The city bus dropped me at the Hulimavu gate today at around 6AM. I spotted an auto at the gate. The driver was drinking tea. I asked him to drop me at ‘Akshayanagar’. As usual, it was a clear NO. Considering the fact that it was early in the morning, I agreed to pay him double the fare. He was happy. He finished his tea, lit a cigarette and sat on his driver seat. I told him that I would not like cigarette smell. I waited till he could finish his smoke.
When he dropped me at my house, the meter read Rs.25.5 (4.3KM). Actual distance to my house is exactly 3.25 from the gate. I told him that the meter reading is wrong and would not pay him more than Rs.22. Since I had agreed upon paying him twice the meter reading, I paid him Rs.44. The driver picked up a fight. Initially I was calm trying to explain him the things. But later on I had to raise my voice and that turned the faces of my neighbors.
I was feeling awful because we were fighting over Rs.6. But I was furious that he was cheating every passenger by clocking the distance falsely (30% extra money was involved). The fight went on and driver left with Rs.44. The fight upset my parents. My father later scolded me and said that I must have paid the driver off. Even I felt so in the end. I give away money out of sympathy. But when someone tries to rob me through cheating, I lose my tolerance.
Beg, if you want, but don’t cheat.
