My first real failure

So after the mini hurdle of a written driving test, I knew it was time for a mammoth task. I was standing face to face with the real deal and I thought,"how difficult would it be, given I'd be driving an automatic car"?

But could I have been more wrong! I did not take into account the scars Delhi roads and the nuisance traffic had left on me. I was so used to cylists and rowdy car drivers popping out of nowhere that I assumed its normal.

Anyway, my first day behind the wheel was simple. All I did was drive around walmart's driving space. After mastering the art of driving unopposed in circles, I wished driving was all about that. Till I saw a car coming out of the right lane. I panicked and applied breaks really hard, assuming he would'nt stop. After a moment my heart rate came back to normal. Dee, my life partner and current driving teacher said, "if you don't have faith in yourself yet, atleast have faith in others. No one would run you over". That statement made me see the "scary cars" around me in another light. So I practiced and practiced and within a month I was ready. Or so I thought.

On the day my driving test appointment was scheduled, I woke up with a weird feeling. But I had no time to waste, so I brushed the feeling aside and concentrated on looking good, just in case my examiner believed in presentation. So as I was waiting in the line, behind the wheel with about 7 odd cars ahaed of me. Very quickly and promptly, the examiners were getting in the passenger seat, next to the nervous drivers and one by one, within minutes, the cars were out of sight. And next I knew, I was first, waiting for my examiner. He was a middle aged, slightly reserved guy, who asked me questions in a monotone. Plus he didn't smile! Man, I get nervous around such people. After only my first five minutes with him next to me, my self confidence was dipping low. And then, I messed up. I think I stopped before making a turn, just to be sure. India's conditioning! And he almost snapped at me for that mistake, and this was while I was driving.

Obviously, domino's effect happened and I stumbled a few more times. But couldn't he wait till I finished my round and parked the car, to tell me my screw ups? Moron! Need I say, I failed! And I wept like a child. The problem is that I don't take defeats very well. But I made peace with myself and practiced some more. Didn't hurry up this time!