Taxidriver

Taxi's and taxi drivers make most of me interactions with the people of this town. Going in the morning or returning at the end of a long day, the cabbie says Nihao and something else and then Naadi, Which then is your cue to blurt out where you want to go. Which is where the fun begins

Be prepared to start the usual flailing of the arms. But here you cant help feel that you are a traffic policeman, directing them here there and everywhere. Know the words for right left and straight and the chap immediately assumes that you are an expert in the language.

The other day, on the way to work, I get this hyper talkative chap. Think the guy was giving a load of gaali's under his breadth all the way. At one point there was this truck coming the wrong way up a one way street, chap breaks out into a string of words and then looks at me to respond. Me raises me hands with a look of what i take to be exasperation on me face and we go along. The chap was muttering all the remainder of the way.

And then there was the other day, Chap says something like you Xindian. i had just got on the cab and I thought he was asking whether i wanted to goto Xintiandi (or however you type that) I'm trying to tell him "No want to goto Xujiahui" Repeat this three four times to which the guy goes "Me Chinese, you Indian". Finally dimaag ki batti jali and I say yes yes lets go along. Next signal the guy takes out his bottle and empties his water, turns around and says "Paani nahin hai." Me is sitting there speechless and pretty much looking like a dumb fool staring back at him. Signal changes and we reach Xujiahui. Me says thanks and gets on going.

Fun I tells you.