Conversations Characters and a Ride Share - 1st

The Sound of Silence 

I started using an app-based ride-sharing/ taxi service a few years ago. Never an early adapter to the things that become talk of town. I try to go by merit then hype on my picks. Obviously, bragging rights is never a part of my decision criteria.

Well, ever since I started using the service, reluctantly at first, I've found one big merit. The conversations that one ends up having. Usually you meet drivers who are from all walks of life and mostly you end up having a conversation that you feel should go on beyond the journey that you shared.

I've many stories and many characters from my such experiences, some just fun and some great learning. I promise I will share some of those. But today I am writing about the driver I had this morning (and as a matter of fact 2 days before too I had the same driver).

If you ask what so good about that conversation with this driver that I want to write about as the 1st in this line of conversations. In reality, we had no conversation at all, both the times. At least not in the way I’ve been conditioned to converse. She didn't say even a word (neither did  I). She was nice, polite, very professional but she didn't utter a word, because she couldn't hear or speak. She could understand my gestures while driving me to the airport. Picking the turns that I suggested. Dropping me at the gate that I wanted, even though it was not on her well-prepared placard that one could point to. 

She wore an awesome smile and an awesome attitude throughout. Very professional, knew her work well, had excellent grip on the road, had mastered the driving. She couldn't speak or hear, but she didn't need any of that. 

My 1st conversation to mention was not a conversation. Not in traditional sense, but truly a million unsaid words as an ode to resilience, professionalism and attitude to overcome the challenge that some less optimally working faculties has presented her. 

Ms. J, thanks for speaking the language of courage. Hope to see you again on another such trips and listen to your silence and courage. And learn some more.