The auto driver and the road shortcuts

A few months back, I had taken an auto to go to office in the morning. At that time, I did not drive my two wheeler regularly to office.

The auto driver drove through some of the usual roads that I used to take. In the end, he took a different road to reach my office. When asked he told me that this was a shortcut. I ended up telling him that I drive to office occasionally. He continued to explain to me the route and advised me to take that road since it had less traffic and was better maintained.

Finally, before dropping me he asked me if I had memorized the route. I thanked him for his advise and was glad I took the auto that day. 

After a month, I started driving everyday to office and diligently followed the route that the auto driver had taught me. It helped me in saving time and in avoiding traffic. Bless that man.

Fast forward to this week -
It had rained a little heavily in Chennai this Monday and I had to ditch my bike. After failing to get a cab, I finally booked an auto in the morning. How frustrating it is to wait for a few minutes for your booking to be confirmed and then getting a message saying "No cabs available at the moment". I don't like it when I get that message 👿 

Anyways, back to the point. The auto finally arrived and as soon as I got in, the driver asked me if I know a route that has less traffic and can get us faster to the destination. I told him I do know one.

I usually refrain from giving directions unless asked since some cab drivers tell me that they want to take the route that the app advises.

We finally got started and I patiently gave him the directions. I quickly surmised that he did not know the route since he kept asking if he has to take a left or a right turn at every corner. When we reached a junction, he asked me what road should he take.

Me: The one in the left is in a bad condition. The only advantage is you will have a traffic signal to cross the main road. 

Whereas the straight road is maintained well. The only problem is at that connecting junction, there is no signal. You have to cross to the right looking out for vehicles coming from behind. I leave it to you on which road to take.

Driver: It is ok, I will take the straight road. The other road is bad.

Me: Ok. you are right

When we were just a few kms away from office,

Driver: Actually I know two more shortcuts to your office.

Me (getting interested): Really. Can you please tell me the shortcuts?

Driver (dodging the question): The amt is ###. Do you really want me to go inside the campus.

Me: Yes. That is what I have given as the destination. Although they will not allow autos to go to my block. You need to take a "U" turn as soon as you bypass the security.

Driver: I know that. I have been to DLF.

Me: Then you should know that they allow autos to go just upto the Auto dropping point. By the way, can you pls tell me the shortcuts. I know this one because of another auto driver. He was the one who helped me understand this route. 

Driver (again dodges my question)

My mind voice: Leave him, R. Either he does not know any of them and was chumma saying it to you or he is selfish. 

I finally got down at my drop point, paid him the amount and thanked him for the service.

I am still not able to get past that conversation - did he really know two more shortcuts or was he selfish?

What happened after that - well, Iam trying to take a little detour whenever possible and discover another shortcut on my own.

Getting a driver's license

While travelling yesterday, I watched a girl driving a two wheeler, practicing for her driving test. She was trying to drive in a virtual track shaped as "8".

Memories of my two wheeler driving exam came back to me. I still remember that day.

I had already got my four wheeler driving license a couple of years back. I had wanted to get a common driver license that allowed me to drive both four wheeler and two wheeler. I had learnt to drive a two wheeler when I was young. I took my dad's TVS Scooty Pep and practiced for two days in the small roads near my neighborhood on my own.

We wanted to avoid all hassles and had registered through a driving school. I did not take any classes since I already knew how to drive. On the day of the test, we were asked to meet the owner at his office. My dad drove me to the office. There was another girl who had reached there in her two wheeler. We were given some forms to fill and then the instructor asked us to go to the place where the exam was conducted. My dad drove our bike and the other girl (G) drove on her own with the "L" sign hanging from her bike. She had apparently taken classes with the instructor.

When we reached the exam site, the instructor was very confident that she would clear the exams. On the other hand, he was sure I would have trouble in clearing them.

We had some time to kill until the exams started and I started practicing again trying to drive in a virtual track shaped as "8". I practiced for almost 20- 25 minutes trying to do everything right.

The examiner finally arrived and all of us were asked to drive when our turn came in. I was able to drive expertly, without making any mistakes. On the other hand, the other girl who had come in with me, made many mistakes and was not able to complete the test.

The instructor was surprised and looked at me with more respect. I was asked to go to the office, get my photo and collect my license. The instructor had to spend a lot of time and money (let us not get into that) to get the license for that girl.

An example of people being judgmental without knowing anything about the other person.

Online shopping and packaging waste

A month back, I had ordered two chocolate bars at an online site. It was delivered to me in the usual cardboard box. Inside the cardboard box, the chocolate bars were wrapped in a shiny sheet of paper, bundled in a bubble wrap along with two gel packs.

Packaging material that were used

Gel packs

Bubble wrap and the sheet of paper

Cardboard box

I was pleased with the packing and delivery. They were in good condition and the delivery was on time. But what got me thinking was the amount of paper and plastic used in packaging these two chocolates. If I had bought this directly from a store, I would just asked the shopkeeper to hand it to me without putting it in a bag.

I forgot about this until last week when I went to pick up the mobile cover I had ordered online. The cover was wrapped in a long bubble wrap.

I realized that as people buy more items online, the amount of package waste that is generated is going to grow at an alarming rate.

Is there a solution to this. Is anyone even thinking about this. What are the business firms and governments doing to stop this.

Do we stop buying stuff online?