AutoCrazy.

 Bike rides are romantic, car rides are luxury, cycle rides are salubrious, scooty rides are sanguine but what enchants me the most are the auto rides.  Spending around 4 years in Rajkot without a personal vehicle I have developed a love-hate relation with autowalas. 

‘Bhaiya, Kotecha chowk ,Chalenge’

I get a scanning, scowl look from him and Zoom zoom zoom..He goes without even heeding to say ‘No!’ Better call these autowalas Badshahs – this mustached, no nonsense, aristocratic breed are interested in going nowhere. The passerby is a fool, a lesser mortal, who was unable to purchase a vehicle. 

15 minute under the sun- no autos yet. I made a futile effort to cover my hands with a cotton duppatta. Kahi gora rang kala na padjaye!

Alone.Languish. Hungry.Me…it all resulted into the autowalas becoming the victim of my anathema.

 The thought of being sleazy by saying ‘Lift milegi’ like a B- grade movie’s actress, also came to my mind. An inner voice saying ‘Janvi, Control!’ resulted into a plan reversal!

 ‘God please tell my dad to lend me a scooty, Phullezee!’ I wished and with this a tear popped out of my eyes. A genuine germane tear.

That tear achieved nirvana only when an autowala bhaiya said ‘ ha,Chalenge!’

                                                                         *

By commuting from my hostel to my college, I used to contribute 15 rupees to the economy. Yeah, having ‘No chutta’ is an issue. (Note: Don’t expect to be given back the change once you have paid for the ride.)

Giving a 20 rupees note to the bhaiya I don’t move an inch unless he gives me my 5 rupees back. Women rights you see, oops! Consumer rights .This chilar ka chakkar lead that bhaiya genuinely roam to every passerby to ask for change. Those were the times that made me realize the importance of money. 

I glance at the despondent face of that bhaiya, still hunting for change.

‘Bhaiya, chalega.’ I say out of clemency. And I walk away bearing the loss of 5 rupees in my current accounting year. No! that money was in exchange for an invaluable lesson for life.

                                                                                       *

 I was thinking to do PhD on an innovative topic, and there is nothing better than ‘Auto ka interior’! From to Sonam to Sonakshi everyone gets her due space inside an auto. Some of these are religious and prefer postcards of gods and goddesses instead. Some would put the radio on and get your ear drums tortured amongst all the traffic noice. The screechy Himesh Reshammiya voice will make you want to meet with an accident right way. 

For some the screechy  music was a true annoyance but I have always loved life with background music. With the tune of the song, I stretch my face a bit to peep out. My eyes turning curious to want more. A gush of air hugging my face. My curly hairs flying in the direction they wish to. 

‘Shehar main naye ho kya?!’  The auto wala asks.

I positively nod my head and again start experiencing the most primary thing of my life- freedom.

                                                        *

‘Beta, how will you manage to go home?’ exclaimed mom.

It was 9: 30 pm; I just got off a bus which dropped me at a highway in Ahmedabad. 4 stuffed big bags (of the aggregate weight more than mine) filled with all the items which can be termed ‘Unnecessary’. After a 5 hours journey from Rajkot, I seriously wished someone to come for picking me up. For picking my bags atleast! 

 ‘Bhaiya, C.G.Road chalenge?!’ I asked with a puppy face.

‘Ben, kathiawadi cho?’ he asked in an affable manner.

I left kathiawad but it didn’t leave me! Uff! My language!!

He was a true story teller bhaiya. Such loquacious bhaiyas tell you stories on random basis. They might end up talking about their love life, marriage problems, dreams that they have for their children, or talk about their investment plans.

 Having common hometown, our topics of discussion throughout the journey ranged from khambhaliya’s famous Ghee to Ahmedabad’s heavy traffic. I also received some brownie advice on keeping safe distance from Amdavad’s roadside romeos!

He then dropped me exactly at my doorsteps and helped me with my luggage. (P.S.: He even charged less.) 

‘Mom, Don’t worry I have friends in this new city. ‘The Autowalas!’

                                                               *

Informing the hostel warden to go to tuition and going out for a party was possible due to a major link called ‘Auto’s. I still remember coming out of the hostel in a floor length skirt and abandoning the long skirt in auto just to flash the knee length Capri dressed within it. ‘Besharmi ki height!’ I know.

I see the rear view mirror turn towards me. I got checked out throughout the ride. 

Talcum powder, Kohl, eye liner, lip gloss and yes! I was run away ready! 

An innocuous sneer.

 Ultimately, applying a dab of perfume I felt that Autos’ can be your dressing rooms too, who says No?!

                                                               

                                                   *

Greedy scumbags.-If they think you’re new in the town, rest assured you will end up kangaal because they take you on a long drive to reach a short situated place. Face value treatment, you see! Every time it rains, double meter will happen for sure. So, Doleful!

 ‘The jolly bhaiyas’- He will have earphones with a made in china label tucked to their shirt.  They even showcase their singing abilities.

‘ Shaukeen Bhaiyas’ –they are always humming a folk tune and suddenly you hear a split And you discover this  marred one chews betel leaves and others even light a bidi and continue the ride.

 And yeah! Whatever can be said about the Autowalas that is true, but the opposite is also true. 

(Chalo, keep reading, it doesn’t end here.)

A white new ‘Aviator’ was a birthday gift (a sanctioned demand) I once received. Moving closer to it I turned comfortable on its seat.

 I get attached to people and things at the speed of light and the seclusion resulted into me missing the autos odyssey.  Having no autowallas to take my orders, to haggle over a pinch of paper currency, to help me reach my destination I finally grabbed the handle of my life and pressed the button on- ‘SELF start’.

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From Janvi’s honey bag: 

You have the liberty to denounce my obtuse section of this topic. But I didn’t realize when small things such as ‘Auto’s started making sense in my life. ‘Small gestures speak volumes ‘and I have started understanding this.