Mission with a difference
I got out of bed, late as is customary of me. However I was determined to reach office in time. So in this struggle between time and me, I by some means managed to get geared up in 15 mins and hurried out to literally take hold of an auto which is the only means of communication at such a significant point in time.
Hey but what is this? "NO AUTOS".
The otherwise jam-packed streets look serene and peaceful. No zooming autos trying to win the race with time. I was dumb struck for a second but determined that I have to reach office in time, decided to take matters in hand. I walked for 15 mins (that’s a long walk for a person who is nearing 80 kilos) and somehow managed to catch a glimpse of a lone auto in the road. Competiting against 10 others who were trying to grab the attention of the auto driver, I managed to hurtle myself inside the auto before anyone else could (thanks to my athletic endeavors in college!!!!). I requested the auto driver to take me to my destination which happens to be 16 kms from my abode. However what is this?
The auto driver states in a very firm voice then he will not budge for an amount less than 250 bucks. 250 bucks will sound very meager to you people but please note that the maximum amount which will come is around 100 bucks if I go by meter. So you can understand my perplexity as I haggled with him for another 15 mins. Guess I have got great bargaining power for the auto driver agreed for 200 bucks. We started our ride which please note will last for around 45 mins keeping the traffic in mind.
Now, you all must have heard this line one time or the other in your existence as a human being." Curiosity kills the cat". I always knew I had feline characteristics…anyways; I started chatting with the driver. A synopsis of which is given below:-
Me:- Why are there NO autos on the road?
Auto guy: - Madam you don’t know? We auto drivers are on strike...
Me:- So bhaiya (brother in English) how long are you guys planning to continue with his strike?
Auto guy: - Don't know madam, might get over tomorrow or might continue indefinitely....
Me:- Indefinitely????? (Eyes ogle out!!!)
Auto guy: - It depends on whether the government meets our demands or not?
Me:- What are your demands?
Auto guy: - We will not use the digital meter that the government has insisted us to go for
Me:- Why? You guys don’t want to use it as you won’t be able to tamper it right?(fuming now at his arrogance!!!!)
Auto guy: - No madam nothing like that.
Me:- Then what? (Still angry…smoke coming out of my ears)
Auto guy: - See madam, we earn around 200 bucks’ everyday after giving to the owner, for road tax, petrol etc.
Me:- Hey but it comes to 6000 bucks a month...
Auto guy: - That is right madam; the government wants us to buy the digital meter. Although they are giving it at face value but even after that it comes to 5000 bucks.
Me:- Oh my god..... (The anger replaced by sympathy)
Auto guy: - Exactly...how can we afford to buy this meter?
Me:- Yes that is true.... (thinking!!!!!) By the way who organizes these strikes?
Auto guy: - Our union leader
Me:- Oh...ok...
Me:- He also drives auto like you all?
Auto guy: - (surprised!!!) NO...NO…
Me:- How does he earn his living then?
Auto guy: - Please don’t ask madam... I don’t want to be in trouble....
Me:- Hey come on!!!
Auto guy: - Ok madam…if you insist…Actually the government will give a huge amount to the union leader to call off the strike. That will last him till the next strike.
Me:- Oh!!!! So in the end you guys are the only ones who are left with nothing?
Me:- And if u go for these strikes don’t u have problems financially? I mean you only told that you earn around 200 bucks’ a day. What about your family?
Auto guy: - We do have problems madam...But what can we do? There is no one to hear our complaints.
Me:-Then why don’t u guys just stop these strikes? Why can’t you guys yourself negotiate with the government to pay for the meter in installments rather then at a bulk? Why need a union leader in between?
Auto guy: - No madam…you don’t understand….we have no way….What will happen if one guy stops doing this strike...There are 5 lakhs auto drivers in this city. Let me tell you today I am taking you in this auto. Who knows if any auto driver has a grudge against me he will complain against me to the union leader. All I will be left with is a shattered auto and loads of hospital bills...I don’t have so much power as they do….
Me:- oh my god...what injustice....
Auto guy: - SIGH!!!! That is life madam….
45 mins just flew by and I find myself nearing office. I paid the auto driver and rushed in to office...
The day just rushed by with usual office problems and again I somehow managed to get another auto guy to drop me home in the evening (obviously paying double of what I pay usually)....
I continued on with my schedule and this matter took a back hand.
However now that I sit to share some of my thoughts with you, I feel why don’t I just share this experience?
I know that a loner can not bring a revolution but surely if we all try and just make people like these auto drivers realize how they are being oppressed and made use of, maybe it will definitely make a difference. You people might be thinking why don’t I do it myself?
