This is an atypical incident that happened to my wife two weeks before. She landed at the domestic airport in Kathmandu, after attending the marriage ceremony of one of her closest dear friend at Pokhara. On the same plane was an Indian lady. After they landed, the lady asked my wife about where the International Airport is, when they were at the baggage reception area. To this my wife said, “It’s nearby, you can walk and I can help you reach there as I am also taking the same route”. The lady started walking with my wife. Both were not accompanied by heavy baggage, an exception when it comes to females.
After a while they were out to the taxi stand, and my wife thought of walking to the ring road, about 400 meters from the domestic airport. The reason for the walk is that you can take a cheaper exit (only Rs 10 in the city bus) after you reach the city traffic, which otherwise costs you not less than Rs 300 to reach home. Prior to walking on her own she thought of guiding the lady towards the International Airport as assured. The International Airport is only about 200 meters from the domestic taxi stand and is on the way to the main exit from the airport premises to the city traffic. Sticking on her commitment, she tried to point the direction to the lady but to her shock the lady without any hint went forward to the taxi drivers and asked “International Airport?” Not to any surprise lot many swarmed in for this easy catch with no trap. She asked for the fare, and the reply was “ONLY Rs 200 MADAM”. She some sort of bargained with an unusual English accent to the numeric’s, and it was Rs 150 at the end. The lady jumped into the cab, and my wife felt like being fooled. She later said that she was rather more amused (than fooled) by the way the lady didn’t bothered her presence and suggestion about the location of the International Airport only 5 minutes before. She felt pity for the over smart lady. The next moment she thought, “None of my business. It’s her money”. But her thoughts were becoming satiric for the lady. “Nice bargain!!” is what my wife thought: “Rs 75 for every 100 meters”.
It’s about 5 KM’s to our place from the airport. She walked to the main traffic, boarded the city bus, and paid Rs 10 for the fare. She didn't bother to saw her student identity card, which could have earned 45% concession to the fare. I should not haggle with the khalaasi for such a nominal fare, is what she thought. She smiled. Not because she saved a silly but straightforward calculation of more than Rs 3500, but thinking why people are reluctant to believe, after they ask someone. Or it is just that they need to tighten and tune things up somewhere? Or it’s just a show off to a complete stranger? Deep down her the real reason for the smile was that she felt proud for not bargaining the fare.
It was raining outside, and the destination was about near. She searched for the umbrella in her hand bag. The bus once again verified the three "laws of motion", came to a halt and the khalaasi asked for “if anyone to clamber down at Balkumari”? She acknowledged the call and climbed down. She opened the umbrella and as always, like a kid who hardly obeys to the primary instructions of the parents, some metal spines flipped the other way. Raindrops hitting on her, she closed it, a bit annoyed. She reshapes the cone with cuddled fingers over the spine. She tried to open again. This time it came out in shape an umbrella is supposed to be. Just like kids who need to be kindled before they can be convinced. The city bus was still waiting more than normal, because of unsatisfactory passenger turnover, courtesy to the unanticipated winter rain. The khalaasi blaring with all his might: “Saatdobaato, Saatdobaato, Balkhu, Kalanki, Kalanki”. She paced her way towards home. Gravity and the resultant phenomenon of surface tension helped the raindrops beat her toes. The open sandals were never going to rescue, many a times the umbrella lacked the length of her strides and the breeze helped the raindrops dodge the rain shade to find the target.
