Changing attitudes!

Last Friday, I mean the one that has just passed, I had one of the most interesting mornings.

I had planned to leave my bike at service center and come back to office by auto. So it went as planned - I left my bike at the service center and hopped into an auto. There was so much work to do at office and I had to be fast, rather, the auto had to be.

So I got into this auto and the driver was uncharacteristically careful and patient. When I would have loved the absence of both the attributes in him at that moment though. Halfway through and the auto stalled. Some problem with the petrol flow. I expected him to halt right in the middle of the road and be the cause of a traffic jam, which is what auto drivers usually do out here. But he got down, waited for the signal to turn red, then moved his vehicle to the edge of the road (with me sitting happily inside it, cause I was checking a message). Then he politely came to me and asked me if I could catch another auto or would like to wait for another 15 minutes. I chose the first choice. The meter displayed Rs 34.50. I gave him 35 bucks and started moving ahead, since I was dead sure he wasnt giving me that 50 paise back. To my surprise, he called me back, told me that I forgot to take the change and gave me 50 paise back!!! I was totally taken aback. I explained to him that I did not forget, but plainly didnt expect him to return my money. He laughed and said "sab auto wale ek jaise nahi hote saab" (not every auto driver is the same). Well, atleast he was proof enough and I walked to the nearest auto stand.

The second auto I got in, was driver by a man in his 40s maybe. I told him I had to go to Hitec City and he asked me which way I would like to take. All the way he was humming and singing and chirpy and all that stuff. And I quite liked him and even started humming some song! Some transfer of cheerful mood!! After sometime, he turned to me and asked me if I was smoking. I was actually chewing gum, and he noticed that and turned away. I asked him why he was asking me that and he replied (in hindi) "I am getting into that petrol bunk sir. And we are not supposed to smoke around that place". I was now totally totally shocked. I have never seen auto drivers here following traffic rules, leave alone rules off the road!!! And he was ensuring even I dont do some silly mistake! wow!

After that, we had to travel another 8 km till we reached the office, and by now I was totally cheerful and positive, thanks to him! He dropped me right in front of my office, and I tended him exact change, and he said (in english) "Thank you sir! Good day!" Thats it man! It made my day!

And I have begun noticing a new attitude creeping in many drivers here. Most of them now follow the rules. There are ofcourse a few airheads who think they are supersmarties, but it wont be long before they broke some bones to know otherwise.
All in all, I am pretty pleased to see the city shaping back to what it was when I came here. Let me see how far and for how long this goes.