I know that is what is going on in your mind at this moment so I atleast have started speaking to the auto drivers who I meet on my way. Atleast if one guy takes the cue then I know I am successful. Why don’t we all do the same…?
Hey but what is this? "NO AUTOS".
The otherwise jam-packed streets look serene and peaceful. No zooming autos trying to win the race with time. I was dumb struck for a second but determined that I have to reach office in time, decided to take matters in hand. I walked for 15 mins (that’s a long walk for a person who is nearing 80 kilos) and somehow managed to catch a glimpse of a lone auto in the road. Competiting against 10 others who were trying to grab the attention of the auto driver, I managed to hurtle myself inside the auto before anyone else could (thanks to my athletic endeavors in college!!!!). I requested the auto driver to take me to my destination which happens to be 16 kms from my abode. However what is this?
The auto driver states in a very firm voice then he will not budge for an amount less than 250 bucks. 250 bucks will sound very meager to you people but please note that the maximum amount which will come is around 100 bucks if I go by meter. So you can understand my perplexity as I haggled with him for another 15 mins. Guess I have got great bargaining power for the auto driver agreed for 200 bucks. We started our ride which please note will last for around 45 mins keeping the traffic in mind.
Now, you all must have heard this line one time or the other in your existence as a human being." Curiosity kills the cat". I always knew I had feline characteristics…anyways; I started chatting with the driver. A synopsis of which is given below:-
Me:- Why are there NO autos on the road?
Auto guy: - Madam you don’t know? We auto drivers are on strike...
Me:- So bhaiya (brother in English) how long are you guys planning to continue with his strike?
Auto guy: - Don't know madam, might get over tomorrow or might continue indefinitely....
Me:- Indefinitely????? (Eyes ogle out!!!)
Auto guy: - It depends on whether the government meets our demands or not?
Me:- What are your demands?
Auto guy: - We will not use the digital meter that the government has insisted us to go for
Me:- Why? You guys don’t want to use it as you won’t be able to tamper it right?(fuming now at his arrogance!!!!)
Auto guy: - No madam nothing like that.
Me:- Then what? (Still angry…smoke coming out of my ears)
Auto guy: - See madam, we earn around 200 bucks’ everyday after giving to the owner, for road tax, petrol etc.
Me:- Hey but it comes to 6000 bucks a month...
Auto guy: - That is right madam; the government wants us to buy the digital meter. Although they are giving it at face value but even after that it comes to 5000 bucks.
Me:- Oh my god..... (The anger replaced by sympathy)
Auto guy: - Exactly...how can we afford to buy this meter?
Me:- Yes that is true.... (thinking!!!!!) By the way who organizes these strikes?
Auto guy: - Our union leader
Me:- Oh...ok...
Me:- He also drives auto like you all?
Auto guy: - (surprised!!!) NO...NO…
Me:- How does he earn his living then?
Auto guy: - Please don’t ask madam... I don’t want to be in trouble....
Me:- Hey come on!!!
Auto guy: - Ok madam…if you insist…Actually the government will give a huge amount to the union leader to call off the strike. That will last him till the next strike.
Me:- Oh!!!! So in the end you guys are the only ones who are left with nothing?
Me:- And if u go for these strikes don’t u have problems financially? I mean you only told that you earn around 200 bucks’ a day. What about your family?
Auto guy: - We do have problems madam...But what can we do? There is no one to hear our complaints.
Me:-Then why don’t u guys just stop these strikes? Why can’t you guys yourself negotiate with the government to pay for the meter in installments rather then at a bulk? Why need a union leader in between?
Auto guy: - No madam…you don’t understand….we have no way….What will happen if one guy stops doing this strike...There are 5 lakhs auto drivers in this city. Let me tell you today I am taking you in this auto. Who knows if any auto driver has a grudge against me he will complain against me to the union leader. All I will be left with is a shattered auto and loads of hospital bills...I don’t have so much power as they do….
Me:- oh my god...what injustice....
Auto guy: - SIGH!!!! That is life madam….
45 mins just flew by and I find myself nearing office. I paid the auto driver and rushed in to office...
The day just rushed by with usual office problems and again I somehow managed to get another auto guy to drop me home in the evening (obviously paying double of what I pay usually)....
I continued on with my schedule and this matter took a back hand.
However now that I sit to share some of my thoughts with you, I feel why don’t I just share this experience?
I know that a loner can not bring a revolution but surely if we all try and just make people like these auto drivers realize how they are being oppressed and made use of, maybe it will definitely make a difference. You people might be thinking why don’t I do it myself?
I know that is what is going on in your mind at this moment so I atleast have started speaking to the auto drivers who I meet on my way. Atleast if one guy takes the cue then I know I am successful. Why don’t we all do the same…?
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