The roads that kill my car

The roads are indeed a killer in India. They are the cause of so many deaths, the sum-total far surpassing major diseases and habits such as diabetes and smoking.

However, they are a killer of cars as well. I own a maruti 800. An old maruti 800. The kind of maruti 800's they used to make in 2004. No power windows, no power steering and no AC. I love my car just as much as the next person which is why it pains me to see how the roads in India kill it slowly and progressively while I watch helplessly.

I do not attempt to be comprehensive since I am bound to miss some silent killers that only a few unfortunate menfolk (womenfolk) cars are exposed to. But the usual offenders are mentioned. The first are the manholes. Imagine a newly paved, beautiful stretch of grey beautiful road and you speeding across it behind another car. You suddenly see it veering to the right and you wonder why. And in a millisecond, you know why as a circular depression, which should be called a 'well' rather than a manhole presents itself, beaming sheepishly at the next victim that is coming its way. Whump!! There go 2 years off my shock absorbers!

Then there are the speed breakers. You dont come across them in the developed nations. Why you ask? Well, since speed limits are very strictly enforced, and people are just more civilized. But in India, we believe that you cant have enough of them. I mean,  plain stretch of road that you can potentially navigate without a single gear change? How boring is that! And the shapes and sizes that they come in are a treat in itself. My maruti particularly enjoys it as they really huge ones gently kiss its underside as I make a failed attempt to gently, slowly, unsuspectingly pass over them. Two years knocked off the chassis!

Amongst the international greats are of course, the potholes. These cancers of the road can appear anywhere and left unattended grow and swell to sizes that are disasterous to the vehicle. They do their best work after a hefty downpour when they are conveniently hidden from the driver's eye under the veil of water. Whump! Splash! Two years off the tyres, shock-absorbers and god-knows-what other parts.

And then there are several more that I don't have the patience or the heart to mention ...