SAFE JOURNEY

Kashaf books an Ola. She checks the location of her ride in the app. It shows 20 minutes waiting time. She is getting late for the airport. She wonders if she should cancel this one and book another one when her mobile rings.

It is the Ola driver. “Madam I’m on my way. Please don’t cancel.” The voice on the other end desperately pleads.

Kashaf’s finger hovers over the cancel button for a moment and then recedes.

Ola finally arrives. The moment Kashaf enters the backseat the driver profusely apologises and expresses his gratefulness for waiting. She gives him the OTP and they drive on.

There is something amiss in the driver’s behaviour. He seems edgy. Kashaf is thrown forward by a sudden break and kilters sideways as the taxi jumps ahead. “Please drive carefully. I’d like to reach my destination in one piece,” she cautions half-jokingly.

She hears the driver snivelling. “Why are you crying?” She asks alarmingly.

“My father died in the morning”, he answers and breaks down.

Kashaf can see the driver’s hands shaking as he struggles to keep himself together. He is letting go of the steering wheel way too much to wipe his tears.

“I’m sorry to hear that”, Kashaf mutedly conveys.

“Madam I requested you not to cancel because airport is on the way to Powai where I have to drop this taxi to my Seth, “ he snorts. “The passenger before you forced me inside a slum even though there was hardly enough space for a car to go. And on his way out he stole my wallet. There were three thousand rupees in it. I had kept two thousand to pay to my Seth as the daily charge of this taxi and the remaining one thousand would have taken care of my travel expenses to Bihar for the last rites of my father,” he adds. His voice crackles and tears roll down. “I won’t be able to go now”, he bemoans.

“I called my Seth to share my problem, but he abused me and said that I’m just making up stories. He doesn’t care whoever dies in my family, he just wants his money,” he further adds.

The car sways dangerously. “Please keep your eyes on the road”, Kashaf pleads.

“Madam don’t worry. I will get you to your destination”, the driver assures her.

“Why don’t you call that passenger?” Kashaf asks.

“I did. He is not answering his phone,” the driver replies.

“So go back there and look for him,” Kashaf advises.

“It is not a good area. He looked like a rowdy to me. Maybe he is from the underworld. What if he damages the car? How will I cover that expense?” He responds.

“What will you do now?” Kashaf asks.

The driver’s voice crackles again. “I don’t know. Where shall I get three thousand rupees from now? It is a lot of money,” he says. “I’m not sad because of my problem. I’m hurt by the way my Seth treated me. I have been driving his taxi for the last three years and when I needed him at this difficult moment, he abused me. He called me a liar,” he rues. “I will somehow get two thousand rupees from somewhere and throw the money on his face,” he says.

“And what about going to Bihar,” Kashaf asks.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to go. My father gave birth to me and raised me. But I won’t be able to fulfil my duties as a son. I am a devout Hindu. And you know how important occasions of birth and death are for a Hindu. I am one of those unfortunate sons who wouldn’t be able to give his father a safe passage to heaven. I don’t deserve to live. I’ll commit suicide”, he laments.

“Don’t speak like that,” Kashaf interjects. “Can I help you with some money?” She asks.

“No madam. I did not share this with you to seek your help. You have been kind enough to listen to my problem patiently. That’s enough for me,” he says. He sounds self-respecting so Kashaf refrains from pushing any further.

Airport arrives. “I told you I’ll drop you to your destination safe and sound,” he remarks. “Yes thank you,” Kashaf replies.

The app auto-deducts the payment. "Thank you madam", he says. His name reflects on her mobile screen. It is Rameshwar.

“Please take care of yourself and don’t do anything stupid,” she pleads out of sincere concern. His eyes well up again and with a hoarse voice he says, “I’ll try madam. Thank you.” He drives away.

Kashaf gazes after the taxi till it disappears and then makes her way into the airport with a heavy heart.

As she waits to be called for the boarding, what becomes of Rameshwar refuses to leave her mind. Her mobile rings. It’s him. She jumps to answer it. “Madam that passenger did not cheat me. He mistook my wallet as his and walked away with it. He called me. I’m on my way to get it back from him. Thereafter, I’ll drop my taxi, pay my scoundrel Seth his two thousand rupees, and head to the railway station. At least now I can assist my father on his last journey,” he shares and disconnects the call.

Kashaf wishes Rameshwar a safe journey.