This incident happened about 30 years ago.
I had bought a flat in Konkan Bhavan node of the then New Bombay, a satellite township being develped by CIDCO of Maharashtra. I moved into the new flat and ordered for furniture. It was a sunday afternoon. I checked with the furniture fabricator located in Chembur and after having taken lunch was waiting for CIDCO bus to take me to New Bombay.
In those days we had to wait for prolnged times to get transport. Suddenly a taxi stopped and a head popped out of window. It was that of a Punjabi Sardar.
"Konkan Bhavan chalna hai sahib?" he enquired. "Probably going home", I thought.
"Chalna to Hai. Bhada kitana dena hai?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Panch rupia dena Sahib. Vaise to Ghar jaraha hun. Isliye kam loonga." He answered.
"Nahi baba, Mujhe kuchch kaam bhi nahi. Bus ka intajaar karunga. Vaise to CIDCO me sirf 75 paise leagte hai" I told him.
Theek hai Sahib. Sirf 2 rupia dijiye" he smiled and opened the door invitingly.
I was happy and immediately got into the Taxi.
On the way we got into conversation mode. It turned out that he also bought a flat from CIDCO and after a day's work he is returning home.
"CIDCO bada hi saitani kiya Sahib. Bahut sare cheeje promise ki lekin kuchh nahi diaya? pani nahi, light nahi dhang se road nahi" he went on complaining.
I agreed with him and added in good measure what I think of CIDCO.
So this CIDCO bashing continued until we reached Konkanbhavan.
'Kaunsa sector me rahate hai Sahib?" the Sardar enquired. "Sector 1" I replied.
"I will pay him Rs.5 now that he is taking me almost to my doorstep" I decided.
We reached our home. I began taking out my wallet.
"Rahane dijiye Sahib. aapka achcha company mila. Paise ki jarorat nahi" he smiled and went away.
I was stunned and ashemed. Here is a man who offered almost a free ride in his taxi for a pittance and I bargained shemelessly.
At the end he did not accept even that pittance!
But immedaitely that fleeting shame passed away.
I was once again feeling eleated that I had a free ride and saved on bus fare!
I had bought a flat in Konkan Bhavan node of the then New Bombay, a satellite township being develped by CIDCO of Maharashtra. I moved into the new flat and ordered for furniture. It was a sunday afternoon. I checked with the furniture fabricator located in Chembur and after having taken lunch was waiting for CIDCO bus to take me to New Bombay.
In those days we had to wait for prolnged times to get transport. Suddenly a taxi stopped and a head popped out of window. It was that of a Punjabi Sardar.
"Konkan Bhavan chalna hai sahib?" he enquired. "Probably going home", I thought.
"Chalna to Hai. Bhada kitana dena hai?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Panch rupia dena Sahib. Vaise to Ghar jaraha hun. Isliye kam loonga." He answered.
"Nahi baba, Mujhe kuchch kaam bhi nahi. Bus ka intajaar karunga. Vaise to CIDCO me sirf 75 paise leagte hai" I told him.
Theek hai Sahib. Sirf 2 rupia dijiye" he smiled and opened the door invitingly.
I was happy and immediately got into the Taxi.
On the way we got into conversation mode. It turned out that he also bought a flat from CIDCO and after a day's work he is returning home.
"CIDCO bada hi saitani kiya Sahib. Bahut sare cheeje promise ki lekin kuchh nahi diaya? pani nahi, light nahi dhang se road nahi" he went on complaining.
I agreed with him and added in good measure what I think of CIDCO.
So this CIDCO bashing continued until we reached Konkanbhavan.
'Kaunsa sector me rahate hai Sahib?" the Sardar enquired. "Sector 1" I replied.
"I will pay him Rs.5 now that he is taking me almost to my doorstep" I decided.
We reached our home. I began taking out my wallet.
"Rahane dijiye Sahib. aapka achcha company mila. Paise ki jarorat nahi" he smiled and went away.
I was stunned and ashemed. Here is a man who offered almost a free ride in his taxi for a pittance and I bargained shemelessly.
At the end he did not accept even that pittance!
But immedaitely that fleeting shame passed away.
I was once again feeling eleated that I had a free ride and saved on bus fare!
2 comments:
One should understand that in an ordinary human, the greediness is directly proportional to the riches he has.
If I give Rs 100 to a man, he can donate Rs 1 to a poor man with out any hesitation.
If I give the same person Rs 1000000
I am sure he will not REPEAT will not donateRs 1000 to a poor man though Rs 1000 is one hundredth of a Lakh.
That is human tendency.
This is great info to know.
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