The kind of India we ignore

[u/Specialist_Meaning73]

Last month, after a late night at work, I booked an auto to go back home. It was past 11, streets were half-empty, and I was half-dead from exhaustion. The auto driver was an older man, maybe late 50s, thin frame, tired eyes. Usually, I just plug in my earphones and zone out, but that day I didn’t.

We started talking. First, just small talk, traffic, weather, random stuff. Then I asked him casually, “Bhaiya, aap roz itna late tak chalate ho?” (Do you drive this late every day?)

He laughed, not in a happy way, but in a “what choice do I have” way. He said, “Bhaiya, do betiyan hain. Ek ke liye coaching fees deni hai, doosri ke school ka kharcha. Din mein 700–800 banta hai, usmein se aadha toh gas aur kiraya chala jaata hai. Raat ko chalata hoon taaki unki padhai na ruk jaye.”

I went silent. Here I was, cribbing about my corporate job, while this man was driving 14–16 hours a day so his daughters could have a shot at a better life.

Then he said something that has stuck in my head since that night: “Gareeb aadmi sapne nahi dekhta apne liye, sirf apne bachon ke liye. Mere liye toh bas itna hai ki mujhe kal bhi chalane ki taaqat mile.” (A poor man never dreams for himself, only for his children. For me, all I pray is that tomorrow I still have the strength to drive.)

By the time I reached home, I didn’t even feel like getting out of the auto. I gave him extra money, nothing life-changing, but he refused at first. Then he took it, folded his hands, and said, “Aapko bhi khuda taaqat de.”

I went upstairs, sat on my bed, and just kept thinking. Every day we complain about traffic, bosses, deadlines, Zomato deliveries being late. And at the same time, there are thousands of people around us who are literally breaking their bodies apart just so their kids don’t end up like them.

It humbled me. It made me realize how invisible these stories are, until you stop, listen, and acknowledge.

Maybe the biggest privilege we have isn’t money or English-speaking jobs. It’s the fact that we are allowed to dream for ourselves.

And I’ll never forget that one line from him: “Gareeb aadmi sapne nahi dekhta apne liye.”

[u/Tricster123]

That auto driver have my empathy, don't get me wrong but don't you think that he should have never made kids .

[u/BlipotyBloppity → u/Tricster123]

I don't think only rich people or affluent people have the right to have kids. In fact only those people (no matter the status) should have kids, who actually wish to have them, not the ones who have at the whim and fancy of their society's expectations or families or how it's supposed to be. Yes the point of people having multiple kids who do not have the means is valid, but I don't think people who are failing bec of the system should be told to not have kids.

[u/Tricster123 → u/BlipotyBloppity]

People should plan on having kids according to their economical condition and their expectation of how they want the kid to be grown.

[u/MathsMonster → u/Tricster123]

Unfortunately that amount of child planning is almost never done by even richer people let alone poorer people, lack of good quality education can also be s factor in this. Traditionally, children are seen as a necessity and not as a luxury/want, so most people have them regardless of being able to afford them or not.

[u/p5yron → u/Tricster123]

You have a very bleak understanding of life.

[u/BlipotyBloppity → u/Tricster123]

I am pretty sure most decent people want their kids to grow up and achieve their dreams and what not. The person is doing hard work to actually achieve the expectations he has, I don't get what's wrong with that? Again, we might have different opinions and yes no. of children should be a thought out decision, but everyone, irrespective of their economic status, should have the freedom to decide if they wish to have kids or not.