Autorickshaw ride -- an experience

Drivers of the ubiquitous autorickshaws in India are largely a cursed lot. Well deservedly, because they are rude and arrogant; almost always looking for ways to cheat the unsuspecting passenger.

[What is an autorickshaw? Photo credit]

They are cursed even by people who don't end up as passengers! That's when they refuse to ply on a route a person wants. The refusal is curt. Reason is rarely stated; but often it is that the destination is too close for them to get a hefty fare.

My experience today evening was exceptional. I was at Benniginahalli (on Old Madras Road near the rail- over- road bridge) on my way to M G Road. There is an autorickshaw stand where the narrow road to C V Raman Nagar/ Kagdaspura begins. There were at least 10 vehicles parked.

To one driver after another I said, "M G Road." The only reply I got: "No sir." Most of us are used to a couple of them refusing to ply. But six of them, one after the other, was downright frustrating.

I asked them, why they wouldn't come to M G Road, a good 10 km away. Reason: Heavy traffic. When I told them I'm not asking for a free ride, one of them said he would come if I paid him Rs 100. This wasn't the dead of night, but 5.30 pm.

When I reminded him that it was illegal to refuse to ferry a passenger without a valid reason, and that one could complain to the police, one of the drivers nonchalantly said, "Tell anyone you want. Nothing will happen to us." I saw no point in being there.

I then walked up to the bus stop and waited for "line autos" (as different from parked autos). Within a couple of minutes, I noticed one coming by; and I promptly flagged it down. I noticed that simultaneously a young gentleman just beside me too was flagging down the same auto.

He said, "Majestic" (the name of a theatre by which the area -- where Bangalore bus-stand/ railways station is located -- is known). I said, "M G Road". He got into the auto. I looked at the driver as I involuntarly made a move to get in. He nodded to signal that I too could get in.

There was a look of protest on the face of the other man, and a feeble murmer too. I could understand his concern; for, there have been many cases of suspicious characters getting into an auto in tacit collusion with the driver, and then indulging in crime.

But, the driver ignored him saying both of us were headed in the same direction. I made use of his tacit approval to get in, even as I enquired with the driver if he would let us pay half the normal fare, since two of us were there. He said, "No. Normal fare." Which means, either of us passengers won't lose anything nor gain anything; but the driver would earn double the fare!

I couldn't help thinking of those six drivers who earlier refused to ply, and wondered whether this guy was smarter than them, though with no conscience.

My fellow passenger sat silent, sipping mango juice, eventhough I tried a couple of times to strike a conversation with him. In reply to my questions he said, he was heading to Majestic to catch a bus to Pune.

When it was time for me to alight, I looked at the meter. It showed Rs 38. He asked for Rs 50 (what according to him would be the new meter rate. Most autos haven't recalibrated their meters to the new rates.) I gave him two Rs 20 notes. Normally the fare would have been more than Rs 40. He too was in a hurry to escape the eyes of the policemen (why, I couldn't figure out).

I just slipped out, thanking my fellow passenger for tolerating me. How much he ended up paying, I don't know. But I felt I had saved Rs 10.