Accident ho gaya Rabba Rabba!!

It was just the other day that I was thinking that I could not think of a subject to write my next blog. Little did I know that I would be writing on something like this the very next day.

It was a crisp sunny spring morning. And as usual I started from my apartment at around 6:15am to drive to work. I got to my car ('Dhanno' as I call it), and started it and was going to pick up a friend of mine, Ankur. I call him my "life saver" because he has helped me out of quite a few pickles. Just the previous day I had taken the car to the mechanic’s to fix the break and the regular check ups that are due every few months!!

Well, I took the car out of the parking lot and started to drive and got to a signal and it was green, and I had to make a left turn and the road from the other end was clear, so I started making the turn and the signal went yellow just as I was crossing the line at the signal and while I was turning probably went red too… and the other car which was going straight just came and rammed into me. I was so shocked; I did not know it really happened. I heard glass breaking on the road… and was too stunned to react. It took me a couple of minutes to start thinking, and the immediate thought that came to my mind was that the driver is going to be some drunk, because otherwise it is really difficult to make a mistake like that. And was worried that I would have to deal with some irate drunk driver alone. But immediately there was a boy and girl, not very older to me asking me if I was fine… it took me a few seconds to comprehend that they were talking English, and then I said I was not hurt. Luckily, the guy who was driving was neither drunk nor irate. I got out of the car and was shocked to see the state of my car, the front bumper was smashed, the front lights were broken and the driver side’s door was also a little damaged. Well if he had hit a few inches farther he would have hit straight at me !!

I was still stunned that it really happened, and got out of the car to make phone calls and saw the broken glass from my car’s light on the road and then it struck me that the “accident” really happened. The guy had already called 911 and asked me if the car was drivable to the police station, I turned the ignition on and just moved the car from the middle of the road to a nearby gas station. The alignment of the car was messed up, and it felt as if I was driving a strange new vehicle. By that time, Ankur had arrived at the spot and we decided to go to the police station to file a report. After exchanging our insurance company information we headed towards the police station. After explaining whatever happened, the report was filed, and the guy did not defend himself, he just said that he struck me. Then drove the car to the apartment building and parked it there.

Now am battling to talk to his insurance company and believe me it’s not a piece of cake. I had to reiterate the whole scenario an umpteen number of times during the day and am still waiting for their “liability decision” if they will pay for the car damages.

At the end of the whole incident, a lot of thoughts were going through my tiny mind! Even if it was not a big deal of an accident, and I was thankfully not hurt, I got to thinking that how vulnerable each of us is in whatever we do. I always have seen, heard, read about accidents happening all around. But somehow unconsciously was always sure that something like that would not, could not happen to me personally. Even when the guy hit my car, I realized that he was hitting me; the thing that wasgoing through my mind was - this is not happening, probably is just a dream and will get over. But now as I see it, something like that is equally likely to happen to me as it is to anybody else. Probably that was the reason for this accident happening – to make me realize and as well as empathize with the vulnerability of life and to also value and respect life all the more.


- Moi

These are a few of my favorite things!!

Sitting in my cube on a Monday afternoon, me writing this blog… clearly suggests the amount of work I have to do. Well, no doubt I am experiencing what they call the Monday Blues….So this is just an attempt to cheer myself up on this otherwise dull and dreary day!!

Just as Julie Andrews sang, “These are a few of my favorite things” in “Sound Of Music” to feel good and strong, I will try to think of my favorite things that make me feel happy and cheerful. Let me see if it works.

Watching the just risen full moon in the sky, fresh yellow flowers in my flower vase, seeing my mom as soon as I wake up, my dad returning from work earlier than his usual time, smell of fresh baked chocolate cookies umm…, camping under the open skies, drenching in the rain, shopping in the hats section, the crisp sun as spring begins, the fall colors on trees, listening to Bryan Adams sing “Have you ever loved a woman!”, reading an Enid Blyton :) , eating pani puri at my fav local bandi wala with my sister ( :D ), planning for a road trip, bossing over Sushant( :d :d )…. I am already feeling a lot more cheerful than I was!!

Well.. to still continue with the list … chocolates, elephants, dolphins, talking with friends for hours on the cell fone, listening to Lata Mangeshkar’s melodious voice sing “Aaj Kal pao zameen par” …. Seeing a fat, cute, fair, baby smiling, watching FRIENDS ….. hiking, canoeing on a lake surrounded by tall green trees and forest …. Candles…, the azure sky, walking by the lake and watching sea gulls….. :)

Wow!! It does feel really good …. And am all smiles as I am writing this. Well Julie Andrews was right when she sang ….

When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I am feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things….
And then I don’t feel so bad!!


-Moi