I Got Shocked Today!

_{Тамара Левченко}

---

I experienced something today that had me thinking deeply. Many times, when we look at people, we view them through a certain lens, probably because that is how society has programmed us to view them. But then, most of what society programs us to view are usually taken at face value, and if we go with them, we would most likely be disappointed.

But then, many times, these stereotypes end up working for those involved. And other times, it backfires. Either way, it is something that each and every one of us is guilty of doing. As a matter of fact, we might be doing it without even knowing it. That is life for you.

Earlier today, I was on a bus to town, the bus was not filled up and that meant the driver would be stopping at different bus stops to source for passengers. The journey went smoothly until we stopped at a particular bus stop to pick up an elderly woman. She was dressed like she was going to one of those meetings old women usually go to on Sunday evenings. Very obvious by the wrapper she was tying.

As she entered she told the driver she was going to Point A (For context), and we were on the move once more. Now, note that Point A is not too far off, as a matter of fact, it is something you can trek if you don’t really have the money to spare. And so, the fare cost N100. Normally, it would have been N50, but with this fuel hike, that’s the new price.

_{Quang Nguyen Vinh}

So, the driver got carried away as he drove, he was having a chat with the lady beside him. Until he drove past Point A. This old lady kept quiet. It wasn’t until the driver had driven past two other bus stops before he remembered that there was someone that was supposed to drop.

He stopped the bus and asked her, why she didn’t stop him when they got to Point A. She was looking at him as if he was loco. Then asked him why she would stop at Point A.

“Hah! That’s the bus stop you told me na!” The driver retorted.

“Is that what I said?” She looked shocked, “I’m not going to Point A, I am going to Point E. I’m sorry, my son, it was a mistake.”

“In that case, your fare is N150.”

Mind you, the distance from where we were to Point E was just a bus stop away. And he was only telling her the standard fare. He had earlier on taken N100 from her and now that he knew she was going somewhere else, she had to make it up.

Omo, this woman did not ooo.

_{Steve Aksnes}

She began to beg the driver to just leave the N50 extra for her, asking him to pity her old age. That was all she had when coming out. And every sentence she spoke, she made sure to include “my son”.

The driver was angry, he was complaining about the high cost of fuel and he was in no mood for charity. The woman kept pleading and he kept refusing. One of the things that made him even angrier was that she was smiling coyly at him. As if she knew what she was doing was not right, but she was doing it anyway.

It was then we all realized that it had been her plan all along. She didn’t have enough fare for the full trip to Point E, so she decided to use that scheme. It meant she had not made a mistake earlier, and it had all been part of her plan. I don’t know how she had planned to do it, but it must have blown up in her face because the driver really didn’t care.

And no one was on her side either. When she entered the bus, she didn’t even try to bargain. There are times when people will beg the drivers to carry them for a reduced fare, and the drivers will do it willingly. Sometimes, even fellow passengers will choose to shoulder their fare. What no one liked was the fact that she tried to pull a fast one on the driver, and that was what made him so angry.

_{Sultan Raimosan}

The bus came to a standstill and the driver swore not to move again until she paid him the full amount. And she seemed okay with that plan. Eventually, one of us decided to pay the N50 for her. And that was how we moved again.

So now, what do you think of this? Isn’t what this old woman did a kind of fraud? I understand that times are hard and she could have been in genuine need of help, but she could have gone about it the right way, not trying to fool him. No one likes being made a fool of, and if they catch anyone attempting such, they will not take it lightly with them. And now, depending on the kind of person the driver s, he might decide to never help anyone again in the future.

When you see people that are aged, you expect wisdom, and also expect them to be above certain things. But when such things happen, you begin to question a lot of things.

This is just a friendly reminder that things and people should never be taken at face value. Everyone has the capacity to do bad and also has the capacity to do good. If we relate with everyone with this mindset, we would rarely get hurt.

Of course, I could be wrong. Everyone can look at this in different ways and come up with different scenarios. So what do you think? Do you think the old woman did what she could or she could have handled it better? Or do you believe the driver could have taken it a little easier on her?

Feel free to let me know in the comments section, I would love to know what you are thinking.

_{Nathan Cowley}

---

---

_{Thank you for reading. Till we meet in the next post.}