Hello guys, today I would like to talk about a taximan's story. (okay, not the passage in Little Ironies unfortunately). I would like to tell you about his story, and the life of being a taxi driver.
My mother and I took a taxi yesterday night, at a taxi stand. We were the next to go, but there was no taxi - not yet. We spotted a taxi, with the words "hired" in the display at the top. It was parked near the taxi stand. There seemed to be no one in it, except for the taxi driver. After that, a woman got in, then got out again. After that, he drove towards us. Hesitant, we asked the taxi driver if we could get on. He nodded and we got in.
In the taxi, my mother asked the taxi driver what had happened. He explained to us that the malay teenager had not enough money to pay for the fare, so she wanted to go to an ATM to withdraw money. However, she herself, drawing money? Wouldn't she get away without paying? It was then the taxi driver poured out his experiences.
Luckily, the taxi driver was smart enough. He kept her handbag so that he made sure she returns with the money. If not, she would have escaped. This was not the first time he had nearly been tricked.
There had been some teenagers, who, after reaching their destination, simply opens the door and walk out without paying. The taxi driver complained: "If he walks out, how can you chase him/her?"
Other times, they throw them an empty box, then tell the taxi driver that their box is still there and that they will return to pay the money. The taxi driver, then waited, thinking that the will come back to take their box, but after that, he realised that in fact, what was in the box is just old newspapers. The passenger, simply gets away.
Another time, the passenger pretends to talk on the phone like to a girlfriend, often complaining that he has to help her carry things now. Then he tells the driver to wait for him as he goes upstairs, but, in the end, he doesn't come back down.
What has Singaporeans become? Cheaters? Con men? These taxi drivers are trying to make a humble living through their service to the community and these evil people, have the guts, to even cheat the taxi drivers to give them a free ride. If these people do not have the money to take a taxi, then don't! Cheating the taxi drivers show your true colours as a dishonest and evil character. Are Singaporeans these type of people? It would ruin our reputation as a caring nation. Don't you think so?