Vyshnoo

The Rickshawala

​I lived in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, where we hardly had potable water and lived a mediocre life. I worked hard each day, to get a scholarship in Lucknow. When I finally finished my course, I was setting off for an internship in Bangalore. It was 9 in the morning and I packed my bag to go to Bangalore. My mother fed me curd with sugar and sent me with tears in her eyes. This was the first time in 25 years that I went to another state.

I stayed in a hostel which my uncle recommended to my father. As a matter of fact, I stayed there because I had no choice. My uncle was a stupid man, he didn’t consider my work place and concentrated more on getting me a place to stay. It took me two hours to reach by bus each day. I stayed along with five bachelors who were ITians, who didn’t really bother me much.

The office I joined was a News channel named X News channel. My office was an 8 storey building with a beautiful infrastructure and interiors like I imagined abroad. My boss was a humble man and gave moral lectures after work with his own interest in the field of art and culture. I loved staying for his lectures and learnt a lot of things in life. The kind of exposure I recieved was incredible.

A month later, it was the recruitment day. A day which was going to determine my stay as an employee or parting as an intern. I believed in getting the job as many employees were sacked that month. I knew that serving tea to the employees, taking my boss’s dog on a walk, driving employees to parties and cleaning up all the muck in the office while writing and learning from the team was not going to go in vain.

I got ready by 6am and set off to the office in an auto rickshaw rather than the routine bus, to make an impression. The first auto asked me for 500 rupees, the second said that it was too far, the third denied and so on. I didn’t leave my hope as yet and went on to look for an auto with determination. Finally, my search got me into a really classy auto, with a very clean interior.

The autodriver seemed like an educated man and I went on to ask him his name. He replied “Gopal”. I told him that I liked his classy auto and gave him some suggestions. He asked me, ” Where are you going, so far away?” I said, “You know English and I am going to get a job in the X News channel”. The auto driver replied saying yes and I was shocked. I asked him where he had studied upto and I was surprised by his reply when he said “MBA”. I asked him why was he riding an auto rickshaw.

He said “Why can’t I ride a rickshaw?”

It was such an enthralling question.

As the rickshaw moved with the doog doog sound, my mind travelled to the room in office where the selections were going to take place. First we passed through a busy street where there were stalls lined up on the road. I saw some poor vendors and felt sympathetic towards them. They were selling old spare parts that no one seemed to buy.

After some silence between us, I said “off course you can ride a rickshaw, I was stereotyping. I am sorry.”

He said, “My father rides the rickshaw everyday and likes to live independently. Today, he was sick and I wanted him to rest, so I’ve substituted by riding the rickshaw.”

He went on to tell me how much he respects the rickshaw as his dad earned money through it and made him study so far.

I was so happy to know that a rickshaw driver is so wise.

As we went past the high class street, where there were all the brands lined up on either side, the rickshawala said “Why are you so tensed about going to X News channel? The people there are one of the nicest people I have met. Mr. Sundarlal (CEO) is a good friend of mine.”

I smiled as he looked at me, through the mirror. I was still tensed about what was going to happen later today.

We then, passed by the IT sector, that had tall buildings with glass windows all over.

The rickshawala said, “Where are you from?” I replied, UP and he giggled me up by imitating Laluji. “Ka baat hai babua, tenson mat lo” he said.

I kept laughing as he went on imitating and made me feel so good. I told him that I was tensed about getting the job.

As we we got stuck in the usual Bangalore traffic, I saw an old woman who wasn’t able to cross the road. I told the rickshawala that I’ll help her and come in a minute. I held her hand and made her cross the road and she blessed me. I came back and sat in the auto, the traffic hadn’t moved on our track yet. The rickshawala said, “Now, don’t worry, the old woman’s blessing will help you”.

I smiled.

He asked me about what do I like in the office. I told him that I’m learning something each day and it is making me progress in life. I also told him about my best friend. I told him that my best friend worked so hard and has been working there past 8 years now. The rickshawala asked me, what does he do, to which I replied he is a security guard and protects all of us.

Finally we reached after so long. I greeted the rickshawala and took his number to be in touch sometime and his email Id to mail him rickshaw improvement designs that were on my mind.

I stood in the lift and finally reached the 8th floor. After a long wait in the selection room, the manager told me that I am selected to be a permanent employee!

I started rejoicing and called my parents to announce the good news. They were so happy to know. I told my colleagues and they were happy for me as well.

I went to buy some sweets from a shop nearby, when Mohan (security guard) stopped me and told me that, just before I had gotten into the lift, the CEO was coming too and he was repeating my name and said that Raj is such a nice man and he will definitely be hired.

I knew that the rickshawala could be the only one who could have recommended my name. I took out my phone from the pocket and searched for “Gopal” and dialled the number. I thanked him and asked him for the reason of his recommendation. He said, “A person’s behavior speaks a lot about him”.