Furiously Aghast
Furiously Aghast
I want to drive the latest version of the Sherman, the famous Second World War tank, on Pakistani roads. Only a vehicle that big, ugly and ferocious can match and contain my road rage. There’s so much discourtesy, illiteracy and terrorism on our roads that one cannot escape being a victim of any of the above at least 15 times a day. The feeling of helplessness breeds anger, which in turn breeds a sense of violence. I have a feeling that my obituary (if I ever merit one) will announce road rage as the cause of death.
There are so many things that can work me into a state. For example, those seemingly educated, polished commuters in the back seat of luxury vehicles who remain completely oblivious of what irregularities and atrocities their chauffeurs commit. From incessant honking to over-speeding, wrong turns to wrong parking, these manicured, well-coiffed begums and men in sharp suits act nonchalant… their huge designer shades work as blinkers. I often have spotted such passengers sitting calmly, talking into their cellphones or filing nails or reading newspapers in the middle of a row, halting all traffic. At times, I have walked up to the cars, knocked at the rolled up windows and asked them to step out. Disdainfully dismissed just by a glance, they continue doing the ‘most’ important thing. And these are the so-called educated, enlightened and ‘concerned’ citizens.
God forbid if a motorcyclist or a pedestrian is hit by a motorist, it really doesn’t matter if the latter was not at fault. It becomes a social war between haves and have-nots. By this strange inferiority complex-ridden convoluted social rule, the motorist is always at fault and has to bear the brunt of it
Similar people shamelessly allow themselves or their bratty offspring to drive Titanic-size vehicles into narrow lanes. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against big cars. For me size does matter. But I find it cruel and shameless to drive a huge four-wheeler on narrow lanes of Zamzama in Karachi or Liberty in Lahore where two cars cannot pass side by side. Have some decency and bring a smaller car that does not cause grief to other drivers and commuters by blocking the whole street. Surely, if they have such huge monstrosities, they must own smaller cars, too. On top of it, when they feign innocence after having caused a nightmare, I wish to point my Shermans gun at them and ka-boom!
I literally see red when I see people littering or spitting paan from their cars. The imaginary tank immediately springs into action forcing such offenders to collect the litter or lick the spot with their tongues. Ah! Some things remain in my imagination and never become reality. I will be the happiest man on earth if I just get to do it once in my lifetime.
I must say that motorcyclists and pedestrians are no fewer offenders. In their own, measly way they are also a big reason of my road rage. The concept of Zebra Crossing seems to have become extinct like the endangered species even before arriving in Pakistan. They will cross the street from wherever it’s convenient for them; it’s the motorists’ responsibility to not only protect them but him/her from going to jail. The difference between raised footpath and metallic road just doesn’t exist in pedestrians’ eyes, minds and philosophy. They will walk on roads. Also, I have noticed a strange habit among pedestrians: they always cross the road when the light is green and vehicles are moving. I don’t what sadistic pleasure or sense of power they get disrupting and slowing the traffic down.
Similarly, motorcyclists are always trying to squeeze through narrow spaces between cars, lanes, on footpaths, vendors… they just can’t wait. They have to be on the move. No red light, amount of traffic, other drivers’ right of way… nothing can stop them. Seems they all work for courier services or used to drive ambulances in some distant, past life. And God forbid if a motorcyclist or a pedestrian is hit by a motorist, it really doesn’t matter if the latter was not at fault. It becomes a social war between haves and have-nots. By this strange inferiority complex-ridden convoluted social rule, the motorist is always at fault and has to bear the brunt of it.
Then we have another breed of road terrorists who invade the roads like locusts on occasion. For them there is only one way to celebrate a day of significance — come out in hordes on silencer-less motorbikes, head to the beach and split the eardrums of citizens. Irrespective of the nature of the day — Independence day, Eid Milad, New Year’s Eve, any political rally — this ugly mob of youth either believe in secularism and democracy and shows it by treating all days equally, or they are just devoid of plain common sense and fail to understand the difference. Whatever the case may be, this locust attack brings a great deal of noise pollution
Pages: 1 2