“TO HONK OR NOT TO HONK”

 “TO HONK OR NOT TO HONK”

We can’t but communicate all the time as long as we are alive and kicking. They say, when we don’t want to communicate, we still communicate through our non - verbal silence. Communication is essential in every walk of life even while we are driving on the road. Very often I used to really admire the way we all communicate non verbally through our honking on the road. Have you ever given a thought about ‘honks’ as your extended voice and mind?

Every driver has honked their horn at some point. It is a form of non-verbal communication that allows drivers to express their emotions, convey messages, and even warn others of potential danger.

At its core, honking is a simple act that involves pressing the horn button whether on the steering wheel or in your handle bar. However, the way people use it, is diverse and complex. Honking can be used for various reasons,

including signaling to other drivers to move,

indicating the start or end of a traffic jam,

alerting other drivers of potential danger,

expressing frustration or anger towards other drivers.

It can also be used to say thank you, communicate with pedestrians, or warn cyclists.

For example, I have seen people giving a quick honk which actually is the translation of human greeting HELLO to greet a friend or family member that they see while driving.

Very often I noticed honks, which mean BE CAREFUL in human words, are used to alert a person who is about to change lanes that there is another vehicle in their blind spot.

If a driver wants to turn left but can't because of oncoming traffic, they may honk (CAN’T YOU SEE ME WAITING? LET ME TURN LEFT) to let the oncoming driver know that they are waiting.

If a driver is stuck in traffic, they may honk (DUDE MOVE ON) to signal to others that the traffic has started moving again.

 On the other hand, a longer honk can be used to express frustration or anger, which in human words would sound GET LOST PSYCHO, REALLY?, ‘B’s and ‘F”s too sometimes. This longer honk is a way to express our emotions without having to roll down our windows and engage in a verbal argument.

If a driver is tailgating, cutting in line or driving too slowly,

other drivers may honk (WHAT THE ****?) to express their annoyance.

In contrast, honking can also be used to express gratitude or appreciation towards other drivers.

If a driver stops to let another driver merge or gives way, the other driver may honk to say “THANK YOU” “I APPRECIATE IT”.

In some cultures, honking has different meanings. In India, for example, honking is used more frequently and can mean anything from "I'm coming through", "curse you", to "Thank you".

In conclusion, honking is a crucial component of human communication, especially when it comes to driving on the roads. Whether it's a friendly tap to say hello or a prolonged honk to express frustration, honking is an essential part of road etiquette that drivers use to interact with other motorists. As such, it is important for ALL OF US to use honking responsibly and appropriately to ensure the safety and well-being of all road users.

"Honk if you love peace and quiet."

 

A summer rain in the city of Chennai

Sometimes I wonder whether Bob Marley would have remote connections with Chennai when he said the following words about rain: “Some people feel the rain and others just get wet”. Rain in a summer scorching day, is a welcome wish for everyone, especially if you are in Chennai. Chennai has got three seasons. First is Hot season; Second is a bit different climate i.e, Hotter and the third season is Hottest. So literally Chennaites are always HOT.

You must have heard about movie names like, “Chennayil oru Naal” which gives a romantic idea about Chennai. But actually, to go for a ride in Chennai during daytime in summer, reminds me of Nicholas Cage from the movie “Ghost Rider” burning everywhere. Needless to say, rain in summer, in Chennai is most loved.

The rainy season in Chennai is a phenomenon that is not only loved but also hated. Loved because it brings much-needed relief from the sweltering heat and humidity, and hated because it turns the roads into bumpy rides and causes diversions all over the city, that you may be going round and round, except for merry. But in recent times, something remarkable has happened, turning a once dreaded rainy day into a fun ride akin to a water theme park, complete with splashy rides, wave pools and leaky metro bridges as showers.

Recently, I had been to ‘Wonderla’ in Kerala and had seen crowds flocking to that place to get some cool day within their campus through fun rides, water rides and dry rides as well. But its not so easily affordable. For such people, who feel they can’t afford to pay so much for a water theme park, Chennai on a rainy day, is the place to rush.

If you live in Chennai, you know that even a passing ‘rain clad’ clouds downpour and can turn the city into an unrecognizable place. The roads metamorphose into murky, muddy water bodies that make you want to wade through them like a child in a wave pool. The potholes become much deeper than usual, making it almost a challenge to see which one is the deepest, as vehicles bob up and down like wave pool rides.

But the real fun starts when the metro bridges start leaking. I’m not sure whether they planned perfectly the periodic leakage spots between one station and the next. If you are on a two wheeler, it’s like ‘Chennayil oru Kuttralam’. If you are in a car, the rainwater drips down onto the vehicles below, making them look like they're driving through an automatic car wash. For the people inside, it's almost like a free-of-cost shower. No more waiting to get home before drying off - just open the windows. People eagerly look forward to passing by the leaky metro bridges, as it is an experience that cannot be had elsewhere.

The water-logged roads become the perfect scene for some splashing experiences. There are some ‘fun loving’ uncles who love to splash the water on your clean neat attire and gather everyone’s curses on their way home. As the vehicles move forward, the water splashes in all directions, onto the people on the sidewalks, the cars parallel-parked to the side and people just walking by. 

The slow-moving traffic becomes a source of excitement and delight as the heat is gone. We don’t mind waiting as long as heat is invisible. The autorickshaws, buses and cars all becoming new splashy rides to test out, giving it a unique twist to the rain carnival. Another worth mentioning aspect of this summer rain is the wave pool arrangements they had in different places of city. What a variety of wave pools! Not even water theme parks have such variations. From ankle level upto your knee level, we get waves hitting us hard as different size vehicles pass by.    

To summarize, a rainy day in Chennai is no longer something to dread, but an exciting experience much like a visit to a water theme park. To anyone looking for a fun-filled day, book your tickets to Chennai during the rainy season, and you will not be disappointed. Unexpected splashy rides, wave pools in the middle of the city, leaky metro bridges as showers and an overall carnival atmosphere-now we cannot ask for anything better!