I took a cab after a short shopping trip to the Mall of Emirates- took the first available one at the cab stand.
Internet City, I told him.
“How are you?” asked the driver. I thought he was being sweet and exchanged wishes. He kept checking me in the mirror.
“Do you work there?” “Yes”
“Did you take a cab to there yesterday?” “Yes”
He continued, “I think you took my cab yesterday too from Mall of Emirates”
I smiled. “That’s cool. Nice to see you again, then” I joked. “ but I don’t think I took your cab. Because I went from Greens to Internet City” That is my route to work
He told me the whole story in his best English, “someone like you come in my cab yesterday. His meter 21.50. He gave 51.50 and he go. Can’t stop cab in the middle of the road. Lots of cars behind . So, I park in parking lot and go to his office. Cant find him. 30 Dirhams he left.”
I quipped him “Good for you, my friend. Bonus for the day, huh?”
“No” He did not sound amused.” I don’t want other people money.”
“Why?, I asked him. “So, what did you do?”
I put in the box. Medicine charity. Khalaas. That’s all. And he ended the conversation\
I knew a cabbie does not make more than Dhs.100 a day. And 30 dirhams would have meant a lot to him.
But his principles were bigger than 30 dirhams. He did not sell his principles for that measly sum. This is what he is and this is what he was made of. I was happy to meet this guy.
My cab fare was 21.50 too. I gave him 22 and started walking. He shouted out. “My friend, your 50 fil. Please take”
Internet City, I told him.
“How are you?” asked the driver. I thought he was being sweet and exchanged wishes. He kept checking me in the mirror.
“Do you work there?” “Yes”
“Did you take a cab to there yesterday?” “Yes”
He continued, “I think you took my cab yesterday too from Mall of Emirates”
I smiled. “That’s cool. Nice to see you again, then” I joked. “ but I don’t think I took your cab. Because I went from Greens to Internet City” That is my route to work
He told me the whole story in his best English, “someone like you come in my cab yesterday. His meter 21.50. He gave 51.50 and he go. Can’t stop cab in the middle of the road. Lots of cars behind . So, I park in parking lot and go to his office. Cant find him. 30 Dirhams he left.”
I quipped him “Good for you, my friend. Bonus for the day, huh?”
“No” He did not sound amused.” I don’t want other people money.”
“Why?, I asked him. “So, what did you do?”
I put in the box. Medicine charity. Khalaas. That’s all. And he ended the conversation\
I knew a cabbie does not make more than Dhs.100 a day. And 30 dirhams would have meant a lot to him.
But his principles were bigger than 30 dirhams. He did not sell his principles for that measly sum. This is what he is and this is what he was made of. I was happy to meet this guy.
My cab fare was 21.50 too. I gave him 22 and started walking. He shouted out. “My friend, your 50 fil. Please take”
No comments:
Post a Comment