Auto tales across cities

Mumbai autorickshaws are called `ricksha' by the local commuters.

Chennai rests easy with the name `auto'.

You can hop into a Mumbai autorickshaw in the dead of the night. He will drop you home and give you back the exact change.

You can hop into any autorickshaw whose owner agrees to ply you at night in Chennai, except that you will flag a 100 autos before you get one.

As for the change, forget it. In Chennai you are charged in multiples of Rs 10 for any destination. Autorickshaw drivers are Gods here. After settling for Rs 210 on a distance that could cost you just Rs 100, be sure that about half a kilometre into the designated spot, the guy will start his extortion tactics, saying you did not mention the destination would be so far, or that the distance is a kilometer in excess! He'll make sure he argues with you endlessly.

He will start his emotional blackmail, in the typical Chennai autorickshaw bargain body language. He will make you feel sick, especially if you're used to the no nonsense mumbai rickshaw drivers' business wisdom of being done with the deal and walking off.

Am in Chennai at the moment, and an hour after that argument and hearing abuses from that guy, wondering if I should have slapped him.

He used the conversation I had with my husband in three languages, which meant - Hindi, Tamil and English, against me. It's horrifying to note that what I talk on phone with someone else in the capacity of a passenger could be used like this!  I heard words like `people from other cities being a pain on autorickshaw drivers out here'.

Such a far cry from Mumbai autorickshaw rides where I can talk freely while on move! And not hear a word of abuse.

Autorickshaw drivers have magnified the reason I dread Chennai. I feel, unsafe in Chennai - the same city where I spent umpteen childhood summers. The city I was born in.

This city, is where I will move in to shortly, and makes me palpitate in fear.

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If you ask me why I did not avoid an autorickshaw ride given the infamy that guards these guys anyways, I had less choice - afternoon hunger and exhaustion from a journey prompted me to hire it instantly.