Twentytwo13

‘You’ll never understand’ – Stories from an e-hailing driver

Taranjiv Singh is a law degree holder 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 some six months ago.

Taranjiv shares his tales with Twentytwo13. This week, he reminds us not to judge a book by its cover.

“I had a passenger not too long ago. She was a lawyer, in her late 20s, and had just started practicing in a well-known law firm.

Some passengers love to chat. Some just prefer a quiet journey in the car. This passenger was happy to talk.

She shared about her life as a lawyer for the past four years. Rather new in the scene, but she was already jaded.

She revealed how frustrating it was, and that it was nothing like she had initially imagined. She’s not alone, as many of my former college mates, who went on to pursue a career in law, speak of the same frustrations.

She ended by saying “You’ll never understand”.

I smiled. I told her I did, that I too, read law, and had worked in a major corporation for years, only to finally give it up.

That caught her attention. She was eager to know more.

I told her briefly about my background and what I’m doing today. Her facial expression said it all.

Perhaps there was this sense of guilt, or perhaps she was just stunned that people would give up stability to pursue their dreams, not knowing what the future holds.

My dream is to be involved in agriculture and, slowly but surely, I’m getting there.

Just before we reached our destination, the young lawyer passed me her call card and asked me to send in my resume.

I thanked her for her gesture and kindness, but being a legal clerk is far off from fulfilling my dreams.

This conversation with the lawyer reminded me of my very many conversations with other passengers. There is this presumption that e-hailing drivers are just drivers. It’s the same stigma my dad had when he was driving a taxi decades ago.

As more and more people, including professionals, are being laid off, and with the spiralling cost of living, I know of many friends, including those armed with paper qualifications and managerial experiences, becoming e-hailing drivers.

There’s no shame in it, really, although it is only natural for one to feel that way during his or her early days of driving.

But it has been an invaluable experience speaking to people from all walks of life, listening to different views while seeing how other people view things.

What has also been enlightening for my passengers is that just as they are about to get out of the vehicle, they will realise to never judge a book by its cover.”