That Simple

They were invariably her first friends when she traveled to a new city or a new country. We, humans, come in different shapes and sizes, color, culture, and inheritance. Yet, beneath the diverse imperfections of our bodies, it is the depths of our character that truly stand out isn’t it! Some of them, who she met by chance during her little journeys, were open and friendly in less than an instant while there were others who remained in their little cocoon unless she endeavored to break the ice. She did it without hesitation and so, all the conversations eventually became her one-of-a-kind and memorable souvenirs.

Taxi drivers and Auto drivers (3 wheelers in Asian countries like India, Thailand, .........etc.) gave Swati a wide array of topics to choose from to discuss. There was the history of the city, what to do and what to eat, what not to do, politics, transportation, cost of living, quirky bits of information et al which combined to make most interesting conversations. Not everything was serious. Funny bits and countless complaints about the way of life were an integral part of the talking. At the end of her ride, she often took away invaluable insights which otherwise she could never have the access to on any website. After all, it came from experience and from the heart. Raw and original.

One ride to remember

Swati loaded her nine bags of groceries into the trunk of the car. She relaxed in her seat beside the driver.

“Hi, there! How are you today?” The driver politely inquired.

“Oh, I am very well. Thank you very much. How have you been?” Swati immediately responded.

“It is a lovely day. I must admit, a lot has happened over the years in the city, he exclaimed. Tremendous improvement.”

The driver spoke of the development scenario in the city, pointing at buildings and complexes on either side of the road. Swati listened to him intently; she only nodded at regular intervals. Swati was impressed with his erudite discussion and articulate communication.

After about 25 minutes of a smooth ride, the driver stopped by the side. He informed me that they had arrived at the destination.

Swati was slightly anxious. She alighted and looked around.

“I am sorry but I am afraid this is not where my home is.” Swati effused nervousness.

“Do not worry. We will figure out.” The driver assured Swati.

The driver checked the application, the address and mixed and matched a couple of data and informed that it was indeed the destination Swati had requested for. When the answer was not in the affirmative, he asked her if she remembered more details about the house. Swati snapped out of it as if completely evading any more queries. She fumbled her door number and a random name which she claimed was the street name that she had spotted. However, she announced that she couldn’t be entirely sure.  

The driver bought some time from his client and asked her to relax in the meanwhile. He walked past a few buildings, perhaps, trying to evaluate options to get to the right place.

“I do not understand how a driver cannot know the exact location details. In fact, it is his job to assist the customer in times of worry and incomplete data. Locals are supposed to be more cognizant of routes, and traffic.” Swati muttered to herself while she waited alone. She did not mean to blame the driver, she believed he had been really nice and friendly but she was adamant it was his fault not knowing the location well.

As the driver asked people around and used the “door number “and “street name” as the only reference to unveil the details of the exact location, he was surprised how someone could be so wrong in entering the address of one’s own home! “It would have been wise to be better aware of her residence." The driver grew impatient as minutes flew by. 

After fifteen minutes, it was a pleasant surprise. He had supposedly gone wrong in not guessing a potential roundabout; he assumed it was a short direct route and halted. The exact location was hardly a couple of minutes away- the home complex had multiple entrance points. Problem solved.

“Okay. I think she is a nice girl. I don’t mind having done this search. Nonetheless, I am going to let her know that it would help to explore the surroundings of her own home. It will come handy and make her confident considering she is not a local.” The driver heaved a sigh of relief.

When the driver safely dropped Swati off at the exact location, both had wide smiles. Smiles of relief, smiles of gratitude, smiles of accomplishment. Little did the driver know that he would be in for amazement when he volunteered to share a few priceless suggestions with Swati.

“Firstly, I am so sorry, Sir. You have been such a kind person – you went out of your way to help me. I am so grateful. It is only my second day in the city. Yesterday, the address seemed to work and hence, I just trusted all is well with what I entered. I did not think about possible variations." Swati expressed genuine disappointment at her own silly mistake.

“Oh. Not at all. It is not only my duty but an absolute pleasure to make you feel home. In fact, I am someone who is super excited about experimenting with a diverse range of permutations and combinations of routes even when it is not necessarily a need. Just for the love of my job. I have lived for the most part of my life the other side of the country; I moved in here with my family only recently. So, even I am picking things up steadily. Otherwise, I would have made it all the more easy and stress-free for you. You take care.”

The driver felt guilty for having blamed her albeit in quiet. Now, he was convinced that it was so natural to go wrong if one had just arrived in a new country altogether. Swati, on the contrary, cursed herself silently for merely standing under the shade with a frown on the face and not accompanying the proactive driver who was so keen to extend support.

Both exchanged notes of a warm goodbye.

The driver left a profound impression on Swati with his last takeaway sentence – “In my two decades of driving, one lesson that I have learnt and which tops everything else is that one learns more in the lost pathways.”

It is that simple. Communication is so crucial in all walks of life. A small bit of information that Swati missed to share with the driver caused friction. May not be something very serious. Even if the information that Swati and the driver were new to the place was exchanged between them, the problem could not have been solved effortlessly. But, the overall feeling and atmosphere become less hostile if communication is clear and transparent. It results in lesser arguments, an absence of judgment and cultivates empathy and compassion instead.