The Ride of Life

The children - they were his joy, his sunshine on a rainy day and his reason for believing in the goodness of life. Their excited voices made him forget the harsh words that he received frequently, and their laughter brought a smile in his face always. He was extremely protective about them, and ensured that each and every child reached home safely. 

The people he met during the day - they fascinated him.  He met all kinds of people and by now, he knew to handle every type. There were some who were rude by nature. Their very first words would sound like a command and he would remind himself to not to react to them. They would bargain with him for the fare and he would try to get the best deal. But most of the times he would let go, seeing the frustration and despair behind the angry facade that the people put forth while bargaining. It sometimes seemed like a desperate plea by them, to have atleast one thing right in their day. He only felt compassion for these people. 

Then there were the other type - jovial by nature. They would bargain with a smile and give up in an attempt or two, laughing and shaking their heads. These were his favourite kind of people. They always had something to talk to him and he absolutely enjoyed their company and conversations. These people brightened his day and gave a purpose to his job.

The teenagers - they were a different breed, and he worried about them the most. There was this girl, apparently suffering from a heart-break. He had seen her crying and wiping her eyes. He had seen her cleaning her face with a wet tissue before she reached home. He had heard her talking to her friend over the phone and sobbing her heart out. Then there was the boy, the silent one, with a face totally devoid of any expression. He agreed to whatever the fare was, and hardly exchanged a word with him. His heart broke when he thought about today's teenagers and the various issues they dealt with. He longed to help them in someway, but knew that they had to carve their own life ahead. He also encountered the rowdy types, all loud voices and dirty language. He specially worried for these kids, because he had a fair idea of where they were headed to. 

The ladies - he felt a special kind of compassion for them. Some would be standing with two to three bags in their hand in the harsh noon. Some would be with kids. They all always seemed to be pre-occupied, worrying about something or the other. 

The day always passed away quickly for him, and at night, before he fell asleep, he would think about the people he met and say a silent prayer for each and every one with whom he felt some connection. He prayed for relief and peace for these people. And he thanked the powers above for another fulfilling day. At dawn, the auto-rickshaw driver would wake up, all set to start another day and to meet another set of fascinating people.