A conversation with Millionair Taxi driver

Dopinder, taxi driver in movie deadpool

 

Life is a strange thing, one has no clue whom will you meet and when. I was out for meeting and was running late; I hollered for a taxi and asked for Nariman Point and got it. I saw traffic on the road and moaned “bahut traffic hai idhar” and Taxi Driver an old man with wrinkles on his face replied “yeah kuch bhi nahi hai beta”. Looking at long line of cars, I was taken aback by his casualness and said “kya baat kar raha ho chacha? And he respectfully maintained his stance.

As usual I asked him “kitna saal huwa aapko taxi chalte? And he said “45 years”, that’s pretty long time, I said with surprise “baap re, retire kab hona hai?, to which his reply was equally  unexpected “company ne retire nahi kiya, to mein taxi chalana kyu chod do?. I was confused at his statement and that was visible clearly on my face, so he offered to clarify by saying “mein private driver ka naukri karta hu?, ok, yeah taxi nikali kyu ki sahab bahar hai aur meri chuti hai. So the guy has full time driver job & drives taxi on holiday to make extra buck. This was new to me, because I was under the impression a driver can get taxi on hire usually for long term and not 1 day. So to clarify I asked “to aap naukri bhi karte hai?” to which he replied “haan aur taxi bhade pe bhi deta hu” … aapne pass 5 taxi hai- WTF (wait for more)…..oops…..he was the owner of the 5 taxi and gives on rent when he is on job.  I got more curious on how he manages taxi & regular job, so I asked him “kitna time huwa aapko naukri mein” to which he said “karib 30 saal, roj subah sheth ki gaadi chalta hu, shaam ko 5-6 baje taxi nikalta hu”. Now this is absolutely crazy, more curious I wanted to know if he sticked with one boss or kept changing to which he said , he has been with same boss ….:-o. I think boss has to be credited he has to be pretty good boss, so I said “aache Sheth lagte hai” and he acknowledged “haan bahut aache hai, worli mein flat diya hai rehne ko…..my mouth which was open got more wide (keep reading, I am sure it will hit the floor), he continued “haan woh Hotel-1(big brand) hai na? Woh unka hai, woh jo Hotel-2 (big brand) woh bhi unka hai. Having tracked hotel industry in past, I could easily figure out who he was talking about, so I asked if it was XXXX (surname of one of the richest family of India) and he replied with full name(confirming my guess)…..my now I had no idea how to reply other than “accha hai or badiya hai” and he continued “haan khana peena bhi free hai, unki hotel ki bahar gaadi lagake mein aandar jaa ke khaana khaa sakta hu free mein, Sheth ne pura permission diya hai” and that’s when my destination arrived and told him “bus bhaiya yeahi rok dijeye”.
 

What makes people act honest?

So I was at Visharam ghat at Mathura couple of weeks back, I was strolling around and enjoying the serene river view of Yamuna, soft winter air was blowing in my face – overall weather was so pleasant then one feels relaxed and calm. One of the things that everybody who visits Yamuna does it bring back a loti/kalash filled with Yamunaji. I had filled kalash with Yamuna and got it sealed by welder, however it was still not covered. As per Hinduism to protect it from aa pavitra, it needs to covered with jute cloth.

So in pics this is what empty kalash looks like and next to it is filled & covered with kantan/jute.

[gallery ids="510,511" type="rectangular"]

 

So I was strolling on small by lanes of Vishramghat searching for a shop that could put jute cover on kalash, when I spotted one shop selling empty & filled kalash. I went nearby store and saw owner gathering his stuff, I asked him if he can cover kalash with jute and he replied positively, but questioned how many pieces? I said only 1. He hesitated and then said thik hai sir, dukan band kar raha ha thaa, par koi baat nahi. I asked how much would it cost me and he said Rs125/-, I was shocked to hear it and said “bhai itna mehenga kyu?” he replied thik hai sir Rs20 (bies rupaiya) de dena. Now I was like…what…? He replied sir bies neeche koi nahi karega…I was still thinking what’s happening, did he quote Rs20 or he meant Rs120/-. So finally thought to clarify and asked bhai Rs20 ki Rs120 ? and he smiled and said sir Rs20/-…I was oh ok.

I handed over my kalash to him, while he went inside to search for raw material, while I took seat outside his shop. He came back with jute material & started working, then he asked me “sir aapne kya suna thaa?, I replied ek soo paaches (125), he smiled while working on kalash.

Once done he handed me kalash, I gave him Rs100 and said paaches (25) le lena, he replied back with smile koi baat nahi mein bies (Rs20) hi lunga and I was left speechless.

Makes me wonder why people act the way they do, sometime we run in to thieves and some time noble guys. Guy had every chance to make that extra buck but he didn’t, he kept his word.

World & People never fails to surprise us I guess, have little faith :)

Auto guy - "Sansakar"

One of the habit/key learning, I have picked up from one of my Guru who happens to be Analyst-cum-Fund Manager is talking to auto-rickshaw/taxi driver, they always have some interesting story & learning. So hence forth I would post such random encounters under the heading of "auto guy", here is first one

 

 



"Sansakar"

It was around 6:30pm when I left office, reached gate and saw evening traffic hurling around, weather felt pretty perfect not hot not too cold just perfect. Held out hand for auto, and one halted right next to me. Asked him for home and he said welcome. Auto driver seemed very old around mid-50s to near 60s, I asked him how long has he been driving, he said almost 15 years now. I asked how long before you retire and he says couple of more years, although he doesn't like doing it he has to, I said "pappi pet ka sawal hotha hai" and he acknowledged and reiterated. Talked along the way about his family - wife n kids, his brothers family, who's wife got elected in gram sabha.

Then more on his kids education and life, who are now in his hometown Lucknow, one studying masters and other preparing for IAS exam, thought they have been born n breed in city of Mumbai. I asked if it's difficulty there to live once you are used to life in mumbai. He said Sir agar aap mumbai mein bimar pad jao aur doctor ke pass jao, doctor paisa leta hai aur thik kardeta hai. Waha par paise le leta hai par kaam nahi karta.

I remembered ovarian lottery (concept by Warren Buffett) many get it and many don't.  We talked few other things when he asked me where I m from? and I was bit confused what to answer. If anybody had asked me that question during my school days I would say, Mumbai. In college, it was Mumbai and then in post graduate it continued to be Mumbai. But once I started working, traveling & interacting with tonnes of different people, started learning about their life & history, I started rethinking on who on that question "where I am from". we are continuously evolving.

So when auto guy asked me where I am from, I said parents are from Gujarat but I m born n breed here. He replied par sanaskar Gujarat ke hai. Surprised, I asked why does he say so, he replied "the way you talk with respect". Mumbai ka aadmi khali saaman lena chaahta hai dena hai, aap woh nahi ho. Got down gave him money I said thank you bhaiya and he replied dhanayvaad.

People crave for "Respect" but are miser when it comes to giving it.