My Early Driving Days


Riyaz was a close friend I met during my school days. He wasn’t just a companion but also a constant help at home. Around that time, we decided to buy a car But it remained mostly parked in the garage.

One day, when I was in 9th standard, Riyaz and I decided—rather impulsively—to try driving the car, despite having no prior experience. Surprisingly, I felt quite confident as I started the engine and drove it smoothly around. Riyaz accompanied me, encouraging and guiding me all along. We made it back home safely, but the real challenge came when I had to park the car inside the garage after crossing the main gate. I struggled to align it properly.

Seeing my difficulty, Riyaz who knew I was driving for the first time —suggested something wild: "Let’s lift the front of the vehicle and align it ourselves." We tried it multiple times, and though it didn’t work practically, his constant encouragement stayed with me. That day marked the beginning of my passion to truly learn driving.

To do it properly, I started formal driving lessons under a strict instructor named Shabir Ahmad. He had a reputation: a no-nonsense man who used to drive 16-tyre trucks. His teaching style was so tough that others quit after the first day—but not me, he was charging much more than the others in the same field.

During our first lesson, he said, “Always keep your toes on the accelerator, and use your toes only to apply the brake.” His instructions were clear, demanding precision. Over the course of training, he gave me many practical tips—especially emphasizing the importance of slow driving and mastering the art of reversing. Thanks to his discipline and guidance, I eventually obtained my driving licence.

Once I was confident behind the wheel, I decided to make my first longer trip—to the airport—with my friend Wasim. On the way back, a lady asked for a lift at Humhama. Out of courtesy, I agreed and offered to drop her at Hyderpora. However, when we reached there, she refused to get out and insisted we drop her at Rambagh instead. Trying to be kind, we agreed.

But things didn’t end there. At Rambagh, she once again requested a drop to Lal Chowk. Reluctantly, we continued. Finally, when we reached Lal Chowk, she got down—and handed us a ₹5 coin as thanks.

It was an awkward and disappointing experience for both Wasim and me. That day, I learned an important lesson: kindness on the road must be paired with caution and clear boundaries.

One morning, I was riding shotgun while my friend was at the wheel. Now, driving has always been more than just a skill for me—it’s a passion. I’ve always believed that if you really want to understand automobile engineering, you should drive an old car. New cars are easy—they run smoothly and rarely give trouble. But old ones? They teach you. They demand care, maintenance, and the occasional roadside fix, which is where the real learning happens.

That day, just a few minutes into the drive, I caught a sharp, unpleasant smell coming from the engine bay. At the same time, the light on the dashboard started blinking. I told my friend, “Pull over right now and pop the bonnet.”

The moment we lifted it, a cloud of boiling fumes escaped like steam from a kettle. I immediately guessed the coolant was the culprit and suggested we add water to tide us over. My friend, ever the optimist, said, “I’ll just take it to the workshop in the evening.” I shook my head—this was not a “later” kind of problem.

We drove straight to the workshop, and sure enough, the technician confirmed it: the coolant had drained out because of a damaged water body. It needed replacing immediately. We scrapped our office plans for the day and got the repair done on the spot.

Looking back, it was a small adventure—but it reinforced my belief that with cars, as in life, ignoring small warnings can lead to big trouble.

Dr. Sajad Hussain Deen

sajad_08phd12@nitsri.ac.in


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