Once upon a timimg_0247-small.jpge, when I had just learnt to drive, I had a Maruti Esteem VX. It was a beautiful car, which I loved to zip about in. It was in that, that I learnt everything about driving I know today. Everything about it was awesome, the handling, the power steering, the stereo et al.

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I used to drive pretty frequently to Bandra Reclamation, and places where I could drive with music playing in the car, those long peaceful comforting drives in the evening. It served as an antidote for many a boring evening, when I had no friends to meet.

Then I flew off to tcar-submerged.jpghe UK in Jan 2005. Found a friend there, who loved his car as much as I did. We exchanged may a tale about our cars and our adventures in it. The car was sorely missed, and maybe it missed me too, because before the day I was flying back to the UK after a breakin March 2005, it decided to shut down and refuse to start. Of course, it was repaired, but not for long. July 26th, 2005. The day that shook the living daylights out of me. If you’re wphoto0126.jpgondering what the pic on the left is, yes, its the car. SUBMERGED. Under 4 feet of water, outside my building. Of course, my house drowned too.

The car was towed away, and every part of it was checked. Taken apart. Ripped. Put together again.

Sadly, when I returned in Dec 2005 for a break, the car was not the same. It had lost its charm. It was more like a Maruti 800 in an Esteem’s clothing. We decided to sell it, exactly a year ago. on 25th May 2006.

Rest in peace, Sweetheart. You shall always be sorely missed, even if I’m ever driving a Ferrari.