Take cover - get out of that car!

I was driving down Sheikh Zayed Road on the extreme right lane when right in front of me, like a barricade on the highway, was something – a car with its flashing lights barely noticeable in the blindingly bright afternoon sun. Two seconds later, I was parked in the middle of the highway, close enough from the stationery vehicle to realize that in fact it had similarly screeched to a stop inches away from another car. Looked like it was a breakdown situation ahead. But there was no warning sign or anything that suggested an emergency.


Traffic kept zipping past us at 100 km per hour, or more, and it was almost a minute before either of us could swerve back into the flow. The other car remained where it had come to an abrupt stop after some unexpected trouble cropped up. Unfortunately, it happened along a short strip where the space beyond the hard shoulder was too narrow for the stranded vehicle to seek refuge!


The lady driver was still in her seat, speaking on her mobile – seeking help perhaps. Behind her, cars kept coming along, at 30 metres per second, swerving in the nick of time to slip into the second lane traffic, or screeching to a stop. Oblivious, she held on to her seat and her mobile. Hope she soon had the sense to step out of the dubious safety of her car onto the hard shoulder strip  – scorching hot, yet unthreatened by hurtling cars!