Rickshawpullers
and women passengers
I was on
my way home from Panthopath. I always fix the fare with the
rickshaw puller before getting on. That day the fare had been
fixed at Tk. 8 and I paid accordingly. But the rickshaw puller
was asking for Tk. 10. Sometimes, because the rickshaw puller
is nice or because of unbearable heat, rainfall or traffic jams,
I pay more than the fixed fare. But that day there was no such
reason. I asked him why he had agreed to the fare in the first
place and he got mad at me and said he didn't need my money
and I should just take it back. I was astonished. However, I
put the money on the seat and turned away. But he was uttering
something. I was feeling ashamed seeing a smart boy passing
me. I used to feel bad when I saw anyone slapping rickshaw pullers.
But now I feel they might have their reasons.
Maria
Ahmed, Dhaka
A
friend of mine
If
you enter into the greatest place, your heart will be greater;
you will be generous." This is what one of my classmates
told me on my very first day at Dhaka University. I am now in
my Third Year in the English department. A few days ago, I asked
this friend for some notes. But he refused to give it to me
saying he had no such notes. I know he lied because I later
caught him red-handed with them. This time he said the notes
weren't his but belonged to someone else. Both of us study at
this great educational institute known as "the Oxford of
the East". Has his mind changed at all since coming here?
I think his heart has only grown narrower.
Bichitra
Roy
Jagannath Hall, Dhaka University
The
mute rickshawpuller
A
few days ago, my friend and I were looking for a rickshaw on
Indira Road on our way to Dhanmondi. We found one with a rickshaw
puller who was mute and dressed in dirty clothes. Through sign
language, he showed us that the fare would be Tk. 15. Though
we knew the fare was high, we agreed, feeling sympathy for the
dumb rickshaw puller. When we reached Dhanmondi, he signalled
again with his hand, this time showing Tk. 20 as the fare. We
paid him Tk. 15 as was agreed but he demanded more and began
to get aggressive. We asked other rickshaw pullers what the
regular fare was and they said it was usually Tk. 12. In the
end, because of the rickshaw puller's agitated mental state,
we paid him Tk. 20. He did not value our sympathy and affection
and obviously cheated us. But later once we too had cooled down,
we thought of the circumstances under which this man lived and
realise why he would be so aggressive.
A
reader, Dhaka
