Auto-matic!

Parents around. The only desire they'd have while here with me is to visit the relatives in and around Bangalore - apart from temple-trotting. Since y'day was a holiday I reluctantly decided give them company. One reason to say yes to accompany them was the difficulty to find an auto from the place where I reside.

Thankfully we didn't have to wait much. And even better, the auto-driver knew the 'right' way and didn't try to take us by the longest route possible (as is wont with many in Bangalore). But the surprise awaited us when we alighted. He took out a new fare list and said, "that's Rs. 63 Sir". The meter read 50.50. "But I haven't seen any notification in the newspapers. Nor was it on the TV" I said. "I don't know sir. I also was handed over this by my driver-friends this morning only". Any ways he relented and took money as per the current meter.

This experience repeated several times in the same day. What kind of a hoax are these auto drivers up to? Is it THAT easy to con the 'choiceless' and probably gullible auto-seeking public of Bangalore? This is the new way to swindle - apart from asking for more outrightly, refusing to come to the place you'd want to travel to, asking for 'one-and-half meter fare' even before the clock chimes 9 in the night!

So much for awareness, consumer rights and 'jago grahak' thingies!