Farewell to Santro

It was July 1998. It was raining cats & dogs and I was getting late to attend OPD. I was a post-graduate doing MD. Like all such PGs, I also was apprehensive of my boss. I had no option but to take out my motorbike and leave for the Institute. Rain was heavy, visibility poor and roads slippery. I had experienced such situation earlier also and I knew that chances of my bike's engine getting stopped were high. I endured the half an hour ride. Fortunately, I reached safely. I was, then, standing in front of my boss, in a pool of water that had trickled down my clothes. 'Why are you late?", I found the question ridiculous. "Don't you have eyes or common sense", I thought, but I said, "Sir, it is raining heavily". "So what, if I can be in time, you surely can be!". "But you have a car and I have to commute on a motor bike", I said to myself grudgingly.

It was July 1999. It was, again, raining heavily. This time, I was, traveling comfortably in my new Santro. I reached in time. Not a bird was there, not even my boss! He came half an hour late. "Its raining so heavily", he said. I smiled, vindicated. However, he was oblivious of my feelings. I was feeling proud of my car, the newly acquired Santro.

My proud acquisition always remained associated with great positive feelings. It is true, even to this day!

A car, was becoming a necessity for me. However, in my family, we were used to considering unaffordable necessities as luxury. It was not difficult to stall the decision. The need was somehow being felt in the family. May be, if I think retrospectively, the family car not being available for me was making my parents feel bad. One day, while talking to me over phone, my brother in US, asked me that why didn't I buy a car. I candidly admitted that I was short of capital. "How much?" The rest is history! He provided the promised amount and I was suddenly in the position of buying a car.

Then it was the time to decide upon the choice of the car. I was clear that I had to buy a car with an AC, having suffered the heat and humidity of Delhi in our Maruti 800. There were 4 choices at that time within our budget. Zen, the gold standard but that common by then, Wagon R, the box like car that came with the reliability of the brand Maruti, Matiz from Daewoo that was cute and Santro from hyundai, the untested. Santro had the element of novelty and adventure and it appeared manly. I succumbed to the temptation and never regretted it. I decided upon the 'Golden beige' colour. That was the first time, I learned what is beige.

My colleagues, other marriageable age guys, congratulated me on seeing my new car. I said " thank you" for the car, but they asked "who's the girl". It was not uncommon for guys in my situation to be gifted a new car on engagement and they were obviously limited by their capacity to think.

Almost an year had passed, when we went to meet my prospective bride to be, in the Santro. It definitely helped in adding to the impression I could leave. I asked my wife to be with me on the front passenger seat as I drove everyone to a nearby restaurant in celebration of the big occasion. It was a great feeling, for the three of us, me my fiancee and Santro!

Santro continued to be a part of our affair during our courtship period. Many guys like me have their only experience of an affair between their engagement and marriage. Santro was a close witness to it. Santro was decorated to bring my bride home. Sitting with my wife while returning home after the marriage, this time in the rear sit, a rarety for me, I experienced the moment when time stopped for me. I was in company of the most beautiful girl I had ever seen and she was my wife!

Santro continued not only to serve our necessities but our adventurism also. We would drive to Jaipur impromptu, in an urge to go on a long drive. I could speed up to 110 km/hr on Jaipur highway in the Santro without wobbling. I was and am in love with my car!

In the chilly & foggy wintery night of December 2003, I took my wife, in labour, to the hospital with Santro telling me 'don't worry, I won't betray your trust'. Santro was as happy as I was while bringing my new-born daughter home. Santro, was a part of me  becoming a family. It brought home my son, the very next year, equally happily.

It did have its share of illnesses but they were far and few and served us faithfully. I realized that it had become a part of my identity when people would say, "we saw your golden santro parked, so we knew that you were here". Like me, it was also growing old. We had a younger Zen for my wife by then, that had a better music system. Our family outings were mostly in Zen after that, except out of station ones. Santro could carry more luggage than Zen and it was still used for that pupose. It continued to be my companion for my daily transport to my hospital, where again people marked my attendance by seeing it. It carried my sick mother to a hospital every time she had to be taken there.

It was becoming uncomfortable to travel in Santro on bumpier roads. I was not spending money or time on its upkeep. Repair of suspension system was quite expensive. The AC was still very effective even in the peak of summers. The fuel gauge had become defective long time back but it still conveyed when the fuel was in 'reserve'. Pick-up and start remained flawless. Exterior had started getting worn out. At times i was getting ashamed of still using an over 10 year old car. Actually, there was nothing to be ashamed of! It was serving its primary purpose of transporting me comfortably reasonably well.

My colleagues had started to switch to 'Honda Citys'. I was so emotionally attached to my Santro that I didn't need a new one. Someone counseled me, "its already over 12 years old and soon you would need its reregistration. I think, like dogs, age of a car can be multiplied by 8 to compare with equivalent human age. Though people may like to do so with 10.

Ultimately, I procured a new car. Santro was not used any more and was standing lonely. Parked for months at a place. Still starting in a jiffy. It was being neglected, I felt and decided to dispose it off to someone, who may rejuvenate it. I started looking for prospective buyers. Whenever, I would use it I would feel it was perfectly functional. Howeever, parking space crunch was forcing me to do away with a redundant car!

The deal was done! I realized it was not only me but whole of my family that was emotionally attached to it when everyone came running down to bid farewell to Santro, when it was being taken away. We bade it good bye for the last time but we were happy as it was going to be rejuvenated and be a part and parcel of somebody else's life. It would be where it is needed more and its worth is appreciated! Bon Voyage!