Accident

This week has been full of dramas. Some were good and some not.

Today I had an automobile accident. It happened a few meters away from my office. And the bad news is, the car involved was not mine. Oh my. It felt like, sudah jatuh ditimpa tangga.

This accident happened exactly at the corner of Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Sultan Ismail, under the monorail station. I was being a courteous motorist, letting a fast car coming from Bukit Bintang to go pass me as the driver headed to Jalan Tengah. And just exactly after that moment, as I push the gas paddle, a Toyota Camry 2.4 banged right into my borrowed car from the back.

I was like, what the? Can't the Toyota Camry 2.4 driver see me and another motorcycle stopped there? My mind was like "oh no, I'm in deep sh*t. I borrowed this car without telling the owner".

Fortunately, I am a woman with a controlled emotion. I managed to not scream or be sarcastic at the Toyota Camry 2.4 driver. Nevertheless, I was ready to raise hell just in case the man driver turned out to be a jerk or a road bully. I can seriously hurt this man if I want to.

I saw there were four men in that Toyota car. I quickly erased the idea to raise hell. My immediate subsitute strategy was more like locking my car from inside and wait for them to go no matter whose fault it was. I'd rather pay for the damages on the car than to be extorted by four able men.

I'm lucky after all. The man driver was a quiet man. Though, he played the blame game on me. Typical. I didn't even want to take defense. In cool tone, I said to him that whatever the reason was, the fact was he hit my car. We all know the car at the back will always be at fault. There was no mystery in solving this case.

Then I saw the other three men in the Toyota. They were apparently not from this country. They looked Eastern. Business men. Coats. Brief case. Yup, they must be Japanese. The driver was a local. Thank goodness. Otherwise I need a translator.

We exchanged our info. Upon parting, I told the driver that I was going to do a police report. He said ok and told me to go to which station. After he left, I suddenly broke my cool. I freaked out. I quickly called my dad to tell him about the accident and get his advise on what to do next.

I found out that a police report can easily costs me three hundred ringgit. And the hassle to claim and do repair on the car will delay the process to over two weeks or more. Oh man, I don't have that much time. I need the car to be fixed pronto. So dad, being wise, advised me to talk to the Toyota driver on alternatives. Let's not report, and just let the Toyota driver pay for the fixes.

Gladly, the Toyota driver agreed. He took me to a workshop in Batu Caves. The car was sent and will be ready by tomorrow. I am saved.

Although I'm not at fault here, I felt relief that no lives were harmed. Just a bit of sting on the car and maybe my pocket. Wait a minute... my pocket will be saved. Yes. But yet I have to face the car owner to apologize big time. How am I going to do this?

Ironicly, this morning I was driving the car super safe. Trying carefully not to scratch the car. Even at the morning rush hour, I stopped my car about four meters away from the front car and I brake gently every time I need to halt.

I believe everything happens for a reason. This today teach me a few lessons:
1) Ask permission before borrow anything, especially a car.
2) Bad intent usually turned out bad.
3) There is no guarantee in avoiding accident, even if you are a careful driver.
4) Wear seatbelts at all time while in car.
5) Always be thankful that the worst did not happen. No lives were harmed in the course of this event.

Alhamdulillah.