Nine. Actually make that ten. Ten people and one dog.
And so this is how it all happened. After dinner yesterday, driving back with a car full of girls I suddenly heard a weird clanking noise coming from somewhere. Actually, it would be unfair to say I heard it. One of the girls did : I was busy chatting.
I decided to stop and investigate where the noise of coming from. That’s when I noticed the right rear tire : it looked exactly like the Kolkota Knight Riders team after yesterday’s defeat. Dejected, out of air and fully down.
Now let me tell you that I have quite a lot of knowledge of tire changing : in theory though. I remember my last three flats in three years (averaging one a year). The first one, in the early days was when I refused to believe that such things could happen to me. Thankfully, I had just caught up with a friend and parted ways. Before he could get any further away, I placed my distress call. Friend arrived, changed tire in ten minutes and I was all set to go! It seems easy, I am thinking.
The second time it happened, it was in office and my very nice colleague, despite being dressed in business formals, changed it for me. I made copious notes — I was just beginning to get a hang of this tire changing business.
The third time it happened, it was at a busy junction. I had a friend with me who helpfully suggested we seek help at the petrol pump just ahead. Now why did I not think of that? Anyway, about 15 minutes later, it was all done. A rather elderly gentleman at the pump took pity on us and helped. I made quick notes (again) as to where the different implements were being placed so I knew exactly how to do this the next time.
This brings us back to last night : my fourth flat. The girls had already begun to panic a bit, but I assured them that this is not a national emergency. We were passing a petrol bunk and L and M walked across to ask for some help but had to come back empty handed. They were closing down and no one had handled a spanner in their lives.
This is where I had a idea. Let’s drive as slowly as possible to T’s house, about a kilometer away and then wait for T’s hubby to arrive and help us. Brilliant! A foolproof plan, except that T’s hubby was out somewhere too. But no worries, we could wait. We weren’t in a hurry to go anywhere.
I steered the car as slowly as possible until we were finally in front of T’s house. Since T’s hubby showed no signs of arriving, I decided to take things (and the spanner) into my own hands.
Unfortunately, I had completely forgotten where the diamond shaped implement that lifts up the car actually goes. Helpful suggestions were floated around, none of which really turned out to be very helpful. I turned the spanner every way possible to turn the implement (what the hell is it called?!). But to no avail.
This is when M caught a complete stranger (who was zipping away on a bike) for help. Do you know anything about anything, she asks the poor zapped soul. Okay, that’s not exactly what she asked but it was pretty close. This young guy looked like he had been asked a really tough physics question. No, he had no idea as he had never changed a tire before. Or even seen the instruments used to change one.
He did however volunteer to hang around — it was rather late in the night and apparently there was a drunk person in the vicinity. I was very impressed with his chivalrous spirit : but it didn’t get us too far in the tire changing process.
T then decided to try the “call a neighbour†option. So a big hunk of a guy walks out of her gate, with a really excited looking dog. Neighbour and dog however maintain safe distance from the car : none of them having changed a tire before.
Meanwhile, we were actually making a little bit of progress. A driver who was waiting somewhere nearby made an appearance and helpfully suggested that I was placing the elevated thingy all wrong. “Elli, elli†he says. Since he didn’t speak much of any other language, we communicated in sign and surmised that we had to lift up the wheel 2 inches from the ground. Super — things were going well.
This is when the bike guy stepped in (finally he was being helpful) and loosened the wheel nuts. Whoever screwed them on so tight, I am wondering? I need to do more strength training if I have to get these things off.
M at this point, decides that it is a national emergency and calls for more help : her sister. Wait, it’s not just the sister. It’s her sister’s friend too. None of these people though actually know how to do it.
So now there are 5 girls, M’s sister’s friend, the clueless bike guy, the helpful driver and the hunky neighbour (and his excited dog) : all gathered to change a tire. At this crucial juncture, T’s hubby arrives. Oh, I’ve done this many times he says breezily. Thank God, I am thinking with my hands full of grime, feeling like a failed mechanic. Someone who actually knows in which direction to turn the spanner!
He quickly maneuvers the jack (yes, I think that’s the name!), elevates it to the right level, opens the poor deflated tire and voila : the new tire is now on.
It has now been over an hour that we’ve been struggling and it’s nearly midnight. The clueless (but very helpful, thank you!) guy has zipped off. Hunk and dog disappear realizing they weren’t really contributing to the scheme of things. Driver goes off to find his own car. And we have crossed over to the next day : incidentally T’s birthday. T’s hubby has brought her a sinful chocolate cake. We sing happy birthday, partake of cake and then clutch our tummies contentedly.
Whoever thought a flat tire would lead to chocolate cake? But I am not complaining. I am now preparing myself for the next one. I’m 99% sure I’ve got it this time. I just hope it’s not the front tire.
