That Taxi Driver

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!

My friend's daughter

Aishwrya is my friend's daughter. They were away in Europe for a couple of years. She was such a sweet girl (even now she is !!).
Aishwrya was then only 5 years when her grandfather fell ill. Along with her mother she flew to Bangalore. Her father could not accompany them. Unfortunately granpa passed away. There was lot of crying in the house and little aishwrya did not understand a bit. "what happened to Tata?" and "why is every one crying?". Her little mind was full of questions. She asked her amma. Mother replied that Tata has gone back to Sri Krishna and will not return.
Her father rushed to Bangalore on hearing the sad news. He felt miserable and was cursing himself for not having flown earlier to be with his father. "now he has gone away not to return for ever!" He broke down. Aishwrya was looking at him with expresive eyes. After a couple of days she told her father not to feel so sad.

"you remember, appa, when we were borrowing those books from library?, after reading them, we were expected to return them to library". Her father replied "yes Aish kutti."

"You see appa, that library is the real custodian. We are expected to borrow the books for only a limited time period and at the end of that time, we have to return them"
"Yes my dear" her father nodded.

"Lord Krihna is the real custodian of grandpa. Tata was with us for some time. Now He wanted the grandpa back. And Tata went back to Him. So no need to feel sad".

Her father was astounded. Aishwrya defined death in such simple terms.

Myself

Hello everybody,
A very good morning to all of you. Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you to bring you variety through this space.
First of all about myself:
I am Karanam Ramakumar. You may call me "Ramu" or "Ramanna" or simply "Ram"!
I live in Govandi, a suburb of Mumbai (nee Bombay).
Rest next time