MY ‘RICK’ETY RICKSHAW TALE

A Rickshaw , the three wheeled vehicle widely used as a affordable means of transport in India. This small 3 wheeled vehicle which can vroom in the heavy traffic of Indian streets  can be a big pain onthe 'bum'py roads and can send a chill through ur spines when on the deserted streets like a rollercoaster ride.

Pune, the city where I stay is abound with rickshaws. In fact its the lifeblood of the city next to the local buses. I commute to my office by auto. In fact this auto’connexion’ commenced since I was of age 6 n travelled to school by the same vehicle. And 18 years later it still has the same charm. Good old school days I still remember how 12 of us were cramped in this  vehicle and me being a  fatso was always made to sit in the front with the driver whom we referred as RICKSHAW MAMA since he was sane enough to know that I would hav easily occupied the space of 3 kids behind… But what fun we had on the way school n back home!! Never realized when we reached our destination. The best part of the day was after school when we all narrated our stories and the happenings in the school to our RICKSHAW MAMA n lol we even had a fight on whose going to update him first. Poor driver I now understand his patience. He had to hear 12 kids ranting and fighting over silly conversations. N how can I forget that rubbery horn’s honking which sounded more like a elephant’s trumpet. It surely has special memories. By the time I was 10, our school changed n rickshaw was replaced by bicycle n then eventually by bike.

I was reconnected to this vehicle some 3 years ago when I came to Pune for studies and now my life starts n ends with rickshaws. Pune is also known as the city of two wheelers ..the next thing u’ll find on the city streets is rickshaws. Such is the significance of this vehicle that even if a single day the autowallahs go on strike its a big annoyance for the residents here. No wonder these autowallahs always are successful in having their demands granted. And if u r new to the city or u don’t have a meter card or don't know the meter rating calculations, you are bound to be royally jacked !! N not to forget bout the arrogance of these autowallahs they wont take u to ur destination even if u pay double the amount. Not all of the autowallahs r bad,some of them are really helpful.

Even today, the best part of my day is when I travel alone in rickshaw on the way to office n back home, though there isn’t that gud ol’ RICKSHAW MAMA to listen to my rant.This part of my day gives an opportunity to converse with myself,half of my plans I make for my day r made in rickshaw on the way to office.  Favourite music  with million things on my mind n a bumpy rickshaw ride…

Rickshaws might get modified or might even become extinct or even be replaced but this auto-connection  is a special one…now is that what u call ’AUTO’XICATION??