Tech touch !!!

A small incident changed the way I perceive technology and also gave me unusual new friend. I used to think technology as heartless before that. I used to see it as both Hero and  Villain.

As soon as our roads are heavily motorized a lot our generations became cardiac, diabetic or metabolic patient. As soon as TV became household in 1990’s social interactions got reduced.

Are these smart phones  boon or ban?! it throws a lot of stuff at us and becomes a stupid distraction! At the same time it is in the core of lot of cutting edge technology services offering essential stuff.

But rarely Technology plays complete savior role. Recently I realized the same and led to an accidental friendship with an auto driver.

I was searching for an auto at the entrance urgently to catch my train to native.

I saw this lean auto guy approaching me. He talked very polite and told that he will put meter. I did not give a thought and boarded the auto wondering did he say really about meter. I was thinking whether to ask or not. But finally asked.

“Boss.. what happened to you.. first what made you put meter. and top of that how come not extra charging over the meter”.

He smiled and showed me his cell phone screen. I saw an smart phone app. It screen displayed a queue of people looking for an auto.

He chuckled “Sir. I saw you searching for an auto. You looked very urgent. Hence I thought to help you and did not take an App booking!”

I told “Boss.. you have a kind heart. You don’t ask over the meter yet even you know I am looking to catch my train urgently”.

He smiled. “Sir.. Situations makes us villains. Even I was overcharging months ago before using this internet app bookings”

He explained that he is making 3 times more money because of app booking. He also started to pay his auto loan dues regularly. He told that he will be the owner of his auto in 6 months.

When I was nearing my destination he showed me the smart phone screen. He already had 4 bookings. He clicked accept on a long distance ride and told me that he can make more money with that route. I was really impressed . I got down from auto and paid him as per meter. Same time I was pondering phone over a WhatsApp message. 

Then I saw the auto returning back. “Sir.. You paid me huge amount by mistake”

Seeing me embarrassed “Sir.. I think you were checking something very important in your phone and missed to see that you put 1000 rupees note instead of 100 rupees”. I handed over correct amount.

I smiled at him .”No Boss… I seriously have nothing important in my phone.. nothing life changing...nothing useful like your phone... every time you see your phone screen you make money for your family .. but I lose precious family time... I feel jealous of you..”

He laughed out loud then told “Sir.. my stand is at your tech park entrance.. I used to think that you all guys make all these big things.. hence my life changed..”

I felt happy in his words. ”Yes Boss.. We do… we work on many stuff which touches lives”

We shook our hands and I parted away for my train. After that we interacted many times and had cups of tea.

Now I have a good auto friend whose life is touched by technology and gave me a realization how it can transform people simply!!!
(Special thanks for my friend Renjit Nadh for providing a nice sketch for this blog!!!)