I'm not a talker when I'm on the road. I prefer to look around. The cab drivers usually keep to themselves until you draw them out. But with auto drivers it's 50-50. Some of them start from the word go and go non-stop. But you typically end up having disjointed conversations either because it's tough to catch the words in the traffic or the driver is not really interested in your answer. All he wants is to be heard, so to say. So you oblige with, "Houdu Sir" etc. or blame everything on the politicians.
But yesteeday's driver was different. He started with a crib on traffic violators. I was a little anxious that I was already late so I just gave him my customary smile. But he asked me what I thought. I told him. Then we ended up having quite a bit of conversation through the mirror on the roads, population, people's reluctance to use public transport (sitting inside an auto, ironically) and their reluctance to walk even a small distance etc. To top it, he even returned 3 Rupees, which is almost unheard of in my part of the world. And his look almost chastised me that I should insist on it. I returned a sheepish look.
Sometimes I wonder how I seem to strangers; do I come across as wide-eyed helplessness(I AM NOT)? I went to this notary's office yesterday - 'office' is flattering to that place, which was just the underbelly of the staircase leading upstairs. I appreciated the usage of space but not for long. The place could only seat three people and a computer and the only way an extra person could enter/exit was by squeezing others. Anyway, they spared me of it and made as much space for me as they could. But the guy who was ahead of me inspected me for a minute and decided that I needed to repay him for that. He started talking. He gave me a list of dos and don'ts, even telling me how to behave with the notary guy. All in that guy's presence. I don't know if I should blame myself or the man.
But yesteeday's driver was different. He started with a crib on traffic violators. I was a little anxious that I was already late so I just gave him my customary smile. But he asked me what I thought. I told him. Then we ended up having quite a bit of conversation through the mirror on the roads, population, people's reluctance to use public transport (sitting inside an auto, ironically) and their reluctance to walk even a small distance etc. To top it, he even returned 3 Rupees, which is almost unheard of in my part of the world. And his look almost chastised me that I should insist on it. I returned a sheepish look.
Sometimes I wonder how I seem to strangers; do I come across as wide-eyed helplessness(I AM NOT)? I went to this notary's office yesterday - 'office' is flattering to that place, which was just the underbelly of the staircase leading upstairs. I appreciated the usage of space but not for long. The place could only seat three people and a computer and the only way an extra person could enter/exit was by squeezing others. Anyway, they spared me of it and made as much space for me as they could. But the guy who was ahead of me inspected me for a minute and decided that I needed to repay him for that. He started talking. He gave me a list of dos and don'ts, even telling me how to behave with the notary guy. All in that guy's presence. I don't know if I should blame myself or the man.
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