Dear Blog,
I must tell you about a day at the RTO (Road Transport Office).
Went with someone to get their driver's license. First of course, we had to present ourselves at the office of the driving instructor at 9.30am sharp, who merely directed us off to the RTO on our own. You must have heard of the notorious 'table -to table' pilgrimage anyone has to do at an govt office? Well this time it wasn't so bad...we got all done in nearly an hour; paid the fees, got the mandatory, thumb print, photos etc...now all we had to do was to clear the practical test.
An hour later, we were still waiting....2 hours goes...waiting. By now, having to stand (no place to sit) was taking a toll so we snuck out for a 15 min break, hoping our place in the queue wouldnt go, nor that the examiner would come in between.
Came back in a hurry. Everyone, still waiting...1 hour later...They ask us to move to another place, on the opposite side of the building for the test. Yeah! We rush...all queue positions gone, every man for himself!
Our driving instructor is there, but avoids speaking to us. Huh. We start asking around - what is the matter? When will the test start? Someone said, the examiner is not happy, expects our instructor to 'make his pocket heavier'...But the students don't know for sure.
Ok, so we wait...and wait...Dear Blog, do you know frustrating it is to just wait...doing nothing? It is more tiring than if we were to be always on the move.
The sun has started moving over to the other side of the planet by now...Our instructor is walking over to us! We jump up from the foot path / stone bench / fence where ever we had found temporary rest, and move to him eagerly. He says" Examiner has left for the day." !!! "But there is another guy who will do the test, come to the park." I would have given him a piece of my mind, if I wasnt worried that it might spoil our chances..Ok, so we jump into our vehicles and go to the park.
Here, yeah, there is a Testing Car, so it looks real, so I think, maybe we are at the end of the wait. 2 students at a time, are pushed into the car, one at the back, one at the front, with the instructor and the examiner... The car jerks forward as the first nervous student puts it into gear, and they are off. Barely 3 mins later, the car comes from the other end of the road, with the second student at the wheel. Thats it, test over!
And we waited nearly 5 hours for this!!!
NO Dear Blog, this is not the end of our wait. We had to wait for everyone to finish, then were asked to hand over Rs 500 each, to the instructor. "Where do we get the receipt?" I ask..stupid question.
He glares at me...Where did this dumb lady come from? "No receipt. This is for the test."
Ooooooh, I seee...
Then as if it explains everything, he says, "the license will come in the post."
Thank goodness its all over, Blog.
I must tell you about a day at the RTO (Road Transport Office).
Went with someone to get their driver's license. First of course, we had to present ourselves at the office of the driving instructor at 9.30am sharp, who merely directed us off to the RTO on our own. You must have heard of the notorious 'table -to table' pilgrimage anyone has to do at an govt office? Well this time it wasn't so bad...we got all done in nearly an hour; paid the fees, got the mandatory, thumb print, photos etc...now all we had to do was to clear the practical test.
An hour later, we were still waiting....2 hours goes...waiting. By now, having to stand (no place to sit) was taking a toll so we snuck out for a 15 min break, hoping our place in the queue wouldnt go, nor that the examiner would come in between.
Came back in a hurry. Everyone, still waiting...1 hour later...They ask us to move to another place, on the opposite side of the building for the test. Yeah! We rush...all queue positions gone, every man for himself!
Our driving instructor is there, but avoids speaking to us. Huh. We start asking around - what is the matter? When will the test start? Someone said, the examiner is not happy, expects our instructor to 'make his pocket heavier'...But the students don't know for sure.
Ok, so we wait...and wait...Dear Blog, do you know frustrating it is to just wait...doing nothing? It is more tiring than if we were to be always on the move.
The sun has started moving over to the other side of the planet by now...Our instructor is walking over to us! We jump up from the foot path / stone bench / fence where ever we had found temporary rest, and move to him eagerly. He says" Examiner has left for the day." !!! "But there is another guy who will do the test, come to the park." I would have given him a piece of my mind, if I wasnt worried that it might spoil our chances..Ok, so we jump into our vehicles and go to the park.
Here, yeah, there is a Testing Car, so it looks real, so I think, maybe we are at the end of the wait. 2 students at a time, are pushed into the car, one at the back, one at the front, with the instructor and the examiner... The car jerks forward as the first nervous student puts it into gear, and they are off. Barely 3 mins later, the car comes from the other end of the road, with the second student at the wheel. Thats it, test over!
And we waited nearly 5 hours for this!!!
NO Dear Blog, this is not the end of our wait. We had to wait for everyone to finish, then were asked to hand over Rs 500 each, to the instructor. "Where do we get the receipt?" I ask..stupid question.
He glares at me...Where did this dumb lady come from? "No receipt. This is for the test."
Ooooooh, I seee...
Then as if it explains everything, he says, "the license will come in the post."
Thank goodness its all over, Blog.
