The fact that I have not written in a long time highlights the non-existence of any adventures in my life. But over the years I have come to realize that boring is good. Boring is smooth. But then, boring leaves me with a pen hanging in mid air wondering about what to write. Especially, when writing about your friends can cause too much trouble - and I talk from experience! So, what I needed was an anonymous subject - unrelated to me. And then, a cab ride later, I found my next subject.
So because of work, I end up taking quite a few cabs to meetings. Some recent untoward incidents that have happened in cabs make me keep my guard up at all the time. So I have come up with this strategy to chat up with the cab driver, when alone. Engage him in conversation, ask him about his hometown, his journey, his family etc. etc. so that the cabbie feels a kinship with me and doesn't attempt anything which he shouldn't. Although this strategy has worked for me so far, I wouldn't advise it to others. You see, there are a lot of attached disadvantages. The cabbies can turn out to be too chatty and leave you with a headache. Or might answer only in monosyllables, leaving you with that chilly feeling that he has something else on his mind and you end up making fake phone calls to people just to ensure that the driver knows that a LOT of people know where you are, who you are with, when you are expected home, make of car etc.! Yeah, true story!
So this strategy means I am left with quite some interesting stories. Here go a couple of them:
1. Hindi bhashi Nepali: Subebahadur is Nepali, which I could never have guessed despite the crinkly small eyes, considering his impeccable Hindi - which he said he learned in 5 months when he came to India at the age of 14. When I pointed out that he did not look anything like the picture on Ola, he told me he was driving his friend's car. You see, he had met his targets. His friend was unwell and he was helping his friend meet targets by driving his cab. Subebahadur ran away from his home and family in Nepal at the age of 12 with a tourist family who told him stories about how luck changed for better in Delhi. And, the family kept it's promise. They taught him Hindi, sent him to school, paid for his driving lessons when he showed interest, helped him buy his first car and got him married to a nice Indian girl. That was 15 years back. Although the family has now shifted to the US, Subebahadur is forever in their debt and always ready at their service whenever they visit. While Subebahadur misses his home in Nepal, but his family will now never accept him because he married against their wishes in another community. He is glad that his two brothers are taking good care of his parents. Throughout the 1.5 hour journey, Subebahadur shared anecdotes from his life, told him how the Ola system worked, how he loved driving, how he met his targets well in time to earn extra incentives. He was happy and satisfied. Something in his smile, cheerful demeanour and his story, made me feel superficial and insignificant. But I am glad I took his cab.
2. The Tag Heuer: After a long, fruitless meeting at a Ministry, I booked a shared Ola. The car that came to pick me up was a Chevrolet Enjoy. It is quite like Chevrolet's version of Maruti Eeco - you know the sort where rapes happen. Controlling a shudder that chilled my spine, I got into the cab and hoped that I will get a fellow passenger in the shared cab. The driver was young - which often adds up to my worry. So, I turned on my strategy full swing on him. Unfortunately, Ranbir Singh turned out to be a quiet guy. He answered my prying questions in monosyllables and clearly begrudged me when he had to answer in two words instead of one. After resorting to two fake phone calls (yes, I can be very paranoid), I noticed a glittering watch on his hand as he shifted gears. The big dialled golden watch sat proud on Ranbir Singh's wrist glinting in the afternoon sun. I casually complimented the driver on the watch and voila! Those were the magic words. Ranbir Singh instantly warmed up to and told me the story behind his Tag Heuer. Ranbir Singh used to be a chauffeur for hotels. He liked his job, even though the hours were tough. He drove a BMW, and a Mercedes at times. His clients were usually foreigners because he spoke a little English. This one time, a Russian businessman travelled in Ranbir Singh's car. The loyal driver, swatted away the street urchins who gathered around the big, red Russian. Ranbir Singh helped the Russian buy presents for his family back home. Ranbir Singh sang him Hindi songs in his not in tune voice and also learned a Russian song from him. After 15 days, when it was time for the Russian to leave, Ranbir Singh brought him home cooked paranthas for the flight - because as Ranbir Singh recalled - the Russian did not like plane food. The teary eyes Russian hugged Ranbir Singh, slipped his expensive and beautiful Tag Heuer off his wrist and gave it to Ranbir Singh. Ranbir Singh wears the watch every day. While his family made him quit his job because of odd hours and little pay, he misses the hotel run. The Tag Heuer is a reminder of his glamour days.
I have so many more cab stories - some half forgotten, some names without faces and some faces without names. But almost every cab ride that I have taken alone is a small adventure - a window in someone else's life. Try my strategy someday, maybe you will get to hear some great stories too.
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