Multi-level parking!

Many moons ago, the one and only R.K. Laxman’s cartoon for the day, was a classic. It captured the scene of a person emerging from an array of parked cars. Relief was writ large on his face, as he announced to the “common man”, “Guess what! I solved the parking problem! You know how? I simply sold the car!”

Decades have passed, but the parking problem has stayed the same! R.K. Laxman will feel totally at home. Only, the style of the parking-lot has changed. These days, we see multi-level parking-lots, especially in the city malls.

Multi-level parking-lots come in 2 flavors- in one, the stories are constructed above the ground- you ascend floor by floor to find a parking spot. In the other model, you tunnel your way to the levels constructed below the earth. Indian mythology talks about “6 upper lokas”- “bhuvah, suvah, mahah, janah, tapah and satya”.  It also talks about “7 lower lokas” - “atala, vitala, sutala, talaatala, rasaatala, mahaatala and paataala”. The multi-level parking-lot borrows the same idea as these lokas.  You either ascend or descend, to find the right fit for yourself and your car!

If ever you wanted to send someone on a wild goose chase, banish him to one of these multi-level parking-lots. Like the proverbial “hamster on a wheel”, he will keep spinning for the rest of his life. Once you enter the parking-lot, it is amply clear that the entire humanity owns a car and has already found a spot. Invariably, you are a late entrant, with the need to scrounge for a free spot.

Parking-lots are dark, dingy and devoid of ventilation. You drive the car inch by inch to find that one free spot. Behind you, is a procession of other cars. Like you, they are also predators on the prowl, fighting for the same spot. Alertness is crucial.  Sometimes, there is one free spot, but you missed it by a fraction and edged ahead. There is no possibility of backing up. The fellow behind you is quick- in a reflex, he bolts for the empty slot and thumbs his nose at you! It is a cat-and-mouse game everywhere.

Suddenly, out of the blue, you find a free spot and thank your stars. The euphoria is premature. A closer observation reveals that the car beside is parked badly. It has encroached into this spot too, leaving you with no room, to squeeze your car in. What a let-down!

They say, “patience is a virtue”. If you require a testing ground, to measure your progress in patience, it is here. Now that there are no free spots on this level, you turn to the next level. Turns in parking-lots are notoriously narrow, providing maximum scope for driving errors. The pillar at the turn registers the paint-imprint of many a car, that miscalculated the turning radius.

Finally, you find a free spot. Quickly, you park the car and head off to the mall. It takes only an hour in the mall, before window-shopping-fatigue sets in. You want to go home badly.

Where did you park the car? Where did you park the car? It is a complete haze- you recall going up and down several times, but the outcome isn’t clear. Was it B2 or in B3? You head out to B2. Basement-2 (B2) is a sea of cars. What’s worse, even the car number is doubtful! Was it KA03 or KA91? Like Karna, at the most opportune moment, even memory deserts.

You imagine all possibilities. if you search car by car, for sure, the security person will get suspicious. He will grab you by the scruff of the neck, mistaking you for a car-burglar. How will you explain your predicament? “Yes, I am looking for my car. I parked it somewhere. I don’t know where. I don’t remember my car number. It is KA something. But yes, I remember my car is red in color, it is a Honda, and it has 4 tires. Can you help me?”  How long will this exercise take? Maybe, past midnight, when the mall empties out?   

The ruminations are cut short as I stare at the car in front. It looks strangely familiar. It is red, it is a Honda. It has 4 tires. Plus, when I click the key, it unlocks! Yes, it is my car!

Some horror films have a happy ending!