A lovely Sunday morning, a steaming cup of tea after a nice long bath, and my wrist now allowing me to type enough to put down my thoughts - even if slowly and with breaks. What a feeling!
My first post after my accident, and suddenly the rush of thoughts I had on the many things I wanted to write about seems to have rushed away. :-)
Gathering these scattered thoughts of the past couple of months is an exhilarating exercise in itself. So many thoughts, such feelings, experiences, people met etc. that one wants to write about.
I resumed office on April 5. And due to the fact that I still have the problem in the knee and muscles, I have been using taxis and autos to travel to office and back. And what an interesting mix of taxi drivers I have met!
Nearly every taxi driver who has taken me to office and back had to ask me the same set of questions, “Accident? Kaise Hua (How did it happen?)”. And then the standard “Chalo kam mein tal gaya. Aur ho sakta tha (Good it was only this much. It could have been worse)”.
It is interesting how we tend to look at the positive of life. I mean, here I have a broken wrist, broken toe, missing toenails and a crushed kneecap. And it could have been worse! Someone is in hospital with a serious ailment where he would take months to recover. And it could have been worse!
But then, it is this positive outlook that takes us through the ups and downs of life!
Anyway, as usual, I digress.
After the standard questions – which I have now learnt to answer in about 9.37 seconds – the drivers launch into sharing their own experiences for the rest of the journey. And that has my hair standing on end.
Virtually every driver has a horrific accident story – if not his, then of some other driver closely known to him. And these stories are around broken ankles, shin bones, femur etc. It is as if nearly half of Mumbai’s taxi drivers are driving around with some injury or the other. One driver even took advantage of a traffic signal to show me the scars on his stomach and right leg, and believe me, it was as if he had come out of a war zone!
It frightens me to be sitting there in the front seat of a half battered car with a driver who should be eligible for a disability pension, and yet, driving away with the zest of a Sebastian Vettel!
And for all those Mumbaikars who have the experience of flagging down an auto or a cab, only to find the driver refusing your fare, I must share that I am not in that league any longer. Just the sight of my crutch and splint are enough for them to open the door without even asking the destination. I’ve had only a couple of drivers refusing, for genuine reasons, and they were so apologetic, I had to pinch myself. One driver ferried me from Wadala to Lower Parel, and only when we reached my office did he mention that he had to go to Sion – exactly in the opposite direction!
A few drivers have even got out, helped me out of the cab, and carried my crutch and bag for me right upto the office lift.
Made me change my opinion about whether these drivers had feelings!
But there is one thing on which my opinion has not changed. Irrespective of the nature of the passenger, and the lovely stories he has shared with him, some drivers have to cheat on the fare.
What else explains the 25% variation in the fares that I pay for the same distance?
My first post after my accident, and suddenly the rush of thoughts I had on the many things I wanted to write about seems to have rushed away. :-)
Gathering these scattered thoughts of the past couple of months is an exhilarating exercise in itself. So many thoughts, such feelings, experiences, people met etc. that one wants to write about.
I resumed office on April 5. And due to the fact that I still have the problem in the knee and muscles, I have been using taxis and autos to travel to office and back. And what an interesting mix of taxi drivers I have met!
Nearly every taxi driver who has taken me to office and back had to ask me the same set of questions, “Accident? Kaise Hua (How did it happen?)”. And then the standard “Chalo kam mein tal gaya. Aur ho sakta tha (Good it was only this much. It could have been worse)”.
It is interesting how we tend to look at the positive of life. I mean, here I have a broken wrist, broken toe, missing toenails and a crushed kneecap. And it could have been worse! Someone is in hospital with a serious ailment where he would take months to recover. And it could have been worse!
But then, it is this positive outlook that takes us through the ups and downs of life!
Anyway, as usual, I digress.
After the standard questions – which I have now learnt to answer in about 9.37 seconds – the drivers launch into sharing their own experiences for the rest of the journey. And that has my hair standing on end.
Virtually every driver has a horrific accident story – if not his, then of some other driver closely known to him. And these stories are around broken ankles, shin bones, femur etc. It is as if nearly half of Mumbai’s taxi drivers are driving around with some injury or the other. One driver even took advantage of a traffic signal to show me the scars on his stomach and right leg, and believe me, it was as if he had come out of a war zone!
It frightens me to be sitting there in the front seat of a half battered car with a driver who should be eligible for a disability pension, and yet, driving away with the zest of a Sebastian Vettel!
And for all those Mumbaikars who have the experience of flagging down an auto or a cab, only to find the driver refusing your fare, I must share that I am not in that league any longer. Just the sight of my crutch and splint are enough for them to open the door without even asking the destination. I’ve had only a couple of drivers refusing, for genuine reasons, and they were so apologetic, I had to pinch myself. One driver ferried me from Wadala to Lower Parel, and only when we reached my office did he mention that he had to go to Sion – exactly in the opposite direction!
A few drivers have even got out, helped me out of the cab, and carried my crutch and bag for me right upto the office lift.
Made me change my opinion about whether these drivers had feelings!
But there is one thing on which my opinion has not changed. Irrespective of the nature of the passenger, and the lovely stories he has shared with him, some drivers have to cheat on the fare.
What else explains the 25% variation in the fares that I pay for the same distance?
cheat they must, because that's the only way they can get a better 'take home'. that aside, feelings and help coming your way should tell you that humane intent is stronger, though sympathy as a lead emotion to reach the intent is not a great idea. at the same time, can i ask you a simple question? have you been able to affect the lives of any of these drivers in any way during the course of all the days gone by?
ReplyDeleteHi Rajesh, as always, a nice different insight. And the simple answer is - I believe, Yes! Somewhere, I believe, I have been able to share a positive outlook to them, and hopefully to some other people too, that life does have its share of good and bad, but this too shall pass. And faith will take us smiling through!
ReplyDeleteHey Mubin, this is Elie Nawar, i think this is the first time i write to you though i was following your blogs here and there...hope you are keeping up well, i was very sad when i knew about your accident, wish you to get well very soon...
ReplyDeleteNow going back to our subject, i believe life is always the best teacher and that whenever you feel desperate, GOD will send you a message indirectly or even directly throughout your life that he is always there...
I remember you had no hair left, i hope this fact changed so that you have it standing on end :)
Really miss those discussions we used to have about research and how we can make things better, i am sure you are using this skill for the benefit of others wherever you pass!
Take good care my friend...
Hi Elie, what a pleasant surprise hearing from you! Yep, I've got a bit of hair now - enough to stand on end :-). Life's good, but yes, I do miss those days that I spent with all of you, and I look back very fondly on that time!
ReplyDeleteere.....has any Taxi Driver ever spoken to you about accident that has happened due to an EMERGENCY caused by .....lack of public toilets???....yaani!!
ReplyDelete