For the past 3 weeks, I have been relying on autos to get me around in the morning.
I have to haggle like crazy at 6 am in the morning to get to the gym (as a result of which I'd be in a bad mood for an hour) and then once again at 8am, I have to bargain again to get to the office.
Today was another usual day. I thought that the routine would repeat itself. I got into an auto. 'CMH Road', I told the driver. He nodded and started his engine. 'That's a first', I thought to myself. Usually, I have to coax autoriskhaw drivers into driving me the 3 odd kms.
After a short while, the meter started counting really quickly. I instantly thought, So that's why he's willing to take me to CMH road without any extra fare. The meter is rigged.
When the auto finally stopped, the meter read Rs 33. I waited for the driver's demand since the new meter rates have started being implemented. The driver turned around and said to me, 'Pay me Rs 35.'
I was surprised. That's it?
He saw me hesitate and said, 'This is not my autorikshaw. My friend drives it. He's rigged the meter and then demands extra fare from his customers. By the old rates, it's only Rs 27 to get here. I know that.'
I was kind of shell shocked to hear a rick driver openly admit that people of his trade rig meters and extort money.
Anyways, I found out that I was Re 1 short. 'Do you have change if I give you Rs 10 extra?' I asked him.
He: 'Give me whatever you have. That's enough for me.'
I was even more stunned. I told him, 'Thankyou, Bhaiya. Thanks a lot.'
An honest guy who stuck by his principles, in the heart of Bangalore.
After I was done with gym, I got into my second auto ride of the day. This driver demanded Rs 20 extra (we settled for Rs 10) and cursed me whenever his vehicle hit a pothole.
The usual.
Whatay contrast, don't you think?
