once bitten, twice shy
reading a blog about a smartypants autowallah who tried to get away looting one of my friend reminds me of a bizzaro incident with a cab wallah in mumbai...
VJ went to receive his brother(Uday)who's coming home after 6 months of saiing (he is a marine engineer). VJ's so excited like a kid. no wonder you are when you are meeting your beloved sibling after so long.
at the airport VJ took a prepaid taxi for 550 rs. Vj and Uday rode home on the pulsar, while the luggage accompanied by VJ's friend (S)came home in the taxi. I was waiting for them at the apts, VJ and his bro went on for a loong jolly ride and it was quite late by the time they reached home. S and I carried the luggage upstairs... one last time S went to check for any left luggage n to send off the taxi.. the taxi driver hands off a reciept for 550 rs which Vj forgot to take when he paid the amount. S promptly takes the receipt from the taxi driver, gives 550 from his wallet and that brutal driver asks for tip.. so he pays him 650!!! he takes it and leaves.. all this in front of me... neither of us knew Vj aready paid at the airport. the taxi walllah tks 650 rs n makes a run before Vj comes down and enlightens us about the pre-paid taxi concept.
It just sucks how simply people loot poeple here.. wonder do they have conscience at all.. do they ever feel guilty..
ugh! i feel so angry.
---
this brings to mind another such encounter with .... in mumbai. i was riding an auto to the airport. at a stop signal this guy holding a big pile neaty binded, plastic wrapped and sealed books comes by. impressive collection from sidney sheldon to paulo coelho. and i needed something to dig into during my flight anyway. so i browsed through the titles facing me as he held the pile of books against his body. i tell you i am totally naive when it comes to shopping for books.. most of the books i read where in librarys/ online or gifts from friends.. so i do not have an idea how how a book could cost.
i found the 'one night @ cal center" in the pile. have always wanted to read. so i ask him how much? the guy shows me the neatly packed cover with lable that said Rs 375/-. uski maa ki @%$#!
thinking very intelligent of myself, i asked for 100 rs. after much pleading and the red signa turing to green, the guy gave it away for 150.
now i was on cloud nine. i called up Vj at his work, ecstaticaly told him about my stint as the skilled bargainer.
then he tells me, the unthinkable... that the book cannot cost more than 90 rs and u could get that in the airport too!!!
while i was stil on fone with Vj, i rip off the orange iridiscent lable the neatly wrapped plastic cover. indeed, i see M.R.P Rs 95 on it.
here comes the best part. I turn the pages of the book and it is not even an original print, it is not even a print. it is xeroxed copies of pages of the original book (including the cover)binded and wrapped and labled.
gosh
so much effort put into looting people. organized planned crime
i think, i can now comprehend how underworld dons, mafias might be working.
lol
after these two incidents, I swore, I am not going to let anyone get away with nothing, if there is a next time.
there are cheaters, foolers everywhere. in hyderabad, US, Blore... i have experienced the heights so far in Mumbai
VJ went to receive his brother(Uday)who's coming home after 6 months of saiing (he is a marine engineer). VJ's so excited like a kid. no wonder you are when you are meeting your beloved sibling after so long.
at the airport VJ took a prepaid taxi for 550 rs. Vj and Uday rode home on the pulsar, while the luggage accompanied by VJ's friend (S)came home in the taxi. I was waiting for them at the apts, VJ and his bro went on for a loong jolly ride and it was quite late by the time they reached home. S and I carried the luggage upstairs... one last time S went to check for any left luggage n to send off the taxi.. the taxi driver hands off a reciept for 550 rs which Vj forgot to take when he paid the amount. S promptly takes the receipt from the taxi driver, gives 550 from his wallet and that brutal driver asks for tip.. so he pays him 650!!! he takes it and leaves.. all this in front of me... neither of us knew Vj aready paid at the airport. the taxi walllah tks 650 rs n makes a run before Vj comes down and enlightens us about the pre-paid taxi concept.
It just sucks how simply people loot poeple here.. wonder do they have conscience at all.. do they ever feel guilty..
ugh! i feel so angry.
---
this brings to mind another such encounter with .... in mumbai. i was riding an auto to the airport. at a stop signal this guy holding a big pile neaty binded, plastic wrapped and sealed books comes by. impressive collection from sidney sheldon to paulo coelho. and i needed something to dig into during my flight anyway. so i browsed through the titles facing me as he held the pile of books against his body. i tell you i am totally naive when it comes to shopping for books.. most of the books i read where in librarys/ online or gifts from friends.. so i do not have an idea how how a book could cost.
i found the 'one night @ cal center" in the pile. have always wanted to read. so i ask him how much? the guy shows me the neatly packed cover with lable that said Rs 375/-. uski maa ki @%$#!
thinking very intelligent of myself, i asked for 100 rs. after much pleading and the red signa turing to green, the guy gave it away for 150.
now i was on cloud nine. i called up Vj at his work, ecstaticaly told him about my stint as the skilled bargainer.
then he tells me, the unthinkable... that the book cannot cost more than 90 rs and u could get that in the airport too!!!
while i was stil on fone with Vj, i rip off the orange iridiscent lable the neatly wrapped plastic cover. indeed, i see M.R.P Rs 95 on it.
here comes the best part. I turn the pages of the book and it is not even an original print, it is not even a print. it is xeroxed copies of pages of the original book (including the cover)binded and wrapped and labled.
gosh
so much effort put into looting people. organized planned crime
i think, i can now comprehend how underworld dons, mafias might be working.
lol
after these two incidents, I swore, I am not going to let anyone get away with nothing, if there is a next time.
there are cheaters, foolers everywhere. in hyderabad, US, Blore... i have experienced the heights so far in Mumbai
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