Taxi Tales

Uber rides have added a new dimension to my life. Most drivers are relaxed and willing to talk. They are not complaining or cribbing about the traffic or the weather. They seem to be enjoying their work. From our end, we seem to be treating them better. That seems to be the case when we pay more money for a service which we got cheaper earlier. Is this a combination of  better customer service and well behaved customers?

This ride was in the evening to collect my child from a birthday party. Traversing the Mumbai evening traffic and keeping your calm, is the stuff legends are made of. The driver, Altaf, said he has seen very rich days. They had the largest bungalow in Mahim, near Mahim Dargah. His grandmother used to sit on a mattress which was lined with bundles of currency notes. The drums which we use for storage of water, they had it full of 'chillar' i.e. coins. In today's currency value, their income was two lac rupees per day. They lost it due to some reason. He did not tell me the reason or the sob story around it. His parents are no more. His Mother had taught him that whatever work you do, do it better than everyone. He works from 1pm to 1am. Even if he is shutting down the Uber app and gets a call or booking from a customer, he takes it. He takes it not to make an extra buck but because he feels someone really needs that late night ride. For that, he is okay to sacrifice his sleep. On his way home from a far off destination, he gives free rides to people who are walking or waiting for a bus. He drops them at their convenient point. This is the good work he does everyday for himself. No one is going to take any money when they die, but they can create a kitty of good deeds. He kept referring to God as 'Upar Waala', the one who is above us. He talked of Karma. He talked of good deeds making good Karma.

Altaf's Mother had told him that you should marry only if you can hold on to that relationship. He is doing that. He has two sons. The elder one died when he was six days old. He had 10 lac cash at home as he had sold a property but all the money could not save the six day old infant. I could hear the sadness on loosing his first born. He said if money could save people, the rich would never die. Why did Dhirubhai Ambani have to die? His sons would have spent on the best medical help for him. Why did the best dancer in the world Michael Jackson have to die? He loved Michael Jackson. He was seventeen when Michael had come to Mumbai for a show. He was waiting outside for a glimpse of his Hero. He heard some wild stories about how women were going berserk on seeing the Pop star. He told me that women were fainting and the cops did not know who they were with. One woman stripped herself for MJ. And then the cops shouted at her. How can that woman be so ' Jaahil'? I smiled and told him nothing like that happened as I was inside. He wanted to know what price ticket I had purchased. I know I was there in the first row with my close friend cum office colleague. We were right near the stage. There was only a barricade between us and Jackson. It was thrilling to be there and watch the Star perform.

Altaf's earlier owner had cut a thousand rupees from his pay as the car had got a scratch. Thousand rupees is a day's income. He was very angry but he controlled himself. The owner was abusing him when he will be getting insurance to pay for the car repairs. Altaf said when we walk on the road, people bang into us or push us. We are not able to prevent that, then this is a vehicle. If someone bangs into the Uber, how can he stop this even though he is driving correctly. He said all drivers are at risk when they drive a car. No driver wants the vehicle he is driving to be banged. The owners of big cars need to realise this. All of thirty seven, he feels he has lived his life and learnt a lot. Upar Waala has made a role for everyone and not made anyone equal. It does not mean one is superior than the other. This job role cycle helps the world go round. He has seen the neighbours making quick money by wrong means including killing. They always meet an end. The world is created for good people. There are more good people everywhere. If the world was full of bad people, a Tsunami (Pralay) would have come and destroyed Mother Earth (Dharti)

The world is full of good people and we all need to remember that.