Jan 9, 2012

The Auto drivers in Mumbai. Something is wrong.

What is with the auto-wallah's in Mumbai? If I have to pay them 33 rupees as per the meter, the auto driver smiles and tells me 30 is alright! I am seriously worried, especially because, yesterday when I asked an auto driver for the route to a mall, he said he would drop me half way as he is heading in the same direction. The most painful part is that he didn't want money for it! When the point where he said he would drop me was reached, he refused to take me money because he was only dropping me at a place he chose and failed in his duty to drop me at a place I wanted to go to. No, you don't understand. It went to the extent of me trying to push money into his pocket and he was laughing and pushed my hand away!

The other day, when I had to pay 28 rupees as per the meter and neither the auto driver nor me had the exact change and I had paid 30 rupees, the auto driver refused to acknowledge to my pleas of 'let it be and keep 30' and got change after getting it from fruit vendor at the other end of the road!

I tell you what, something is seriously wrong with the world I live in these days. 

11 comments:

What About Me? said...

Can you ask some of those auto drivers to take transfer to Bengaluru? But It could lead to 2 possibilities, either the Auto drivers of Bengaluru would start acting more concerned towards the customers or the Transfered Auto Drivers will learnt he Begalurian Auto Driver's way (this is more likely to happen).

Sleepyface said...

The auto-drivers in Bangalore are beyond repair. I agree with the likely scenario that you have built.

Aparna said...

Wow . that's a pleasant surprise from Mumbai auto-drivers ... Are they taking MunnaBhai seriously?

Guru said...

The world is coming to end.... in dec 2012 and the changes are seen :) :) :)....

krispa said...

Good to hear there are atleast few people in this world who are sincere. Hats off to them.
I feel the title of the blog should be
"The Auto drivers in Mumbai. Need to learn from them."
:)

Sleepyface said...

@Aps: They don't seem to be affected by Munna Bhai, if you look at it. They were like that long before Sanjay Dutt came, it looks like. They are hard-core-genuine. Ofcourse, not all of them. But a good part.

@Guru: Heh. Totally.

@Krispa: Thanks for pointing the positive side of the headline.

Nandini Setty said...

Dont tell them about Bangalore auto drivers..

Preethi Simha said...

WOW!!
Such people do exist and its very heart warming!
May their tribe increase multifold!

Eternal Rebel said...

I wish the Chennai Auto rogues could see them and learn a lesson or two

Anuradha Shankar said...

There used to be many more like them around. Unfortunately, their number seems to have decreased these days.... and i seem to only meet those chaps who refuse to go where i want them to go, or those who refuse to change to electronic meters and insist on over charging me.. there was a time when i used to return from college and walk home from the bus stand, and an auto driver used to give me a free ride every time he saw me because he said he was anyway going home.. and that since i was studying i shouldnt have to walk home in the sun!

Sleepyface said...

@Eternal Rebel: Lets not even begin talking about the folks in Chennai or even Bangalore!

@Anuradha: Its heart warming to read your experience. God Bless the few remaining ones.