As the Mumbai sun let out its beaming spotlight, I clambered onto an autorickshaw on my way to college, my loyal steed for the chaotic journey to college. The rickshaw roared to life, weaving through honking cars, and jaywalking pigeons, and dodged an entire city dug up, waiting on a “glow-up”.
The driver, a philosopher in disguise, decided to narrate his life story. Between a pothole-induced rollercoaster ride and a sudden slowdown and jerk for a speed breaker, I learned about his love for Bollywood on speaker. He even serenaded me with “Tujhe Deka Toh Yeh Jaana Sanam” while I clung to my seat as if auditioning for Fear Factor.
When we finally arrived, the fare meter was as dramatic as my grandmother’s soap operas. But I was alive, un-entertained, and only slightly late for class. In Mumbai, every rickshaw ride is an adventure—and sometimes, a comedy of errors. But I guess the visual of a stranger’s golden retriever for a brief 10 seconds, enjoying his ride was enough to be the highlight of my journey, and possibly the high point of my day. At least one of us was having a good 6 A.M.
Stay tuned for more on the “On my way to college” series