On 28th August, I celebrated another year of life, but for me, birthdays are no longer about cake or candles. Ever since life threw me into one of my greatest challenges two years ago, I made myself a promise: to live differently. To stop waiting for “someday” and to start ticking off every item on my bucket list. To challenge myself, stretch my limits, and ensure that when I look back, I can truly say, I lived.
This year, destiny placed me in Dubai for a mission-critical IT project. A coincidence, yet an opportunity. The twist? I was extremely unwell. A cocktail of flu, migraines, and throat infection weighed me down. The easy choice would have been to take taxis, sit back, or play it safe by working from my apartment. But safe isn’t where life begins. So, I made a choice that felt both foolish and daring: to rent a car and drive in Dubai, all by myself and alone.
For those who know Dubai, you’ll understand why this was no small challenge. This is not like driving in Kuwait, and it’s nothing like India. Dubai’s roads are a marvel of modern design, hundreds of parallel highways, looping curves, exits that disappear in seconds, and traffic laws that are enforced with precision. A missed turn here doesn’t cost you a minute; it can send you spiraling 20 minutes away, trapped in the complex web of E11, 54Bs, and endless flyovers. Add to that the supercars and superbikes zipping by, the constant hum & honks of traffic, and Google Maps sometimes failing to keep up with the reality of lanes and exits.
And there I was, behind the wheel, ill, tired, but determined.
Over four days and nights, I lived a rollercoaster of emotions on those roads. I missed curves. I took wrong turns. I got honked at. I yelled at Google Maps. My co-passengers had their patience tested as I swung between calm confidence and moments of pure frustration. I realized that the “excellent, calm driver” I thought I was could quickly turn into a man cursing exits and second-guessing every direction.
But here’s the magic: I conquered it.
Not perfectly, not smoothly, but I conquered it. And that’s the greatest lesson life teaches us: it’s not about a flawless journey, it’s about daring to take it.
On those roads, Dubai wasn’t just a city. It became my classroom:
- Every wrong turn taught me humility. You can prepare, but you will still falter. And that’s okay.
- Every honk reminded me to stay alert. The world will warn you, sometimes harshly, listen, adjust, move forward.
- Every missed exit reflected life’s opportunities. Some doors close when you hesitate, but the journey doesn’t end, another route always appears.
- Every successful stretch gave me confidence. No matter how hard it seems, once you’re in motion, momentum carries you forward.
This birthday, I didn’t just celebrate by blowing out candles. I celebrated by driving head-on into fear, fatigue, and uncertainty. I celebrated by learning the ways of a city not from its skyscrapers or shopping malls, but from its streets, its rules, its pulse. I celebrated by reminding myself that growth is uncomfortable, messy, and frustrating, but always worth it.
As I look back, I smile at the thought: I may have coughed, cursed, and even lost my way… but I found something greater, courage, resilience, and a renewed love for the ride of life. So here’s to another year, another lesson, another challenge conquered. Here’s to living life not as a passenger, but as the driver, moving forward, no matter how tough the road ahead.
