The way back home

Location : Mumbai
Scene : Me looking for a mode of transport to go back to the hotel from clients place.
What next : Wow !! There comes the chota Fiat Padmini. Black colour with yellow shade on top.The driver invites me inside with a wide smile, switches on the meter and there I go around the commercial capital of India !!!


Location : Chennai
Scene 1 : Me looking for a mode of transport to go back home from a far away client place.
What next : There comes the MRTS train. I get a comfortable seat near the window. In 15 minutes time, I get down at Mylapore station ,walk for 5 minutes and its home, sweet home.

Scene 2 : Gave my bike for servicing in the morning. Have to go to the service centre to pick up my bike.
What next : I stand in the lane beneath my office and think of an auto. There comes a queue of autos. The auto wala quotes a sky high fare. I cut it down straight 30 %. There are 5-6 rounds of negotiations before fixing on the final fare. The auto travels through the narrowest of the lanes, between buses, jumps all signal and what not. Wright brothers would repent for having invented an airplane and not an auto!!! I reach the service centre in no time. Thanks Auto Sir !!!

Location- ?????
Scene : Me looking for a mode of transport to go back home from office. The place is around 30 mins walk from home . ( I am too tired to walk all the way).

What next: First, I wait in the road for 30 – 45 mins hoping for a taxi. Lots of taxis pass by . Most of them are occupied. Few are not. And those few refuse to stop too ( Please don’t ask me why as I myself fail to understand it). I have heard “ Patience is virtue”. Now it’s the time to experience it. There comes a big red bus. I get into it not knowing where I am heading to. I travel for the next half an hour. I reach some unknown place . I see the area quite congested. So hoping to get a taxi there, I get down. The wait doesn’t seem to get over. I wait again for 30 mins . Lots of taxi’s go as usual without stopping. I wish I had wings to fly back home. Finally, I get one taxi. I barge into the car and tell him – “ Near Standard Chartered Bank” . He gives me a stare and shouts “ Traffic jyadha hoga abhi” ( There will be heavy traffic at this time). The car turns into a snail . I take a nap. Finally I reach my home after 25-30 mins time.. Oooffff !!!!

Everyday morning my prayer begins like this – “ Oh my lord, send me a taxi”.

And just if you are wondering where this ????? is,

WELCOME TO DUBAI !!!