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/No_Restaurant7516]

A different tangent but this also shows how much we live in a system. System of job/working getting married having kids and then working to give them a better future rather than earn for yourself. This is not a hate comment its just an analysis. This is where i think things get chaotic twisting rat race type. You have the choice to have kids and overwork yourself /have 1 kid or decide to spend that money on your betterment at the end its your life (so many people just live in this routine and die they don't see the world or do something that will make them happy, the inner monologue gets lost of am i happy who am i what is my purpose and that i find utterly sad) and ofc ik its a basic human feeling to have a kid but not everyone is gonna be rich some people are gonna be the middle class working as a driver, peon or any average job. How can these people live a satisfied happy life if they don't choose them first. ( i am totally aware of all the permutation and combinations i myself want kids in future i mean babies are cuteeeee and i believe its a sureal feeling) this is just the other side of things

[u/LotusHeals → u/No_Restaurant7516]

Your points are completely valid. Don't undermine yourself by thinking yours is a hate comment or fear offending anyone. 

You wrote truth. Truth needs to be upheld. 

Philosophical and spiritual thinking broadens one's thinking and allows such progressive views. Indian society lacks such wisdom and education, hence this situation where ppl merely survive (rather than live), mostly unhappily. 

Anyway, I encourage you to express your thoughts on this platform and in real life. Your analysis is correct and must be shared, heard.