Travels and Encounters_Episode 3: Amazing auto rides


“Bala see if u can get a auto , it is time” my granny muttered.” It wouldn't have been a problem if either of us knew driving” responded Latu. “ I am gonna learn driving” she added. “ Do u mean  you would like to learn a car” I casually asked.” Nope I am going to learn to drive an auto, maybe we can afford that” she surprised me.

Transportation during end of 90’s, wasn't so  developed as much as today. Those were the era where the name WiFi was unknown and word mobile was newly added to dictionary. Internet were restricted to the desktop computers affordable only  for elite socialites.For the middle class browsing was a dream far from reality. at a peak rates for browsing. Ola and Uber were ofcourse or not been discovered. Being middle class family, our only mode of transportation other than public transport was autos and rickshaw.

Every middle class household would have a standard semi-permanently employed auto or a rickshaw man. He would be bestowed upon with sundals during Navaratri Golu, gifts during festival seasons, teas during waiting times and sometimes tips such as bags and freebies  for his other works. Be it any family event, the first option of transportation automatically would be his. In return, autowala would entitle us with the privilege of regular customer ,prioritizing our ride and finding best possible routes available to reach the destination surpassing traffic. Even today google maps could not overtake autowala’s road sense and route finding abilities.

But for a person to be eligible for a auto ride, he/she needs to pass certain basic criteria. Criteria-1 is that please insure your hips before an auto ride. Combination of Indian roads after rains with unbalance 3 wheelers will certainly teach you a good  hip-shake dance moves. An auto ride is capable to provide you the same jerk a popcorn would undergo to evenly spread the pepper and salt during movie time. Well to see its advantage, it gives you the best bowel movement, and improves digestion. Criteria 2 never ever hope to listen to music during a auto ride. The sound of the auto would outpower any diwali cracker. So even a quarrel would be a normal conversation when u are inside an auto. Criteria 3, if you are planning to travel by share auto, get equipped with your defence karate skills to protect yourself from your co-passenger kicks. If u are a man, you would most probably be bestowed with the patch of seat in the front with driver. From the front it would just be a paramapada nathar thirukolam without costume on.  It is upto you to occupy Sridevi or budevi's place, but Vishnu's place is reserved for the driver.

When my youngest brother (5 years old) came from United States,  he was over excited to go for an auto ride. So we called for an auto and drove to our grandma's place to visit. Midway, he asked “ are they the bad guys?”. Suddenly why is this question? May be he observed of most of the motorcyclists not following the traffic rules. I told “no”. “Are we bad guys then” he asked.” No of course not” but why does he question? I curiously asked my aunt about the notion of his questions. She quickly clarified saying , he had only seen the sound effects , the speed, and jerky roads with action filled environment in an Hollywood action racing sequences. Now it is happening in reality, which raised doubts in his mind. Well our autos indeed matched up to Hollywood level, no doubt.
My patti's ride on auto's are more entertaining. She would initiate a conversation with any auto driver, be whatever the auto's decibel level is. The irony here is that she is partially deaf due to her age. But still without a hearing aid she would manage things. “ Go to bazaar street pa , I have a small work there” she would initiate by confirming the destination and adding an extra information, as if people travel from place to place just for fun if not for a purpose. “ Yenga ma marumaga veetukka?”
(Where maa, are your visiting  daughter in law’s house?). My pati quickly responds  to it with great confidence “ Maari Amman irukka? What no pa , take this left. There is no Mariamman temple here.” As if the autowala does not know the place. The conversation would touch the peak of its deviation, that it would even include politics , sports and economics. Every line would be out of sync. You would never find the same autowala in that area afterwards.

Now a days advancement in technology has lessen the human interaction. Hectic schedule and modern lifestyle, has forbade us to allot time to observe the nuances and intricate details of life. People today opt for online cab system for transportation ,rather enjoying the environment in a auto. Of Course autoride is far more relatable to people than driving in an ac cab with both car windows and (our)mouth shut.

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