bhagwanrr

[bhagwanrr]

The Long Rickshaw Ride

Auto-rickshaws have always been my lifesaver in dire moments. I don't recall myself being a late person but more of minute counter whose calculations always fail apart. One such morning was accompanied by a rush hour, making things worse I was on my toes to get the right metro so I hopped into the first rickshaw I saw. 

     The very moment I comfort myself to the spaces of that automobile, my ears delight themselves with noise cancelling earbuds. Generally, my journeys are often undisturbed from my home to the metro yet the monotony of this event is something I appreciate in my life for existing.

    But that day the driver interrupted me and said, " Do you know about the fair I'm about to charge ?" To this question, my answer would be totally positive as it was my daily travel. He continued, " Listen to me carefully, next time you sit then re-confirm the fair and the mode of travel if it's special or sharing." I was well aware of those facts but why would he want to start a conversation with me when I'm being nonchalant about it. Can it be his loneliness or he being chatterbox or the worst case, he's some drunkard driving for quick income. All of these reasons filled my mind but keeping all of these things aside I initiated to listen and carry the conversation.

     My minimal contribution was not even making a flow but atleast he knew that he have someone on the other side. Here came another passenger but a lady in burkha who was not willing to entertain the words of the old man. Not likely too old but he might be in his early 50s or so, something was off about him the way he sat at the seat made me feel if he was drunk but his eyes were not much of a alcoholic but more of a pained soul. His clothes weren't fancy or too dull but not I can assure that those things have seen a wash in a while. After being mildly scolded by the lady passenger he stopped at a blank silence and I didn't like it. I'm not a good listener but that day the words had something hidden, some feelings that we never know about.

     An old uncle and aunty, a pretty beautiful couple with shaking bodies in the cold asked for a ride and the driver was more than happy to have me on his side at front. In India, drivers often share their seats with the passengers and he started to talk again. I was eveready to have him on the air again but then two police inspectors interrupted us with ride. 

     His rickshaw was taken aside by a young man with eyes of a devil that's ready to devour a soul. The driver knew what's coming and he asked me to get off so that he can reach out for the stick. My doubts came true, he was handicapped. Limping and cursing his way to the authorities present at the spot, he made his mind that he wouldn't sign the papers if the elderly couple were not a part of the crowd.

     The auto-rickshaw might have been taken as a collateral for the payment by the police. We might be looking for a new ride but our driver avoided all of it and signed the papers. Coming back with the words, " Who knows what papers I've signed, I don't know Gujarati so I sign without obligations and I get fines everytime. I wouldn't have done so this time but this elderly couple would face problems because of me. Take care, Beta. These vultures won't leave a person like me and look at you all young and shiny, they'll devour you completely alive so work hard and be strong enough to sustain." Those words were like honey to my heart but not for the elderly couple.

     The ride continued with him showering all the things he had for all of us. The elderly couple made it to their stand and as expected the driver didn't charge them for the ride. The couple went off happily but my mind was filled with void. Is this the last shred of humanity ? The last piece that only feels grateful if they get benefitted. The couple weren't happy when the driver gave them his words but the waived off fair made them happy. Lastly, my stop came around. For the first time in my life, I was not at all ready to leave the ride but it was the time I get on to my metro. I offered him the fair price and made a farewell with the words, " Take care and make sure you ask to the next driver about the fair." I smiled at those words and went off. 

     I was almost 30 min late for my journey but all of it didn't even matter at that moment. Sitting in the metro, I realised most of this account was my overthinking, we all face such things daily but never think about them. At the end, we all are thinkers, only the times are different.

- A narration by Bhagwan RR