A Handshake of Independence

Running late for work, I found myself anxiously trying to flag down an auto on the bustling streets. The morning air was thick with humidity, and my formal shirt was already starting to stick to my back. After several unsuccessful attempts, watching auto after auto whiz past me, one finally pulled over. As it approached, I noticed something unusual – the driver wasn't a man, but a woman.

Before I could process this unexpected sight, she did something even more surprising. She stepped out of her auto, smiled warmly, and extended her hand for a handshake. I stood there, momentarily stunned, my briefcase hanging loosely by my side. In all my years of commuting, I had never experienced such a gesture from any auto driver. "Hi," she said simply, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. The formality of her greeting contrasted sharply with the casual nature of street-side transportation.

Still processing lateness for my morning meeting, and I hastily rattled off my office address. She nodded and thanked me with the same warmth she had shown earlier. As we weaved through the morning traffic, she maintained a focused silence, skillfully navigating the crowded streets.

The quiet gave me time to observe her more closely through the rearview mirror. She appeared to be in her early twenties, with careful hands on the steering wheel and an air of quiet confidence. My curiosity eventually got this unusual encounter, I climbed into the passenger seat. My mind was preoccupied with the mounting better of me, and I found myself asking, "Being a woman, how come you're driving an auto?"

She caught my eye in the mirror and smiled that same gentle smile. "Miss, I know I surprise people when they see me driving," she began, her voice carrying a note of pride. "But this is something my father taught me before he passed away. I never went to school, and I didn't want to work as a housekeeper. My father showed me how to drive this auto when I was in my teens, and now I support my mother and three younger siblings."

She paused at a traffic signal, then continued, "I love driving, so I decided to make it my way of earning. I'm content – enough to take care of my family – and I'm happy. I don't need to rush like you did today, but I respect people who work for others. I chose to do something independent."

Her words resonated deeply within me. Here was someone who had taken control of her destiny despite the constraints of her circumstances. While society might have expected her to follow a more traditional path, she had chosen to break the mold. The auto she drove wasn't just a vehicle; it was her statement of independence, her way of honoring her father's legacy while creating her own.

I found myself wanting to shake her hand again, though she had already extended that courtesy at the beginning of our journey. In her, I saw a quiet strength that commanded respect – not because she was doing something extraordinary, but because she had found contentment in her chosen path. While I sat there in my corporate attire, rushing to meet deadlines and chase promotions, she had found her peace in the simple act of driving through the city streets, making her own decisions and living life on her terms.

As we approached my office building, the morning sun now fully risen and casting long shadows across the street, I felt a shift in my perspective. My own work, while satisfying in terms of earnings, suddenly seemed to lack the clear sense of purpose and independence that this woman possessed. She hadn't just found a job; she had carved out her own niche in a male-dominated profession.

Stepping out of the auto, I thanked her not just for the ride, but for the unexpected wisdom she had shared. Our brief encounter had turned into a powerful reminder about the importance of making conscious choices in life. As I watched her drive away, merging back into the stream of traffic, I realized that sometimes the most profound lessons come from the most unexpected sources.

Walking into my office, I carried with me a new understanding. We often rush through life, following predetermined paths and societal expectations, without stopping to question if they truly align with our values and desires. This woman, with her unconventional choice and quiet dignity, had shown me what it means to live authentically. I may have been late for work that day, but I had gained something far more valuable – a reminder that true success lies not in following the crowd, but in having the courage to chart your own course, no matter what others might think.