Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Thanking automan

My daily travel rituals involves :

1. going to a nearby railway station,Mulund, by an autorikshaw or walk

2. local train up to Ghatkopar station

3. take bus or autorick up to my Marol office.

Very often I go by auto and charges as per its meter varies from Rs. 30 to Rs.45 depending on how fast the tampered fare meter of that auto is set. It there is heavy traffic or jam it can easily go up to Rs.50-55. Once I have even paid Rs.75 fo the same distance. That's okay.

I had reasons to believe that fair charges are around Rs.30 to Rs.35.

It happened this that one day a meter of an auto clocked only Rs.28. I was concerned for the the poor driver; why should he suffer on his legimate right of earning. I gave him Rs. 30 and told him to check his meter saying that his meter is running slow unlike all other autos. He humbly replied that his meter was in fact correctly set and tested as per RTO norms. I couldn't believe this. He said that he was not bothered if his tradesmen are earning more by incorrectly setting their meters. He was contended person and could sleep well.

I was taken aback by this revealation. I gave back Rs.2 that he was trying to return me as a tip which he accepted saying," that's your (my) khushi (pleasure)".

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