I was off in an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk to some) today morning in the morning rush when the mobile started ringing. Not mine, but the driver’s. He ignored it royally. After all he was driving. Good man, I thought to myself, silently applauding him.
Then it rang again, and again, and again. Seven times in all. Good God man! Pick up the goddamn thing, I wanted to tell him. I mean he could stop and take the call if it was urgent. It was not as if I was in a hurry. Bu he didn’t. Dare I tell him to attend the call? But what if he was doing it on purpose. Perhaps he was angry with his wife/girlfriend. Perhaps it was the guy whom he owed money. Hmm..I glanced at the mirror and saw his furrowed brows and decided against it.
Some cab/tuck-tuk drivers are chatty. They tell you about the terrible traffic jam or about the time someone jumped in front of their vehicle. Sometimes it is about the weather. The weather, rest assured, is always a favourite. As of now the days are too warm for anyone’s taste and so the unbearable heat is the hot topic of discussion. In other months it could be the non-stop rain that kick-starts the conversation.
There once was a cabbie who had moved back to India from the UK. And what did he do there? He was a cab driver of course. He had lots of stories to share. Then there was one who thought the youngsters were rash drivers. He blamed the parents for letting them lose on the rest of the citizens.
Some of the cabbies have much to say about the political climate in the state or the centre. In the present scenario of course it is a big no-no. No one is sure which side of the fence the other person is, right, left, middle centre, off centre…it could be anything. Still, my state is somewhat safe in this aspect. We can openly say we do not like so and so and still not get beaten up, or worse killed.
On the way back in the evening I saw protests at two different places. I caught a bit of something that was said at the first one (the tuk-tuk had stopped for traffic) and laughed out involuntarily. It was very similar to something I have thought of a lot and even voiced to my close ones.
No, I cannot tell you what it is. But I am so glad I live in a state where a man ,or a woman for that matter, can stand by the roadside and make such a comment through a loudspeaker and not be arrested like it happens in a state up north.
The latest I read today was that couples in a live-in relationship in said state have to register their relationship and de-register if they break-up. Go figure!
Btw, where was I off to and what did I do the whole day? Today was the first day of the MBFIL (Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters) and I got the chance to listen to quite a few speakers today. The best thing? I bought two books! Well, I wanted to buy the whole book shop. But they wouldn’t sell it! 😉
©️ Shail Mohan 2024
Shail's Nest 
You must have enjoyed listening to those speakers and feasting your eyes on books. It is difficult passing most book displays without succumbing to purchasing at least once. Enjoy your reading!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the literary festival. Good too to hear that your state is still safe to voice dissenting voices. It is worrying the way India seems to have gone the way of the rest of the world in recent years…
It is very worrying, Ken. We don’t know how long this state of things continue. Those in the know say things will get a lot worse before they can get better. I can only hope better sense prevails all round sooner.