Bangalore Diaries

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People, I have seen, get smarter when the get into the driving seat. They believe they are the only ones who are really busy. All the rest have to wait. And that makes them do a hell lot of circus on the roads. And the people who do them are mostly autorikshaw-drivers.

One day I was getting back home after my office. I got a red signal at one of the junctions. I stopped my car to the left most side of the road, nearer to the foot path so that no one will overtake me from the left. A couple of seconds later, I heard a crashing sound from the rear side of my car. An auto rickshaw had actually banged to the rear left of my car, trying to get ahead of me from the left over the foot path.

I was totally shocked, angry and upset. Meanwhile he somehow managed to get ahead of me and the signal suddenly went green. He shot across the road and tried to escape. I started to run after the auto, breaking all my speed records. On the way I happened to see a traffic police officer. I told him that a hit and run case has occurred with me. He left the traffic handling to the assistant and followed me.

I managed to get the auto driver and the auto to one side of the road. Thanks to the slow moving Bangalore traffic! You can any day over take a Porsche walking in front of it, those are some rare occasions when you get to be jealous of a pedestrian. A couple of other drivers also reached there. The traffic police also reached the spot.

My car had got a huge dent in the rear bumber. It could get me at least 1500 bucks to get it fixed. The police and the people around were talking in compromise terms. They started discussing among themselves in the regional language. Finally policeman told me in English that if I file a case, both the vehicles would be in the station for more than a week. I said I don't mind having my car in the station for a month even, till this gets settled.

Now the tone of the policeman changed. I got to know that he was trying to get me off the hook, and I also knew what he wanted of me. I never wanted to give up. He and auto driver started speaking of financial compromise. The policeman was actually asking the driver how much he has to can give me. He showed around 50 Rs./- or something. The policeman was warning the auto driver saying that this would be the cost of one coffee this guy (pointing at me) takes. I told the policeman that I can understand their language, but cannot speak. So do it the way he thinks it is fair. He asked me how much I expected, as a financial compensation.

Now, ball was in my court. This auto driver looked so innocent. I thought of the life I am having and life he might be living - a few children to feed, looking just at the money he earn and a whole family dependent on him. Wouldn't taking his earning away from him be a sin, at least with the hundred fold salary I earn compared to him? But I could not let him go also. So I decided to get around 100 bucks from him. But if I asked for that, I would end up getting almost nothing other than a thanks or a sorry. And as I had guessed, I ended up getting 100 bucks instead of the 250 I asked for.

Finally leaving, I noted down his number and let him go. The rikashaw-drivers might be doing a lot of anti social activities, like over charging the traveler, not going where you want but rather where he wants to go, and a lot more like that. But just take a moment. Think of how much he might be earning. Think of how extravagant a life we are leading. How much we spend without a cause or a reason. Yes, all these points never grant them the authority to do any kind of illegal activity, that is for sure. Still....(the thought lingers)..

The final smile that he granted me, when I let him go, made me feel that I got more than what I asked for.