The Rain. The Ride. The Record.
Usually life feels balanced. My brother is there, to handle the deliveries, and I am just part of fixing and building functionalities for the application. But this evening, the balance is off. He was out for a work, leaving me alone at the driver seat. What happens when a conductor, who knows no driving, drove the bus? Adding to this, the sky joined the party wearing dark grey dress, the kind that’s sure gonna bring rain. Did it? Yeah, it did.
My phone flashed with a notification, two order back to back. I looked at the rain outside, and at the road that is wet and muddy, and looked back at my phone. The part of my brain that seeks comfort said, “It’s not worth getting wet da Vishwa, cancel the order..! and sit back relaxed eating the raagi biscuit..”. Did I cancel those orders? Hell Nooo.
I zipped up my rain coat, this isn’t just about delivering the orders, this is about reputation. This is about the promise we made to our customers. I stepped out, with the cold rain hitting my face, I started my dad’s bike.
People who know me knows that I wear glasses, and people who wear glasses knows how hard it is to ride in the rain with those glasses on. Through those rain drops which are on my glasses, I saw a silver indica car pass by with their wipers on. I wish I have those wipers in my glasses like a little Doremon gadget which I can attach on my glasses.
Entering that super market for the first time, I felt like I was at the maze, not knowing which products resides where in that shop. Have you ever got a multiple choice question where all answers seems right, that’s how I felt when I see I need to find the Toor Dhall (Thuvaram Parupu). Knowing that I am suffering with finding the product, one blue saree akka came with a smile and helped me with getting the products into the cart. I kick started the bike again, navigated the turns and reached the first house and delivered the first order.
On my way back to deliver the second order, I remembered the Swiggy and Zomato riders, how I snuggled up with my pillows in my pg at peace and ordered the foods even when its a heavy downpour outside. Those riders ride for that extra money during rains, and me, not sure, though I was not comfortable at first, once I get wet, it wasn’t actually that bad, I started enjoying the rain droplets on my face, except for that glasses, I still wish that I had those wipers. I wondered, does the rain feels more cold when they ride for their paycheck? and for the stomachs they need to feed? I felt a deep respect to annas and akkas out there who is delivering the foods and groceries during rains and late nights. There comes a voice in my head, “Hey Vishwa, heyy!! you are riding the bike and that too in the rain. Be careful!”. Enough of autopilot mode, I started riding with more focus.
I delivered the second order. Returned home looking at my brother who is just back from his work. My phone flashed again, two more orders popped up. Done and delivered again. I parked the bike at the front door. Soaked as hell, yet energized like bee. My feet are covered with sand like I was just back from the beach. I checked the daily stats, the number stared at me, glowing on the screen (8 Orders). We hit the all time high, that too on the day I was alone. The wet clothes are off. The dry clothes are on. In front of me sits the trophy for the night (Honey Chicken).