Taranjiv Singh is a law graduate who once served in Malaysia’s biggest broadcasting company.
While exploring his farming venture, the 40-year-old started driving for an e-hailing company in August last year.
Taranjiv shares his tales with Twentytwo13. This week, he shares how his passengers react when they accidentally leave their handphones in his car, and their reaction upon getting their mobile devices back.
“A mobile phone is a necessity today. I get it. You don’t need to even carry a wallet anymore, as almost everything can be done by just tapping on your phone.
You want to find your way around? There’s Waze or Google Maps. You want to find out about a restaurant? There are so many websites and social media sites that review food. You want a date? There are also mobile applications for that.
I too, use my phone for various things. But what I don’t understand is the reaction by some of my passengers the minute they “lose” their phones.
I’ve had, several times, discovered phones buzzing away in the back seat, despite it being empty. When I answer the phone, the owner would be in a frantic state, wanting the phone back, ASAP.
There were times when I could make a quick dash back and return the phone. But there were also times when I could only return the phone after completing a trip. There are those who understand, but there are also those who demand that I return their phones yesterday. If I could describe their voices, it would be similar to a zombie that has not tasted blood for the past one month. That’s beyond scary.
What happens after that is equally wild. The script is almost similar, yet the dramatic scenes always surprise me. I’ve had one passenger who cried uncontrollably upon receiving her phone. I doubt she’d cry that much if her cat died.
There was also a grown man who got down on his knees to thank me. That hero-cum-idol-like reception I received for that five seconds was pretty awkward – especially for just returning a handphone.
I’ve also had people offering me a whole lot of money just to pass their phones back. With that kind of cash, I could easily buy another handphone, or two.
There was a particular week when I had to return five phones that had been left in the car (yes, that many), to be greeted with a huge sigh of relief, sweaty palms, and a big smile, the kind you break into after striking the lottery.
The reason is simple. It’s not so much the phone. Rather, it’s what is stored in the phone, that’s valuable. Some lose their heads, worrying if their banking details will be compromised. Others perhaps, worry if their chats or images will be posted online. Some fear losing their social media accounts more than being robbed.
Here’s something I always tell my passengers just before they reach their destination; kindly check your belongings to ensure you’ve not left anything behind. I don’t mind driving back to deliver your devices, but what I can no longer tolerate is the drama that often accompanies these ‘jejak kasih’ moments.”
