First day to Work!

Day 1 and I am supposed to attend my new employer Induction program at the Hinjewadi office, Pune. Assuming the distance, I decide to take a rick. as I walk out of my Shivaji Nagar Apartment. The first on sight takes glee in demanding Rs.300 for the ride. Shocked to hear the fare, I saw him leave and made up my mind to travel by rick, only if will pay by the rickshaw meter reading. Another comes by but refuses for a meter-ride. Then another and then another. Finally, one agrees for a meter ride but is also prompt to charge an additional 20 bucks to the meter charge. I board with content of winning the meter bargain.

Here I am, on my way to work, with dreams about my first day at this dream company. It is a chilly weather and a not-so-great ride filled with lots of roadside viewing. There is negligible traffic on the roads and I am happy! It is 10 minutes now and is time for me to relax – I light up my cigarette and inhale in peace; exhale in ecstasy. Now, having had enough pleasure I needed, I pick up a conversation with the driver. I am sure it is an entertaining moment listening to me trying to converse in Hindi (I don’t speak Hindi) and every effort of mine going in vain trying to understand what he says. Another 20 minutes pass with both of us desperately trying to make sense of the conversation. I look at the meter and to my astonishment; find the reading to be only at Rs.16.60. I don’t know if I should be happy or skeptical about it but conveniently choose the former! Time for another cigarette – Yes, smoke to glory!

Now, I can see a heavy line-up of cars at a distance with bikers, oblivious of the traffic norms, taking to the lane on the right hand side – what a sense (I have later realized ‘you don’t have another choice sometimes’). I see a board which reads, Hinjewadi IT Park – this way^! I start getting nervous now as it is already 9.30 AM and I am late (for an Induction that has already commenced at 9.00 AM) and I still am on a road with just a signboard to my help, with only direction but no distance, with just one consolation – the meter reading ticking at Rs.22.40. I start to hurry up the driver while tension seems to have won over relief for both of us. He is squeezing his way into the traffic!

It is 10.15 AM now and we reach the Phase II of the IT Park and I can see my office situated on a hilly range. Wow! It’s a beautiful sight but sadly, I am unable to enjoy it as I am hurrying up for work. We reach the gates; I look at the meter and it reads Rs.29.80; I am glad to pull out a Rs.50 note and hand it over to the driver. He seems to be unhappy with my offering and demands more. I am startled by his demand – Rs.300 as for the huge difference from the meter reading. He tries to explain the problem with the meter and I understand that the hundreds digit in the meter is not functioning – joy is over! I try to bargain but in vain and in the process annoy him - he starts to shout in Marathi and now I pay him Rs.250

I wonder what the mystery behind the meter reading is but I will find that out later; I laugh at my misery myself and head to finding the Induction hall!

PS: I have later cracked the meter reading mystery – Rs.29.80 stands for 29 kms and 80 meters and the charge per km is approx.Rs.10-8. It is NOT the way it is read in the South.