"Jeevanahalli, Cox Town? Barolla!!" (I wont come to Jeevanahalli, Cox Town).
Thats the only line I remember from the auto suri song. Its all about about how lame but proud the auto rickshaw drivers are in Bangalore.
When you think about auto rickshaws a.k.a autos a.k.a rick, what do you first think of?
Thick smoke emitting from the exhaust?
Refusal to hire?
Weird phrases on the back of the vehicle?
Rash driving?
Excess fare?
After Friday's incident, I will remember this story everytime I travel in a rick. Just a reminder not to blow the driver's head off.
On Friday evening, I had to travel to my sister's place from my office. The distance is long, its "Friday", its evening and that area may not fetch much customers on the return journey. So, I get "refused" by around 20 auto drivers (No, I'm not making up that number). These drivers are very choosy. They wont just let anybody to hire their auto. Lot of factors influence his decision. The distance can be long but traffic should be less, the area where he will drop the customer must have enough customers waiting to hire him, he should not be stopped by too many signals or maybe he doesn't feel like it.
Then like God, one driver instantly agreed. He looked more than 60 so I thought maybe oldies are not so arrogant. In first 5 minutes of the journey, he had skipped a signal, drove in the wrong way & confessed he didnt know the way. I obliged to direct him, didnt want to lose my saviour to a fat traffic cop. Out of cuiosity I asked him,
"After driving for so many years, you dont know the way ?".
"I'm new, Madam".
"Oh ok".
"I used to work in a government office before & I retired. I thought after retirement I will enjoy my time at home. But..".
"What happened?".
"My only son is good for nothing, nobody else in the family is fit to work. This is the only way I can earn some money".
"Isn't it tough to start at this age?".
"It is! My back hurts all the time. My vision is poor and this traffic frustates me, I'm not used to driving at all".
"Thats terrible".
"What is more horrifying is that once I got mugged when I was returning home & I lost all the day's earnings. The auto owner didnt hear my plea & I had to repay him".
Silence.
"Please check your belongings Madam".
I give him little more than the fare, hoping he would keep the change but he prompty returned the change and smiled. He smiled! And then he drove away looking lost.
Another auto drives by which says on the back, " Trust a snake, but not a girl". Grrrr.
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1 comment:
not everyone is applicable to be generalized. our experience with the auto guys may not be as worse as what these guys have to experience as part of their job n lives mayb. but yes, they do take advantage of the fact that they're indispensable at times and carry things a bit too far sometimes. as long as they ain't outright rude or insulting i guess i'm willing to accept them as part of our cultural landscape :)
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