One and a half

 If you are in Bangalore for a long time, you are familiar with this phrase. When ever you hail an auto, the driver rudely, roughly said "one and a half kodbeku" which is translated as you have to pay one and half times the fare shown on the meter. 

Many battles were fought and many were lost for this unfair fare. The drivers never budged. They would rather sit idle than agree to give you ride with the fare shown on their meter.

Many many years later, today, they don't even switch on the meter. You tell them the destination and they say "two hundred, three hundred, five hundred" - depending on how gullible and desperate you look. And they believe that Bangalore women are gullible.

Yes, mostly women hail these vehicles - men are always on their chariots - ratha - either two wheeled or four wheeled. If due to unforeseen circumstances, their darling vehicle is not available - they would rather walk to the destination or travel in a government bus. They decline to pay outrageous price the auto drivers ask.

Many a women tried to nag, argue, cajole these auto drivers to travel with the meter rate or they say they give meter mele ippattu (20 rupees over the fare). Would try to that. Unsuccessfully.

Now do I see any women calling out "auto, auto, auuutooooo". No, they just open up their phones and book a app based cab/auto. 

Why should they not? They certainly do not love to fight, argue and shout at a random stranger for a ride. They have a husband at home for that. 

And more importantly the money - app shows almost the correct price - it does not tell her that the ride back will be empty. It does not worry "innu belege agilla". Or any other "valid reason". 

Today for example I haggled, got down from two autos and then finally used a third auto and paid 120 rupees to reach my destination. But during return journey, the app auto cost me 52 rupees. With no drama too. 

I used to presume that older generation of drivers are not tech savvy and they don't work for uber, ola etc. And they must be facing real hardships. May be true. But why are they not trying to build confidence in the travellers by not over charging?

Ha, I should tell you. Why at all I did I not go for uber/ola etc. in the first place. My home is in a luxurious apartment complex. Which means things are expensive around here. But, but 99% of the time I am unable to book the cabs. 50% of the times I am unable to make phone calls - more so if I trying to book an appointment with a doctor. Yeah, yeah, I know about wifi calling and all such settings - but doesn't work. 

So, that was the story of one and a half. Never to end.