest, the right hand side was open and down, very low and gradient. There was no road. Seeing him going down without looking at me I got surprised. Hey what happened ( Ki hoiche) ? Come soon.--- I almost shouted at him. He then looked up at me and told shouting from the down below. Sir, (pointing at a distant forest like village) oi too last Angami gaon ache. Iyar pachate kono Angami gao naai. Ami aji to iyate rati ghumabo. Kali fajir te ahibo. Upni khan gari bhir te ghumabi. Ami kali iyate ahiba. Bujiche? ( that far-off village is the last Angami village. After that, there is no Angami village. Tonight I sleep there. I shall come tomorrow morning. You sleep inside your car. I shall here tomorrow morning, understand Sir?) At first I could not believe my ears. I thought he was making fun. But when he kept treading down and down, I got my sense and again shouted at the top of my voice. Hey, how can I sleep here, inside the car? on the road? Come up.

Nai sir, aji aru kam nakariba. Tinta bajiche. Matlab duty 8 hours hoiche na. kalihe ahiba, DUTY HOURS:: FOLLOW SIR, ( No Sir, it is three. I have done 8 hours duty. I would come tomorrow only. You should follow duty hours). You fool!, how dare you?—I shouted at him. But kept going. Only his last word I heard Ako nahaba Sir, apni laga gari bhirte ghumabi ( no problem Sir, sleep in your car) Slowly and slowly he disappeared from my sight keeping me in an weird, awkward and unbelievable situation. I did not know how much time I was looking at him departing down, with a deep anger. I enter into my car again. Ungodly I started the vehicle and slowly and slowly started going upwards. My companion was the continuous huming sound of the engine of my car and the near by hills, running towards my back. Pfutsero was almost another 3 hours drive from that point. ********** Ramcharan Pathak, Jonakpur, Birubari, Guwahati, Assam, India. 09.07.08.