My dad works in a call center, he is an operational manager.
One day, my dad and mom met with an accident on the highway which was under construction.
I was shattered as my dad and my mom both were admitted to ICU.
The doctor said it would take almost 7 months for my dad to walk again normally, so I decided to drive my car and take short trips for earning and for bread butter of my family as I am the only one to look after my dad and mom.
I was only 16 when I started driving.
One day I got a trip to Konkan (Ratnagiri), I was very happy as I was getting a good amount for just dropping an Adivasi family and just coming back.
I left at 7 pm in the evening and picked the family up near Mumbai Andheri and started my journey and I reached Ratnagiri at around 3 am in the morning. It was very dark and I have to leave alone so the family who accompanied me suggested to stay with them until morning and as I was just 16 they were treating me like child.
7 sharp, in the morning I decided to make my way to my home and said them to just pay me off so I can leave from that village. The total trip fare was 3000 rupees and the family just gave me 2500 that too in 2 and 5 RS coins. I was very frustrated and just Left that place immediately and made my way towards the highway.
The sun was very bright. As soon as I reached near highway a newly wed couple were waving their hands as they needed a lift.
I immediately stop my car and I asked them where they were heading towards and they told me Mumbai!
I was so happy as I was feeling bored and now I have a couple with whom I can talk. They were sitting right behind me in my car. I was talking to them just looking in to my rear mirror (upper mirror) as I was driving and here comes the main plot of the scene;Toll plaza arrived and the toll was about 150 rupees and with my 2 and 5 rupees coins which was given by the family I started counting. Behind me all the cars started honking and at that time I was really frustrated so I decided to take 150 rupees from the couple who was with me. When I turn around to request them to give me 150 rupees no one was there! I was wondering where has the couple gone and after I looked at the top mirror they were seated just behind me. I was scared so much that I dashed the security barriers of the toll plaza and increased my song volume to the utmost limit and then the couple requested me to lower the song volume.
I was sweating all over, and I decided not to look behind until Mumbai. I was crying like hell. After 3 hours I stopped near a pan shop to have a smoke and open my car doors and sat on the ground unconscious as if I will die within a second. I took a cigarette and started smoking and what I saw until now I can't forget, a ST bus was passing from the road and on the window seats of the bus the couple were sitting and waving hands to me. I was hospitalized for next 14 days and decided never to drive alone.
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A serious tragedy stuck your family. First your parents and then you too getting hospitalised.
Frankly, I had some doubts about a few things mentioned in your narrative.
Expertly, lady-glow pointed them right out to which you too elegantly replied. So, thank you for that.
However, still I trying hard to wrap my head around your tale ๐. Finding it to be a bit difficult task.
When you stopped at the toll plaza, how did you finally pay the toll? With the coins? If you crashed into the barrier and you said they fined you 1500 INR and you were asked to present yourself at the police interrogation, didn't they find out that your driver's licence or the permit was not in order and that you were also under age? Didn't they outright seize your vehicle?
Huff! I don't mean to be too critical, but this just feels a little too hard to swallow.
I do like the way you've narrated your story. Thank
BTW, I am from Mumbai too.