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In Conversation with a Taxi Driver!


One rainy evening, I was traveling from Worli to Bandra and something so obvious happened; I got stuck in traffic. Until then, I was looking out of the window, enjoying the breeze with eyes closed, hair flying in the air, thinking maybe I'm a part of a movie scene.

Cut to reality, my taxi was standing between fifty other vehicles going to Bandra. Taxi driver and I shared a similar expression of a disappointed face. I don't remember how our conversation started, but it went this way:

At some point in our conversation, I asked:
"Why don't you drive for commercial taxi services?"

To which he replied smiling:
" Yes, I could have done that.
For me, afternoon nap is very important. I cannot leave all my priorities to attend a customer. That is why, I'm a local taxi driver. I get my own time and space. I leave the house as per my convenience. I return home immediately in case of emergency.
To begin with, I used to be an engineer in an IT firm. 10 years ago, I was recruited for a salary of Rs. 22,000 p.m. I worked there for two years, like a slave. I left that job.
It's been 8 years now, I'm driving taxi happily. I still earn around 24,000-25,000 per month.
To other people, I am just a taxi driver.
For me, I'm my own boss, a husband, a father. My wife and my daughter eat more than two meals a day, and do not have to  compromise on their happiness. That's enough to keep me going. "

Were you ever so ready for such a kick-ass reply in the middle of all chaos, in the middle of traffic? I was not. My mind suddenly created space for sanity, for a moment. There was silence. All I could do was smile at him. The kind man smiled back.
:)
Hope this has put a smile on your face too.
Let me know if you have similar stories to share.

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Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 18, 2018 at 12:19 AM

    This made my day! We as humans are never satisfied and work like slaves to achieve more. In this race, we forget about other responsibilities and relationships but this taxi driver is a living example of how to find happiness in what you've got :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2024 at 1:41 AM

    sometimes you find an ordinary man with an extraordinary attitude.

    ReplyDelete

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