The Taxi Tale

Thanks to the private bus strike, had to take Uber today for a client meet. I am not being sarcastic here. I mean it. Really grateful. Why? Tell you why.

I was going for the client meet on behalf of another agency and was only half minded in going. I was pretty confident that I wouldn't have to go, because, one, the strike, two, my car was given for service, three and the most important of all, Uber drivers refuse to come as soon as we tell them that the pick up point is Wellington Island. So I thought I'd use this as an excuse to escape. But today, unfortunately (fortunately later), the guy agrees to come. Shit!! Trapped. Have to go now. The driver reaches in 5 mins and I still look like I'm just out of bed. Bathing, skipped. Perfume'll do for the time being. Compact and lipstick?? can't avoid. Hair is a mess. Well, just grab it all and tie up somehow. Phew!! Done finally.

Oops! my bag. What all do I take? Money? 300 rupees, the only money I'm left with. Check. ATM card? Empty ATM. Never mind. Check. Pen? Why, ofcourse I'm THE copy writer. So, check. ID? To prove I'm not a terrorist, just in case. Check. Pepper spray? You never know. Check. Done!!

Oh I had missed a call from the cab driver in the hustle. Obviously that's why it's called a missed call. I call him back. He asks for the way and I have to muster all my patience to make him understand where to come. This Island is a Labyrinth I tell you. You get lost and can't find your way out unless you know the place well.
Five minutes and four calls later, I find myself seated in the cab. 'Doesn't even know places and calls himself a driver.' I thought as I looked at him with disgust. Oh, he is pretty old. So doesn't come under the 'guy' category. 65 maybe, I tried to guess his age.

''So do you live here ma'am?'' 2 minutes into the journey, maybe to ward off the uncomfortable silence, he asked me in a good, MTI-free English. 'Might have worked as a guide to foreigners in Fort Cochin'. I thought to my self. "Yes, my mother is an Engineer with Cochin Port Trust. So we stay in the quarters". Stressing the word Engineer (of the old times) I did not try to hide my arrogance.

"That's nice to know. I am myself a retired FACT chief engineer". Dumbstruck at the revelation, I heard myself utter in amazement, "Oh!! That's indeed great sir!" Sir?? A moment ago I was thinking of him as a helpless old man who, at this age had to work to earn bread for his family. Well, he deserves the title.

After what seemed like a pleasant exchange of pleasantries, I asked him, "So which part of Cochin are you from?"

"Well, I am basically from Trivandrum. Came to Cochin as my posting was here. And now, my children are settled in this city, so we've bought an apartment in Palarivattom.

"I see. What do the children do?"

"I have three kids. A daughter and two sons. All of them married. My sons run their own businesses. My son in law is the High Court Judge"

'What the???' For a moment I thought I had slept off and was dreaming. I gulped hard in an attempt to digest what he just said. "That's awesome" I managed to say. Whispered rather, to which he laughed in an all-knowing manner.

"What did you study dear?" He asked me.

"Sir, I did my B.Sc. in Amrita and then did my M.Sc. from Garden City College, Bangalore" By now I was the most polite person you'd ever meet on earth.

"That's in K R Puram right? Old Madras Road?"

"Yes... How do you know"? I made my astonishment evident.

"I have a plot there. My wife was born and brought up in Bangalore. Infact the very first house in Indira Nagar belongs to my father in law."

"Oh wow!!" God! Enough of surprises for the day. What more do you have in store for me??

"So what do you do now?" he asked after a few minutes of silence (this time, I wasn't even aware of the silence), jolting me from the train of random thoughts. "Uh... well, basically I'm into media, videography, editing and stuff... as of now, I work as a freelance copy writer."

"Good. I have produced two serials". The names of two of the most popular soaps in two of the most popular Malayalam channels followed. I don't know how long I must have sat there like a statue with my mouth open, for the next thing I remember is him saying,"...well, no reply?? Hello??"

"Pardon me sir? What was it again?"

"Do you watch serials?"

"Oh!! well, no sir. I actually don't watch T.V much." I found my heart racing in excitement of some sort. "Why Uber cab then sir?" I couldn't help but ask.

"What do I tell you my child? Life after retirement was so boring. I missed interacting with people. And to me, this was the best idea. I meet a lot of people from different classes, age groups and profession during these rides. When I get a cab request, I never ask for the destination, for me, it's the journey that matters. I don't drive to make money, but to make relationships, conversations and experiences." He looked at me in the rear view mirror and smiled, as I quickly averted my gaze, avoiding eye contact, blinking some stupid tears off, pretending not to have looked at him.

Journeys have always presented me with surprises, this one being one of the best. I hope for more such journeys and more such happy surprises.