A day as a Cabby.

Now, let me tell you something interesting. I had been planning on doing this for quite some time, yes, to drive for the whole day as a Cabby. And the day came with one of my friend's cousin who drives a cab allowed me to drive his. Well I had been pestering him for quite some time(more than 6 months). I don't know what the procedure was, if I could drive on his behalf, and would it be safe. But we just gave it a go. 

So in the month of April the day came just after my b'day. When my friend and his cousin came to my house and told me that his cousin is going out of town for some days and if I wanted I could drive his cab, but he would take my car. After giving it a thought we agreed. He told me how to operate the App. and asked me to always wear a facemask.

Well the next day I logged into his application and was just about to start the car @6am the phone rang. It was my first pickup. And that too near my place, Karol Bagh to the airport. I strapped on my seat belt and drove to the pickup location, there were two person dressed as some executive, with suit and tie. I hadn't seen someone carry a briefcase before, yes the old kind. So they confirmed that they had booked the cab and gave me the pin to start the ride.

The whole way they just takes about their business deal and other stuff, one was just silently listening to the other. The trip took us only 35 min to reach the airport. The total fare that I received was 680 rs.

As soon as I received the money the phone started to ring again. This time the pickup was from the arrival of the same airport. I told the passanger to wait for 10 min. As I would have to make a long U-turn to come there. They then cancelled the cab. 

No sooner they had cancelled the ride I got another buzz. 

From the same spot i got a ride to Laxmi nagar. This was an offline ride. The passanger insisted on taking them offline and offers me 800 rs. I asked them for 1200 but then after bargaining we settled @950. 

The passanger had a family of 3. He, His wife and a son.

The son was somewhat of a 6 years chatterbox. He asked alot of questions to his parents. "Papa, hum kitni der main pahunchenge", "Bua mere liye kya gift laayi hai", ..... I just sat there listening to the child and the parents just ignoring all his badgering. He then turned towards me and asked, " Uncle aap car kyun chalate ho? Aapko maza aata hai kya car chalane main." I told him that this is my job.

He then turned towards his mother and asked, "Mummy maine bhi car chalani hai." 

At this point I was just thinking how could a Cabby drive people and be calm all along the journey, as I have been quite irritated by this child now. He was pushing his legs behind my seat with full force and that irritated me alot. I asked the parents to ask the child not to do that but they rudely talked to me and asked me to just drive.

The journey ended and then they tried to pay me 800 rs. I asked them that we had a deal settled for 950. The wife said, "Bhaiya lena hai to lo nahi to jaao." 

Unwillingly i took the money and went away.

Now this was the time I realised how people misbehave with cab drivers, (i couldn't write what all they said)

For 2 hours my phone didn't rang at all. So I took the cab to one of my fav. places in C. P.. A person needs his fuel to run. I put the app on off-line and went to jain chawal wale. I had previously loved this place for the taste, have been here may times during my school and collage days. But this time I couldn't take the authenticity of this place. The taste was bland. I don't know was it the food, or lack of the presence of my beloved friends that always came here with me.

I still ate and sat in the cab. 

Put the phone on on-line. And waited for another ring.

But nothing till 3 pm. 

@3 the phone rang, at this point I was half asleep. But I accepted the booking. It was from C.P. to Rohini. And the amount was 590 something. I went to the pickup point and called the passanger. He didn't receive my call, I tried again, still no answer. I waited for a bit and then I thought of cancelling the booking, before I could cancel the booking i got a text from the passanger that he will be there within 5 min.

So I waited and waited it seemed as if I was waiting eternally for the passanger. He came after a gap of 15 min. I took his OTP and started to drive. This person was a nice person I must say, he greeted me nicely. And asked me if I had had my lunch. He was the first one to talk to me in such a nice way, and so I thought why not indulge in some friendly conversation.

I asked him where he was from, as his accent suggested he wasn't from Delhi. 

He told me he asked from Rajasthan.

Before I could ask him another question his phone rang and he started to talk to someone on the phone. 

I sat there eve's dropping to his conversation. 

He must be talking to his wife or girlfriend. 

You ask me how, the sound of kisses. 

I smiled and concentrated on my driving.

This was a very long call. So long that we reached our destination. 

This journey took approximately 2 hours or so and the bill amounted to 840 rs. This man now asked me that the initial fare amount was 590, and now it has gone upto 840. I told him it was due to the traffic that took us more time in the journey and to compensate the driver for his time.

Now it was already 5:30 and  I thought of going back home, for me it had been an exhausting day, Driving all around the city.

But no, another time the phone rang, and fortunately this ride would take me to near my house where I could then go back home.

I took the call and accepted the ride. The pickup was 1 km away, so I started to ride there. I never thought of getting my cng filled. I had always driven a petrol car and didn't know about where should I get the cng filled and the meter started to tell me it was going empty.

I told the passanger about it on phone that I would need to get the tank filled, but he rudely declined and said I should be there right on time.

So I took the car there and prayed that the tank doesn't go empty.

I picked up the passanger who was a 70ish guy.

I asked him if I should get my tank filled now. 

He told me to get the petrol as the cng would take alot of time to be filled and he was right. Where ever I saw the petrol pump i saw a long que of the cars outside to get cng and the petrol was idle.

I took his advice and got petrol for my car.

The ride was for 500rs. 

Nothing special about the ride. The passanger only slept during the whole journey.

We came to the destination Rajendra nagar metro station where I dropped him.

This time he paid me online. The payment went through and I switched to offline and went back home.

So driving a cab is not at all easy, it take a toll on your body. I had cramps in my back and the legs pained alot. 

Hats off to the drivers who drive for the whole day.

Calculating the amount I got 3000 approximately for the rides I took, 500 i spent on petrol, how much the app charges that I didn't know.

For me money wasn't important, what's important was the whole experience that I had.

Next time I go on any other adventure, I'll let you know.