#BeTheBetterGuy

A road trip to Goa in a cool car with friends - sounds like a textbook idea of how today’s generation likes to live it up, doesn’t it? It’s everyone’s idea of liberation, perhaps fuelled by a bunch of popular movies. A holiday in the real world, however, doesn’t offer cinematic liberties such as the ones we’ve admired over the years. When it comes to safety on the road, there are simply no retakes on offer. Out on the road, yes, even when on holiday, it’s imperative to #BeTheBetterGuy.

But who is it really up to, to be better, when the three friends in question are like the ones that went on this particular trip in the Hyundai Tucson? A millennial and two Gen-Zs - set apart by a few years - are hardly the kind you’d expect sanity from, especially when bunched up in a fun car, right? Yet, the millennial among them, Ruman, also the one behind the wheel of the Tucson, displays a strange sense of level-headedness. Sure, he’s the grumpy kind and entirely clueless about the whims of the social media universe, but the good friend he is shows clearly in, firstly, his patience. His friends are late (as usual) as he waits outside the quaint Portuguese-era home they have all to themselves, but he’s barely grumbling about it - barely, okay?

When the friends - actor and social media influencer Rhea, and social media whiz Vibha - do arrive on the scene, they’re unapologetically chirpy and in a rush. Right, who said friendship is a fair game? As they zip off, in search of a hearty brunch, Ruman notices Rhea unbelted in the back seat, instantly pulls over and gives her an earful - perhaps a bit much for that early in the day - but the message hits home. “Do you really want your ‘Insta fam’ to miss you indefinitely?” he shoots, to which the best Rhea manages is a personal retort before buckling up. It’s all a laugh thereafter. Lesson learnt? Most definitely.

Over brunch, the conversation veers to nostalgia, and how it isn’t what it used to be - okay, kidding! Childhood memories of road travel naturally evoke laughter but, in today’s context, a certain sense of fear too; we all remember being crammed, by the dozen, into cars that didn’t even have seatbelts, don’t we? From that era to the present, in which cars like the Hyundai Tucson exist, we’ve come a long way indeed. Equipped with all the thoughtful safety systems you could mention on a wishlist, ADAS included, the Tucson delivers world-class safety in a package that’s inherently safe, owing to its poise and stability. As Ruman, the car nut, brings this up, it’s received with a strong degree of indifference - all his friends care about is that the Tucson looks absolutely cool and that it has that giant panoramic sunroof.

Speaking of which, that sunroof soon becomes the next topic of a heated debate, as Vibha, the social media genius, says she wants to ‘pop out’ of it, to go live for her virtual ‘fam’ (as they say). The sunroof is a grossly misunderstood feature, especially in India; it’s meant for you to enjoy the breeze, or just sunlight or even the night sky - while firmly belted up in your seat! Perhaps the only exception to this rule is when your car is parked at a nice vantage point and you want one of those cool ‘wildlife photographer’-style photos clicked of yourself, looking every bit like an adventurer. In a moving car? It’s only less bad than ejecting off a fighter jet - without a parachute, that is. Vibha’s request, therefore, is firmly declined. Her virtual followers may be denied the opportunity to see Goa from a different perspective, but in the interest of enjoying the remainder of the road trip - and life itself - it’s an important refusal.

This exchange, unsurprisingly, leaves the cabin a bit unpleasantly silent for a while but, seeing the trio’s commitment to finding things to squabble about, almost right on cue, Rhea remarks on how slow Ruman seems to be driving - he’s exactly at the speed limit, mind you. Sure, some of our speed limits may seem a bit preposterous, but they must be followed nonetheless - yes, even on holiday! Another little bout of bickering ensues over stopping before zebra crossings, but it’s quickly done away with in good humour. There’s no arguing with “Zebra crossings are not just for zebras!”, is there?

Later in the evening, as the trio settle down for a fun evening out at a popular seaside lounge, the conversation finally steers away from the hostile. After a day out cruising in the sun, the cool sea breeze and appetising spread of finger food put everyone at ease and in a good mood. Ruman, the designated driver, categorically refuses a drink - his friends do insist a fair bit - but “It’s Goa ya!” doesn’t sound even a wee bit convincing to him. It’s true. Be it Goa or absolutely anywhere in the world, having a drink and getting behind the wheel is simply unacceptable, apart from being illegal, that is. It puts not only you, your passengers and your car at risk but also, as has unfortunately been the case on so many occasions, the lives of others too. Sure, you’ll probably struggle to get a joke or two in the company of your friends, but it’s far better than the joke is on you and the safety of your loved ones.

To #BeTheBetterGuy then, especially while on holiday, is clearly not an easy task. You’ve got to be a bit resolute and resilient - the counter-arguments will almost always border on the preposterous, won’t they? Oh, and it helps if you know a thing or two about bossing your friends around!