Life lesson delivered ... in 7 minutes!

This story starts with a rickshaw ride. I was on my way back home from the office, head buried in my phone.

I was ordering some last-minute groceries from my phone, trying to time it in such a way that the order would reach home by the time I would.

My focused shopping spree was rudely interrupted when the rickshaw fellow abruptly braked.

I steadied myself using the front rail of the rickshaw and turned questioningly up from my phone.?

The rickshaw driver had been forced to slam the brakes because a bikewala guy had cut in front of the rickshaw. Fully expecting my rickshaw driver to launch at least a verbal assault on the biker, I automatically started calming myself down and bracing for a street brawl.

To my utter surprise, not only did my rickshaw chaalak remain silent and composed, he calmly signaled the biker to continue and even gave placating looks to the irritated car driver on our right whose path the biker had also crossed and blocked. I silently sent a “thank you” to the universe, glad that the situation did not escalate. Settling back into my seat, I mumbled, "Kaise chalate hai ye bikewale!" to show the rickshaw driver that he had my sympathy.

To this, he half turned toward me and said, ever so politely, "Madam, vo jaldi mein kuch delivery dene ja raha tha. Phone pe location check karte karte chala raha tha isliye dhyan nahi raha uska."

I was stunned into silence. I looked down into my phone screen, at the ongoing transaction for a "quick delivery" order I was placing.

Feeling adequately humbled, I sat there, quietly thinking about the convenience-giving ecosystem we have successfully built for ourselves without understanding its consequences and side effects.

I was so quick to blame the rowdy delivery guy.

I must have done this many more times before without even realizing it!

This incident made me question my reaction.

Who am I to comment on how they zoom past at breakneck speeds and impossible angles just to save a few seconds?

Because… who are they saving these seconds for? Me. Us. The ones who bank on them to deliver the chips we forgot to buy before our guests arrive.

I was properly schooled that day, to say the least.

Do I have a solution for this? Nope.

For now, I can just sit back and think of the irony of this situation and promise myself to be a little more empathetic toward people. Because who knows? I may have fueled the very bike that interrupted my rickshaw ride.

P.S. A heartfelt thank you and an equally sincere sorry to all delivery dudes and dudettes who have helped in the nick of time so many times!