Daily Ride to Ponder
Amidst busy traffic, there I saw him after much struggle
For a short ride, how much I’d to juggle
After asking many people, I was lucky to be called for a ride
I sat with him with full pride
‘Coz, among a dozen
Yay, I was chosen
He rode me away from those staring eyes
Interspersed with heaving sighs.
There he goes with full speed
I started to count all my good deeds
Midway…just about to arrive at my destination
He started hinting on the roads and no road diversion
I was transfixed with this and wondered what I got to do?
Anticipated his next cue
With a jerky expression, he looked to the left and then to the right
I waited to hear his earnest plight.
Easement arrived at my place
I paid the fare, still skeptical look on his face
Oh! Understood, those antics were a prelude to this greed
Madam, extra 20 bucks is what I need
No U-turn, no passengers on this road -I swear
Without giving him a sermon, I told him to be happy with this fare
With such auto rickshaw guys, I dread to step out
No end to this ordeal, they’ve no fear of rules they flout.
This poem is written to show empathy to all those auto-rickshaw commuters (in Bangalore) who have to deal with ‘haughty’ auto fellows every day. I am also one of the victims of auto-rickshaw drivers’ tantrums on a regular basis.
