"Ola is only for the IT people. The rich people with big phones. The ordinary people who look for autos come out on the street and take their auto. And like you now, there are urgent need for which people take autos. Our business will continue, irrespective of Olas.
Ola attaracts people initially with low rates. We cannot match that discount. But already people have seen the reality. They make many times 'prime times' and charge double.
People who have come back to me say that they would rather give me 20/- extra face to face. That pay some faceless Ola.
Still times are hard. Rains like this, and 2-3 days we have no earnings. A strike and again our earnings are gone. Even generally given the expenses, living is hard."
And he dropped me carefully across the puddle at the gate of the home I was head to. He could not give me change as he had had no rides. When I counted Took the money I gave, and without counting it, tucked it into his pocket. Trust.
...
Yesterday I needed to take an auto, and stepped out in the downpour. An auto stopped, and I got in. He had a canvas sheet tied on the side.
The driver, a young man, started talking, "It is not only for the rain. It is also to protect from the cars which dash by, throwing muddy water on everyone and everything. Those in cars have no respect for others. If they had even had to walk in the rain past overflowing muddy puddles ... they would understand.
I feel worst when they plash water on and drench school going children. Those children continue walking to school, thoughly wet."
I was telling my daughter about our chat. She said, "Amma, even those car owners who walk. When they are in a car they do the same thing. A car splashes. And they cannot slow down as cars behind will honk."
Its the human insensitivity which growing alienation from ordinary people brings. It is also the choice of technology which is alienating and overpowering in its own right.
We all make our choices. On both fronts.
...
Auto Driver, "See the traffic. And the pollution.
Some homes used to have a car. Now homes have 2,3 cars. No end to cars. Or desire. And roads stay jammed."
He said this with no rancour, just as a matter of fact.
I winced. He had earlier told me that his auto was hired, daily rent 200/-. And how he aspired to buy an auto of his own one day.
If people used buses, and when in emergency autos, they would have a cleaner earth. And the auto driver s would have more business.
But then everyone knows everything ... There is no dearth of information ...
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