This one is for all those people who have had the experience of traveling by an auto rickshaw. For those who haven't, you have really missed practicing one of those things that Indians are best at-bargaining. For those who have, it might be some entertainment reading my experience with auto rickshaw drivers in 4 different cities - cities of some significance. Starting with our capital, Delhi, this is the place where the rickshaw drivers have the most gumption of all. After all it does take lots of guts to go around with an auto that has no meter in it. So, the first thing that you ask an auto rickshaw driver after telling him your destination is the fare (provided he agreed to drive you there). If you are smug about having found a vehicle a meter, don't be too happy coz in most likelihood you will be told that it does not work. Wonder how no one bothers to check that meters are working when these autos get serviced. After haggling on the fare for a while, getting as rude as you can get, you finally get into the rickshaw, feeling like you have just won a battle and praying that the auto driver doesn't change his mind about the fare by the time you reach! Oh, by the way, I just heard that they started a new club of honest rickshaw drivers in Delhi. Will pray that it works. After all our capital deserves that much!!!
The day I moved from Delhi to Mumbai, I was in for a pleasant surprise. On my first day of travel by public transport, I asked an autowallah to take me to Santacruz. Out of habit, my next statement was "kitna loge" (how much). It came as a shock when he said "meter se" (by the meter). During my ride, I convinced myself that it was just a once in a while thing and congratulated myself on having found an honest driver on the first day itself. The same thing happened the next day and the next and the next, till I finally got used to the fact that finally here was a place where you could get into a rick (that's the Mumbai lingo) without haggling on the fare, without bothering whether the auto wallah would agree to drive you to your destination, and without having to speak rudely. Sounds like heaven...Nope that was Aamchi Mumbai...
From Mumbai, life took me to Pune, and here I was reminded of my Delhi days. Difference, these ricks had meters, which worked too...BUT (there's always one of these), no auto driver would agree to go by the meter. So back to haggling on the fare, albeit in a more civilised lingo. Oh! And if your destination happens to be one of the IT parks then be prepared to pay double fare, no haggling required, because there is no sense in doing so. Their usual reason for not going to any place is that they don't get a return fare...well, obviously, since they r too pricey to take the "sawari"'s!!!
When my parents moved to Bangalore, I came in contact with a totally different kind of auto-wallahs. Their uniqueness lies in their absolute lack of interest. Don't ever be surprised if you ask an auto driver to drive u to some destination and are met with a blank stare, and then you see the auto fellow driving off without even the courtesy to say yes or no. Well, that's the way it is. And off course, if you don't belong to Bangalore, then be ready to be fleeced!!Off course, All these places have their share of good points too. In Delhi, for instance, you will never get bored, coz the auto-fellow will keep up a conversation throughout the way, and you will get to hear all the latest buzz of the town. Mumbai, well, the very fact that they r going by the meter is more than enuf. Pune, you will never get lost, wherever your destination might be, once you are in the auto, you can trust the auto-wallah to take you there by the shortest route. And in Bangalore, trust the auto-fellow to take you safely through the worst kind of traffic and traffic-jams.
I am yet to travel to the eastern part of the country, but be sure I will update this blog once I do so...:)
Disclaimer: This blog is not meant to hurt the sentiments of people belonging to any of these cities. I belong to all of them, so I do not mean offense to anyone in particular...