I always knew hailing a cab at night in delhi is creepy experience but never in my worst nightmare I thought it would be this .
After having lovely dinner with family of @oye_bubbly_ I tried to hail a uber/ ola, completely forgetting that it was auto and taxi strike that day
After having lovely dinner with family of @oye_bubbly_ I tried to hail a uber/ ola, completely forgetting that it was auto and taxi strike that day
I did not want to bother the hosts with my transport issues and I was certain that I will find something so I started walking . However , even after looking for almost 1.5 hours , I could not find anything . It was almost midnight , my phone battery was dead
and the road I was walking on was ominously called Shamshat Ghat road ( cause of huge graveyard on either side of road). Pretty soon , I was the only person on the road and the traffic was thinning . By this time I was frantically hailing anything that would stop .
An old black and yellow taxi just stopped few meters away from me and then reversed . The driver must have been in his 40s , wore an old fashioned taxi driver uniform and had a strangely stoic face . I told him I desperately needed to reach safdarjung enclave - he thought for a
bit and replied that since thats also his destination , he would drop me . I got in and asked for a fare . He didn't replied but said that he needs to pick and drop 3 other people so I will have to wait to be dropped at the end . I was a bit concerned that who
is he picking and dropping at this hour . But he looked kind , and honestly , I would rather be with people in an old , battered taxi , rather than walking alone on shamshaan ghat road .
He didn't speak at all - I was intrigued with the taxi - it looked like the ones from 80s
He didn't speak at all - I was intrigued with the taxi - it looked like the ones from 80s
still serving the master well . The meter was running . The radio was playing old Hindi songs ; just songs , no ads , simple announcer. It was like I was transported back to 80s and early 90s.
We reached Lodhi road and he stopped at a bus stop . When he stopped there was no one.
We reached Lodhi road and he stopped at a bus stop . When he stopped there was no one.
But in the time I blinked, a boy , 16-17 years old was standing with his head hanging inside the window . He said softly - " Bhaiya , Sarojini nagar government school chod doge , DTC bus nickel gayi hai" . The driver replied " Baitho" and the boy sat next to driver
The driver started driving towards Sarojini nagar . I think I was half asleep and didn't realize anything was wrong till it stuck me !
A kid going too school at 1 in the morning , waiting for DTC bus at this hour and wearing a blue school uniform sweater in this sweltering heat
A kid going too school at 1 in the morning , waiting for DTC bus at this hour and wearing a blue school uniform sweater in this sweltering heat
I wanted to shout immediately to stop the cab and drop me right there . But no words came out - I tried opening the door , but my hands would not move . It was like I was in sleep paralysis . I could see and hear everything but could not react .
We dropped the boy at the Saroji
We dropped the boy at the Saroji
nagar government boys school . He got down, I was able to crank my neck back to see if he was going inside the school . There was no one there . The boy had disappeared .
The driver then started walking towards what used to be Sarojini nagar government apartments
The driver then started walking towards what used to be Sarojini nagar government apartments
What the hell ! I thought to myself . Just so you know , Sarojini nagar apartments have been razed to ground almost 2 years back . There are no houses there anymore , no one lives there. Only debris . It looks like this now .
He stops the car here . It was pitch dark . not a soul in sight and suddenly I see an old man , outside the driver door and his wife , who looked very sick . He spoke in hurried tone - " Safdarjung hospital " . The wife asked husband, softly " Tala laga diya, gas band kari?".
As if they just stepped out of the house . But which house !
There was not a single concrete structure for miles ? The old man sat next to the driver and the old lady came and sat next to me
We dropped them to safdarjung hospital and again ,
There was not a single concrete structure for miles ? The old man sat next to the driver and the old lady came and sat next to me
We dropped them to safdarjung hospital and again ,
the moment they stepped out , they just disappeared .
Finally , we started driving towards Safdarjung Enclave. The driver told me that he will drop me the safdarjung enclave taxi stand.I was just relieved to get out that god forsaken taxi.
The taxi stopped at the stand
Finally , we started driving towards Safdarjung Enclave. The driver told me that he will drop me the safdarjung enclave taxi stand.I was just relieved to get out that god forsaken taxi.
The taxi stopped at the stand
I got out of the taxi as quickly as I could . I then realized that I have to pay him and opened the door again.
There was no one that the drivers seat . And no one around . The road was totally empty . There was no way he could have so quickly walked away
There was no one that the drivers seat . And no one around . The road was totally empty . There was no way he could have so quickly walked away
I just ran towards the house and did not look back .
Next morning I gathered courage to go back to the taxi stand . The taxi was parked right where it had dropped me . I inquired about the taxi . None of the drivers had any clue who the taxi belonged to .
Next morning I gathered courage to go back to the taxi stand . The taxi was parked right where it had dropped me . I inquired about the taxi . None of the drivers had any clue who the taxi belonged to .
They told me that owner of the stand is the only person who steps inside the taxi and cleans it and they had never seen it been driven
I went to the owner of the stand . He was an old sardarji , must be around 80 and the moment I asked about the taxi , his expression changed .
I went to the owner of the stand . He was an old sardarji , must be around 80 and the moment I asked about the taxi , his expression changed .
I knew at that instance that he is aware the story behind the taxi and the driver . I narrated the entire incident . This is what he told me .
The owner of the taxi was Mangal Singh and he used to drive this taxi around 40 years back . The boy he dropped to school
The owner of the taxi was Mangal Singh and he used to drive this taxi around 40 years back . The boy he dropped to school
immolated himself in mandal commission agitation at the school in 1990 and died , on the day he dropped him . This was his last ride
The old couple; the old lady had cancer and died within couple of days of being dropped at the hospital. The husband died soon after .
The old couple; the old lady had cancer and died within couple of days of being dropped at the hospital. The husband died soon after .
They never returned home from hospital . The ride to hospital was their last ride.
After few years , Mangal Singh - came back after doing his regular duty to the taxi stand and died of heart attack . At the stand itself
After few years , Mangal Singh - came back after doing his regular duty to the taxi stand and died of heart attack . At the stand itself
Few days after his death, the owner of the stand discovered that the taxi went missing at night and was found in the morning .
One day the owner stayed at night and to his horror saw Mangal Singh driving the taxi out of the stand .
One day the owner stayed at night and to his horror saw Mangal Singh driving the taxi out of the stand .
Every night he takes the boy and the couple on their last ride; to the school and hospital . And ends with his own last ride - to the stand .
The taxi still plays Chhayageet from the erst while Akashwani !
The taxi still plays Chhayageet from the erst while Akashwani !
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