Thursday, August 11th, around 5.30 PM. I just drive out of office in ORR to witness the usual pile up on the service road. I am driving towards HSR. This happened right in front of Ecospace. I am in the left lane and standing still as the traffic is not moving, when I hear the heart crunching thud and my car shakes. I see the ORVM and my paranoia has come true. A Sumo cab has rear ended me. I switch on the hazard lights, keep my cell phone in the pocket, switch off the car, take the keys and get out of the car. The Sumo guy is looking at me and asking me to move as if nothing happened! He is blocking traffic from both sides and is being shouted at from a lot of people.
I go to him and say in kannada "Yes Sir, How to we go about this? Are you ready to talk?"
Cabbie: "No, go file a case."
Me: "If that's the case, give me your license, your owner's number and your number."
Cabbie: "I can't. Do whatever you can/want." He starts to move. (By this time because of the incessant honking, I moved my car to the left and parked)
I stand in front of the vehicle blocking his way. He starts bad mouthing me and I return it and ask him to get down. Then I move over to passenger side and speak to some of the folks in the cab in English.
Me: "Guys I am also an IT professional and an educated guy. I am not here to create unwanted nuisance. You guys have witnessed this guy has done a mistake and is being unfair now. I need your support on this. I understand you are advised not to get involved in this stuff, but tomorrow it might happen to you or your family." They keep mum and look at me like I'm from mars. I continue "I can't believe you educated guys are keeping mum on this." Then one guy speaks, he says "Dude he's asking you to file a case right? Do that." I say "Ask him to handover his documents or to sort this out."
By this time, the driver is a little shaken. He understands I am a localite too and he cannot bulldoze me. He starts shouting and bad mouthing again. Then he mellows down, parks to the left and gives me his mobile number and starts giving
dhamkis to me. He says "I am from so and so area, I have so and so back up." I ask him to shut up and say "I don't want to get in to all that. I know you have done it by mistake and I don't want to harm you for no reason. All I am asking for is compensation. You have done a mistake. As simple as that." He says "Whatever it is, you can't talk to employees." Me says, "That's the only reason you got down." He then says "Don't report this to my owner, I'll pay up, but I don't have money. I have given you my phone number, call me on that." Me: "What's the guarantee that you're going to answer my call?". He tries to give me his 500 bucks worth cell phone. I move back saying "I don't need all this. I am going to call you. If you don't respond, I'll file a case and hunt down your owner." He says "I will answer and pay." Then we disperse.
Need your comments on this.
My thoughts:
1. I should have pressed him to give an important document. License/vehicle related.
2. My father saya "There's no chance that he'll respond. It's over, forget it, get it fixed and move on. You won't have time to run around to the police station and they won't give a damn about this." Me: "Hmm!"
EDIT: Forgot to mention, I drive home with a small dent and a few scratches on my verna.
PS: Throughout, I am secretly hoping a friend or a TBhpian notices this and stops. Alas, it didn't happen.