Watery issues...

Read in TOI today that this Journo took a cab which was full of water.

She told the cabbie that his cab was leaking. He turned around and said that its her bottle that's leaking.

The Journo rolled her eyes, made a face and told the cabbie that she is not even carrying any bottle.. let alone a leaking bottle.

At this, the cabbie stopped the car, got out and asked the journo to step out as well and started snatching her bag from her. He took her bag and examined it much to the Journo's anger and amazement.

When he did not find anything in her bag, he returned it back to her and without any remorse or embarrassment or apologies what-so-ever, said, "aing?! toh yeh paani aaya kahaan se?!"

Saturday Night... Full Tight

Took this cab last night... a santro... was very pleased with the nice clean interiors.

It was one of those days when good things come to you one after the other. So the cab started and so did some real good peppy latest Bollywood dance music!! Have I told you I love cabs with a working music system?? Even though they have strange sometimes really cheap music on their playlists. I quite enjoy a musical ride in the cabs. So ya.. this guy had music system which was playing good music!!

What more... he even had some english hits in his playlist! Shake that thing, get busy and some more of those songs!! haha..

And like there was no end to my surprises, after reaching home I paid him the fare and he said, 'Thanks. Have a good day!'

I almost fell! :)

Red Listed by Cabbie

Btw... it's not like only i hate the cabbies. Few of them hate me right back!! :D

Under my building there are these few cabbies who are always there in the mornings. One particular cabbie hates me so much that he has red-listed me. He refuses to take me anywhere!! It's because twice earlier i was in his cab in the morning and we had a huge fights.

He is one of those drivers that stop before the signal turns red and by the time they restart the car to move in a green circle.. the signal again goes red!! I swear I am not exaggerating...

Anyway... not that I care. Just that i keep forgetting his face and on certain days when i see him, I get confused and ask him if he would go to xyz place and only when he refuses, do i realise its the angry old cabbie.. hehe... :D

Generous Cabbie

On my way to work today I had a very generous cabbie. This type I experienced for the first time.

At every signal that we stopped at, the street urchins and beggers came begging. They were all coming to the window where I was sitting. I don't encourage begging so I never pay them.

But to my surprise, not once but thrice it happened! 3 times at 3 different signals that cab stopped and beggers came and our man... the cabbie... dug out money and gave it! That too when the beggers were not even asking him for the money... they were asking me!!

I had even planned the whole argument i would have with him if at the end of the journey he added the amount he gave away to the fare saying I paid on your behalf!

But thankfully, there was no such argument or fight. It was a generous cabby who was being nice to the beggars. Wierdo!!

Kaali Peeli..

Interesting article on our very own bombay butterflies...

http://www.cnngo.com/mumbai/play/catch-mumbai-cab-its-gone-059788

Chicken Soup for the Drivers...

The other day I was on my way to work in a Meru Cab.

Meru Cabs are private AC taxis that you can call and book. In one of my previous posts I had spoken about my love for Merus because they are clean, they are in good shapes, they are air conditioned, only marginally expensive and most importantly they have drivers that undergo a serious workshop training course on customer service. So needless to say, its a much much better alternative to regular cabs. But unfortunately, they are mostly all booked and you have to wait for a long time before you can book one on the phone.

Anyway, so we were on this nice wide straight road. The driver was speeding and I wanted to tell him to slow down. I was in the middle of this mental battle to say or not to say when suddenly, this woman's voice from nowhere echoed inside the car - 'Slow down. You are crossing the speed limit.'

Immediately the driver slowed down and I was so amused!!! So I don't know what device this is that issues a speed warning... but whatever it is..

I think its wise to have this device!!

(In case you dint notice, that was intentional rhyming!!)

Infact I want to install it in our car cos I think it would be a great way to keep a check on my brother, who anyway looks and drives like these Bombay cabbies! So every time he would speed, this voice would tell him to slow down, and as an additional customized thing, I would have them attach a hand to the device too. So the slow down warning comes with a tight slap on the face!!!

hahaha..... I am in love with my idea and cant help but feel very pleased with myself.

If I have it my way, I would make it compulsory to put it on all the cars for general public safety!! ya ya... go ahead... call me chicken but i dont care!! In fact I love chicken and I dont mind eating it everyday!!!

Popular Drivers

Popular Drivers are scary drivers!!

You sit in their cabs. They start driving. Suddenly some strange ringtone rings. He tilts his body to left / ride side while controlling the steering wheel with one hand. With the other hand he starts digging out his cell phone located somewhere deep inside his bum pocket. Then the following conversation takes place:

"Haan... Ji ji... main buss aadhe ghante mein pahunchta hoon. Woh ek savari mila hai... unko drop karke aata hoon. Ji... Ji... Haan Ji... bees minute.. "

Then he hangs up and starts driving as if he is the next Schumi driving his beloved ferrari on his favorite track Monaco! He will cut lanes, zip past the signals and make you reach Colaba from Bandra in 20 minutes straight.. driving at god knows what speed.. I try to see but seldom make out because their speedometers are mostly not working / broken. (Times like these make me miss Honda Civic..)

Background:

So basically what happens is that some of these annoying cabbies enter into a monthly deal with people who travel a particular route daily via cabs. The cabbies become more or less their dedicated drivers and drive them around to work and back and whereever else in between (if required).

Needless to say, when duty calls, they drop everything (literally) and rush back to the pick up address.

I hate popular drivers.