autorickshaw almighty!!!!

i have been thinking for quite a while about what to write in this blog..been running out of ideas and also been too lazy toconvert those inspirations i get to blogs..well..i should say..the domination of my sis in front of the computer do help my bloggers block!!!.

but today i just couldnt help but blog...saw an interesting piece in todays newspaper about auto rickshaw drivers...ohh..wow!!..i could identify with it like anything...especially since i started college i depend on rickshaws..my mom hav stopped dropping me and picking me up..i m on my own..

i study at medical colg,tvm...and i stay at pattoor...the distance from my college to the main gate is about 1 km..so if i get into an auto from inside and goes home,the meter charges around 25-30rs...and if i hail the auto from the main gate,its 18-20rs by the meter...but the story aint that cheerful everyday...

shift to evening around 3...me tired after a hectic day at college...sick of all the diseases and frustrated with the lecture classes..my mind has just one mantra.."home..home..home"...dreaming about the comforts of eating something..hitting the sack...ahh...and those days..when i feel extravagant and find around some 5 autos parked in front of the college...i go and ask.."pattoor pokuvo"..and the rickshwala gives me a look...as though i sinned terribly...and without a word he just drives away...and i walk a little more distance..reach in front of rcc...where hoardes of autos are parked...and here also..the story is similar...the autos are just parked..they aint gonna move...and some guys even have the guts to say.."pattoor??...it will be 75rs"..."huh!!!...did i hear you wrong??"..."minimun 60 rs will be charged"...and i walk away dejected...

still keep on walking..past sct..the grounds..nmj...sat...several autos drift by teasing me to call them...and finally reach the main gate..where a million autos are parked...but even they wont go to pattoor...and sometimes..if i am lucky..i get some kind hearted soul who will gladly take me to my home charging me by the meter...

and now..i am tired of playing games with the rickshaw ppl...one day...i got into a rickshaw and told him.."pattoor"..NO...kowdiar??..NOO...nanthencode????....nooo....kumarapuram????...no way!!...main gate???..."20 rs"...and i said..thank you and came out...some rickshaw drivers are irritating when they are kind enough to get you home..."r u studying here??"..yess...doc or dentist?...doc!!..."ohh!!mbbs is not good enough...u need to get a post graduation and a super speciality"...and i justr smile stopping myself from venting my frustrations on him lest he should change his mind about getting me to my destination...and he goes on.."i wouldnt go to a doc if he doesnt have a minimum of 3 degrees"...hmmm...."do u do operations?"..."no..we dont..we just study when docs with three and more degrees do them"..."do u know to prescribe medicines??"..."not totally ignorant...but we dont do it now...".."have you ever saved a persons life??".."duhh...not exactly.."...."then y r u a doctor???"....thank god...that time when he posed me the same question which i hav been asking myself for a couple of years..it was home!!!...the meter showed 18.50rs....i gave him 20 rs....and he goes like..."hey...i need to get back..u should give me atleast 35.."..it was my turn to give him a scathing look and scamper off home....

but not all are like them..there are some very kind hearted people who give you the ride for the meter charge and get you home safe...but they are a very endangered population..almost becoming extinct...had it not been for my very notorious driving skills...i could have avoided them and got a scooter...but these people...have done something good for me...now i walk a minimum of 2 kms everyday...i save 75% of the auto cash given by amma by boarding a bus...only in very sticky unavoidable situations..i call upon the rickshaw almighty!!!...

lemme wrap up this post by narrating a very funny experience i had just a couple of days back..6 of us got into an auto from college and went to KIMS...to visit a classmates father...the meter displayed "21rs"..the rickshawala demanded "45"...one of us...said.."by law...only meter cash should be charged"...and that very funny guy replied.."by law..only 3 should be allowed in an auto..u were 6..so i charge double..."...i rest my case!!!!