Ave Maria Driving School

Operating a place like Ave Maria Driving School in the Gurupura area means we spend a lot of time outdoors. Our main spot is in Kaikamba, Gurpur, which is a busy little junction in Mangalore. We’ve seen hundreds of people come through here trying to learn how to handle a steering wheel without panicking. The roads around here can be tricky, especially when the monsoon hits and everything gets slippery. We keep our cars parked out front, and they usually have a bit of mud on them from the daily lessons. It’s not a glamorous job. We spend our hours sitting in the passenger seat, hitting the extra brake pedal and trying to stay calm while a student stalls the engine for the fifth time. The office itself is just a small room where we keep the registers and take the fees. There are some old posters about road signs on the wall that have faded over the years. We know most of the local shopkeepers around Kaikamba. Sometimes we take a break and grab a coffee at the corner stall. It’s a very local business. We don't use big advertisements. Most people just find us because their cousin or neighbor learned here. It’s rewarding in a quiet way when someone finally gets their license and drives off on their own. We just keep the cars running, check the petrol, and wait for the next person to show up.