Everyday in the morning I travel from home to work and watch the way people navigate that short route - Chanakyapuri to Rafi Marg. I love it ! Delhi is probably the only capital in the world where total freedom is celebrated on the roads. Its a delightful place to drive! Delightful because driving is unfettered; no rules except the universal one - survival of the fittest and fastest. As long as you remember that size does matter on Delhi roads. Thus in the pecking order the pedesterian is the last priority. The highest priority is to the buses and trucks - never fool around with them on Delhi roads. They are superior beings on the roads and must be given due consideration, respect and latitude. Some drivers do try and compensate by putting stickers on their rear windows or bumpers, which variously read "ARMY" "POLICE" "NAVY" "DOCTOR" " MP" or simply the surname. Anyone from Delhi will tell you that one doesnt mess around with certain surnames!
But getting back to why driving in Delhi is delightful. Where else in the world can one be in the right lane right next to the traffice light and when it turns green (on those few occasions when you condescend to stop at it ) take a sharp left turn ! A few honks and a few choicest expletives is all that you have to contend with as you merrily zip across into the left turn.
(To be continued)
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