The terrific traffic sense of hyderabadis

Look to the left first and only then to the right, then search for the path of least resistance, lift your hands in both directions asking the oncoming vehicles to stop and then cross the road. Repeat the process in the middle of the road. Never get frightened or lose heart or focus anywhere midway, most important thing, don't care about the vehicles coming towards you, absolutely nothing will happen to you.This is the traffic sense of an average hyderabadi.I am also an average hyderabadi and I thought it will a good reading for people who need to know how to behave when u come to Hyderabad.Every person feels like he is the king of the road and royally crosses the road according to his/her wish/convenience oblivious to the traffic lights and horns.If you are driving a two wheeler and a pedestrian asks you to stop because he wants to cross the road and you refuse to do so,then be prepared to face a volley of acrid words hurled at you though the traffic lights indicate that pedestrians need to wait.There are no rules for crossing the road here.You cross the road when you finish conversing on your mobile phone or for that matter whenever you actually feel like doing so.Fortunately there are people who wait till the road is atleast a little deserted before crossing the road.Every one honks...a person riding a bicycle and a person driving a car honk equally and very vehemently.I had one experience recently at the narayanaguda flyover.I stopped at the traffic lights at red and was watching the timer.A guy on a bike was also waiting for the signal to change.We were waiting in the, say, fifth row and there were many vehicles waiting in front of us and behind us.Suddenly the guy decided that intersecting roads were clear enough for him to drive away.He broke the signal and drove away suddenly making me jump out of my skin.Two or three people followed suit and drove away too.The others kept waiting.I was watching the timer.15 14 13 12 11and then the honking started.Almost all the vehicles waiting behing me started honking.I was confused for a second.Was I seeeing it wrong?But no... the timer still showed 9...but people were honking furiously and even shouting at me to start driving.On public request I drove away while the timer still displayed 8 seconds.Out of curiosity I stole a glance at the traffic policeman.He was standing at the intersection checking the license of some poor guy arguing with him.I laughed at the poor guy's plight and continued on my way.Now I know the way to behave.You can to start driving anytime after the timer reaches 10 not when the lights turn green.One more amusing characteristic of Hyderabadi style of driving is that you can traverse vertically,horizontally and diagonally on the roads.I see people who suddenly appear out of nowhere drive from the left end to the right end without putting the indicator on(dikh to raha hai na samne wala kahan ja raha hai is the explanation they have to give about it) and if I go and hit them they look at me with all the irritation in this world showing on their faces and say "kahan dekh rahi ho?dikhta nahi hai kya?"Some even say"ye ooramma manadi" meaning which village are you from to emphasize the point that I donot know how to drive.I inwardly think that I can see but how will you know if a person who is in front of you suddenly decides to end his vertical traversal and shifts to diagonal traversing.It doesnt happen this way in my village..:D