LOL. Hilarious post as always.
yeah i remember the petrol pump incident. thank God i’m so smart :)
Posted by Aqua | May 17, 2008, 2:22 pmCarry a foot pump (available for around Rs 150, try at shops in JC Road). With this you can easily pump air into flat tyre and drive around few kms before the air runs out again…
Posted by Shrinidhi Hande | May 17, 2008, 9:01 pmImaging having a flat tire in the highway in the US. Nowhere to go (the closest exit being 20miles) away,not being able to drive (since you cannot drive slowly in a highway), AAA promise to be there in 90min, you are stuck… with the decision of your life : should we wait in the car or stand outside.…
Posted by Venky Krishnamoorthy | May 18, 2008, 7:48 amHa ha ha!!!!!!!!!
Laughed my guts out. I have become your fan
Regards,
CA Ashish Ahuja, FCA
A roaming blogger and a CA
Indian Chartered Accountant New Delhi India
Indian Company Formation Delhi India
Posted by Ashish Ahuja | May 18, 2008, 3:18 pmHere’s a helpful step by step video ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN5QQJlT8uw
Maybe you could try it some Sunday for practice. Happy tyre changing :D
Posted by Zubin Saigal | May 18, 2008, 5:51 pmhahaha! ROTFLMAO…
Posted by Prashanth M | May 18, 2008, 10:40 pmhehhhhhheee :-))) LOL! Hilarious!
Posted by Mridula | May 19, 2008, 10:03 amThe more the merrier! Imagine if the girls had simply stood there having a panel discussion about how to change a flat tire till T’s hubby arrived :-) It wouldn’t even have made for such a hilarious post!
Posted by Mukta | May 19, 2008, 10:17 am@ Aqua: :) that you are! but the petrol pump approach didn’t work this time. they were all closed!
@ Shrinidhi: a foot pump? that sounds like a good idea. never knew it existed. i must explore that option!
@ Venky: hehe :) that’s a difficult choice surely. 90 mins? isn’t that a terribly long time for help to arrive!
@ Ashish: :) thanks!
@ Zubin Saigal: a video? awesome! and thank you :)
@ Prashanth, Mridula: :)
Posted by Anita | May 19, 2008, 10:18 amJust when i was wondering if i could ever mange a car all by myself .… the tyre experience!!!
Im think real hard now.… :P
Posted by Lavina | May 19, 2008, 11:17 am@ mukta: i guess i have to give you a teeny weeny bit of credit for finding our knight in shining armour, if not anything else!
@ lavina: hehe :) or at least keep a huge list of people handy to call — at least 10!! better still, call m, she will do the rest. haha.
Posted by Anita | May 19, 2008, 10:57 pmwhat the big deal!
Posted by rupa | May 20, 2008, 2:05 ami mean, so many helping hands…so whats the big deal in changing the tyre. ayways, i agree with u..such sudden bursts…really scary!
Posted by rupa | May 20, 2008, 2:06 am“Whoever thought a flat tire would lead to chocolate cake? But I am not complaining. I am now preparing myself for the next one. I’m 99% sure I’ve got it this time. I just hope it’s not the front tire.”
i assume you are preparing for that next chocolate cake in all earnest (signed up for the marathon yet?). if not, yup, you’ll get that front tire, aka love handles (been there, have got it). ;-)
- s.b.
Posted by some body | May 20, 2008, 10:24 amFlat tyre incidents and accidents are always interesting. I am happy to know it ended with chocolate cake… perfect.
Posted by Kishore Murthy | May 20, 2008, 6:53 pm@ rupa: exactly my point. what was the big deal :)
@ somebody: ah, i know all about those tires. they have been my constant companion for a long time. ;)
but in my defence, i don’t actually like or enjoy chocolate much unless at those rare occasions. like this one :)
@ kishore: here’s to more :)
Posted by Anita | May 20, 2008, 7:51 pmHaha, nice post.
U must be quite fortunate to have flat tyre very rarely. I seem to run into such trouble at once a month.
The quick way to change a flat can be learnt from *cab* drivers.…I once learnt how quick they manage to steal them.…:-)
Posted by Allen Pais | May 22, 2008, 1:46 pmallen pais: once a month? wow. that’s very frequent!
Posted by Anita | May 25, 2008, 8:49 pmhey! I know how to change a tire! I am sorry I was not there. I would like some chocolate cake :)
Posted by smallsquirrel | May 25, 2008, 8:57 pm@ smallsquirrel: you do? wow! i would have driven straight to your place! the chocolate cake is long gone :)
Posted by Anita | May 27, 2008, 8:00 pmI Can Still not fix one!
And please hopefully now that ive said this, i wishi no one’s evil eyes are cast on me.,
Happened to me once, I drove beside a truck, paid him 50 rs and the nice guy changed it for me at midnite
Arv
Posted by Arvind | June 10, 2008, 9:51 amHaaaaaaa Nice post
Posted by Bharat | June 17, 2008, 4:13 pmMy laugh exploded at some points of the post. Hilarious! So, were you able to fix the next(fifth) flat all by yourself? Hope it wasn’t the front tire :P
Posted by Sagar T U | May 13, 2010, 8:19 pm@ sagar: heh, thankfully i have not had another episode… yet! i have cycle punctures though and managed to fix one by myself. at home. watching u tube! :-p
Posted by Anita | May 19, 2010, 7:10 pm