"boss you guys are just looting tourists and it is so disappointing..."

 "boss you guys are just looting tourists and it is so disappointing..." I retorted over the phone.

This morning we had to check out of our South Goa hotel. We had to go to the other end in North Goa in the morning & then to the Airport in the evening. The local transport lobby here did not let OLA/UBER survive here. The cab guys outside the hotel quoted a fare (just for trip to North) that was equivalent to the one way air fare I paid. I refused to pay such high fare & told them to call me if they decide to cut down on the fare.

In the meanwhile I tried figuring cheaper options. I found out about a cab app and downloaded it. To my shock, the app quoted a fare which was a third of the fare quoted by locals. I went to the hotel reception to check if it was reliable. I was told there is no point booking from the cab app as the local cabbies would not let them in. Right at that moment I got a call - the guy calling (the leader of the cabbies) said at best he will reduce INR 200. That's when I lost my mind and told him what I quoted above. I was clearly cornered into overpaying for a service at a rate 3 times the fair market rate. Their lame argument was that the cab will come empty so we had to pay for to and fro fare. When I asked him if the same cab can drop me at the airport as a part of the deal he refused saying the cab union of North won't allow that . This meant I had to pay a significant sum again in the evening. However, without any options, I agreed to take the cab.

On the way, I struck a conversation with the driver to know more. I was flabbergasted when he said that he fought with the leader there as he wanted much more for the trip. Then he explained the background to me. He told me about :

- people like him who had taken new cars just prior to the pandemic and had a hard time surviving with large debt & no income

- spiraling fuel prices hitting their margins

- political situation affecting their business

- he was earning well at Heathrow Airport but had to return to take care of ailing parents

Gradually my feelings of anger & disappointment had given way to feelings of empathy & gratitude. It is amazing how talking to a person and delving deep into their situation makes you more informed and empathetic. It makes us more accepting. I was feeling s

hort-changed when I opened the cab door to take my seat. By the time I was opening the door again to get down, I was feeling calm and full of gratitude for having a job through the pandemic to even have the ability to take this vacation post our vaccination.

The cabbie here was clearly stuck in a maze of complications which wasn't helping absolutely anyone - neither the tourists nor them but he was just a little pawn in the ugly war going on in the transport business of Goa. All he was doing was his bit for his family.

When we got down he surprisingly offered to drop me in the evening and quoted a fare. It was clearly higher by about 700Rs. I agreed & asked him to pick us at 6pm.

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