Got royally fooled and robbed out of all my cash by an auto wala today. swindled out of atleast 2500 rs. Very frustrated.
I am such a gullible fool!! 🤡 and feel like a clown for getting so easily duped out of all of my money! the auto wala must be having a good laugh right now...
I arrived at Mumbai Intl. airport for the first time and decided to take the auto from the T2 auto stand. The queue was very long so I decided to walk to the front and see if I can get an auto/cab. I approached one of the autos parked at the side and asked how much they would charge to take me to Hub mall in goregaon. The driver denied to take me, but there was another auto wala observing me from the side and approached me saying he will take me to the place. Before I could ask for the fare, he pushed me aside (he was pretty imposing and fat) and took both my luggage and kept in his auto and made me sit inside as well after removing my laptop bag. He said it will be 600 fixed charge for airport parking fee plus whatever charge comes in the meter. Before I could say anything, he started the rickshaw and drove and did not allow me to ask about the fixed fare. Despite his size, he was a sweet talker, and had me nicely distracted for the whole ride. Just kept talking the whole time, not stopping for a minute and asking everything about where I was from, how old I was to where I was studying/working. Since I had asked how much is the fare, he knew I was new to the city and checked if I knew the route (which i didn't). He had fully captivated my attention and I was entirely focused on thinking and answering his questions that I forgot to see that this guy's meter was hidden with a towel (big mistake, should've checked before he said its as per meter charges). The ride ended and he removed the cloth off of the meter, and it reads as 950/- 🤡. So, the total fare was 600 + 950 = 1550/-
The auto driver had figured by now that I am quite polite and knew that I would not push back on the rate. I knew the price was too high, and maybe I was being made a fool, but for some reason I could not argue and obliged to pay the full amount when he said its the correct fare looking at me re-assuredly. He insisted that I pay in cash instead of gpay, so, I take out three 500 rupee notes from my wallet and I hand it to him, and look back at my wallet for a split second to get another 50 change. The driver, in that instant, raised his voice and said I gave him only three 50 rupee notes so far. And when I looked at his hand, it indeed had 3 crisp 50 rupee notes. I was like, that can't be possible!! I am sure I gave him three 500 rupee notes, and before I could speak up on this, he had me quickly silenced by saying "Aap se meine accha baat kiya toh aap mujhe mamu banane ki koshish kar raho ho..". I was completely taken aback and started doubting myself thinking maybe I indeed gave him only 50 rupees notes. Its possible because I was quite drowsy and tired the whole trip (did not sleep much the previous night) and very distracted with all the questions he asked to keep me occupied. So I handed him another 3 500 rupee notes and got back 100 change. This time I was more careful and attentive, he counted slowly in front of me, looked at me grinned and then he told me by patting my face 'Beta, aap bahut hi acche bachche ho, bhagavaan aapka bhala kare", patted my face again and laughed and drove away. I did not know what to say as I was still very confused and not sure if I was being scammed or not that moment (I knew the fare was high but not sure on the notes I gave earlier). I took my luggage and walked away. I realized much later that the auto wala had collectively relieved me out of 3000 rs for the trip as I had withdrew that cash a couple of days back at the ATM (I did not spend cash anywhere else) and my wallet had only some change left now.
I had been taken for a fool and then taken for a nice ride as well. I am such a clown and so riled thinking about it!! 🙃