Every thing was going wrong. I mean Everything. It must have been my mindset. Here was a Guy who was taunting me while point his phone at me. ‘Ten’ in Arabic on a green screen. He wanted me to pay him. And he was being rude about it. I was trying to explain to him that I didn’t want to pay. And he didn’t listen to reason and kept mocking me. He obviously didn’t speak English. But didn’t mean you can just mock me with sounds equivalent to ‘blah blah blah’ .
Yes, this was my bad Uber Moment. I am sure everyone had one. So far I’ve only heard stories about bad drivers and unprofessional behavior. Well, throw in Two people, one who doesn’t want to bargain about the fare and another who just needed a license to get the job, there could be conflict. If he didn’t take that tone with me or mocked me, I would have been more amiable. But since he was being rude and unprofessional, I didn’t want to pay the fee.
No, I don’t usually walk away from a fee even if I didn’t like the driver or service. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case. I made the booking as I have done many a times. Even though there was a 1.some fare hike, I still chose to book a cab cause I had to reach the Airport. Well I had to stop over at my apartment first. So I was in a rush. So when he reached my location, I got in and buckled up. But we didn’t move. He was saying something about the location.
I was confused about that was wrong about my destination. He kept pointing at his phone. Initially I thought I had booked wrong, but when I checked my phone it was the exact location I wanted to reach. So told him in so far as the Arabic I knew that the location was fine and that’s where I wanted to go. But he kept saying something about my location and we weren’t moving. I told him that I knew the location. Go straight and then left. But he kept saying something about the location and we weren’t moving.
I was getting anxious and exhausted. It was getting pretty late and I need to reach home to Finish my final packing and set off to the Airport. Since, he wasn’t moving, I told fine, cancel the trip and got off. I walked away not was I paying attention to him. My Sister in law messaged me to call her. Usually she doesn’t reach me unless it’s urgent. So I was preoccupied by her message and Also trying to book another Cab. And I heard my name called. I turned and it was the driver. He was pointing at the phone and telling me I need to pay him.
I didn’t have to deal with him. He didn’t want to take me and I am sure instead of cancelling the trip, he would have just clicked on Trip End. So it meant I took the Trip. Why should I pay him. No, I said. I don’t want to pay you. You didn’t want to take me to my location. So why should I even consider paying you. I am sure it wasn’t even the cancellation fees. Raise a complaint I tried to tell. But he kept mocking me. I was getting a bit pissed about now and wanted to walk away. That’s when he forcefully grabbed my arm, digging his claws into me. For a moment I feared, he was going to get physical violent.
That’s when my flight or fight kicked in. Now I was seeing red. The mocking and the now the physical contact, I wanted to swing at him. Take him down, smack his head and make him see that he messed with the wrong person. But unfortunately for him, I didn’t have the impulse of my Youth. The Years have mellowed me a bit and with Experience, I had my subconscious send me flash messages of Airport and Police. Yes, it was getting late. And I didn’t want to escalate it to a situation where I may end up being locked up. I didn’t have time for it and I wasn’t a local like him. Neither I spoke enough Arabic to explain what happened and It would have been his word against mine.
Yes, He was a bully and had been a bit physical but on hindsight, If had put my hands on him, I would have been in hotter waters. From his side, he was a driver and I am a passenger who was trying to run away from a fare. So grabbing on to me would have been alright by the Police and he didn’t do anything else. If I hit him for grabbing my arm and not letting me leave, it would have been violence. So I would have been in the wrong. They wouldn’t considered his behavior or how he had acted against me. I could have just stared him down or asked him to call the Cops, but the outcome would have been wasted time, Unable to explain what happened, may end up having to going to the station to clear it up, having to call my manager to come vouch for me and him having the home court advantage etc etc.
I didn’t have time to deal with it. So fine, he wanted his money, I would give him his money. But to be on the safe side I wanted it to be in front of a camera or security guard. I was just below the Office, It was post office hours and the guards were inside. So I wanted to reach them in case anything else went down. But he didn’t let go. Okay fine, I took out my wallet and gave him the 10 Riyal. Yes, the matter was over Ten Riyal. As I am writing about this, I do find it hilarious but It wasn’t about the money. It was about my self respect. And a bit of my bruised ego. Though my ego is tough as nails, I guess there are triggers I am still finding out about till date.
He left without saying a word. I am sure he felt was he was in the right. I am he must have been pleased with himself on having won a victory over me. He didn’t know how close he ended up on going to war. So I did what I didn’t want to do in the first place. Hail a cab, negotiated the bill (Meter would have been cheaper), got back to my apartment, packed the remaining of my luggage and left to the Airport. Oh Yes, I did raise a complaint with Uber . They did refund me the fees, noted down the Incident and apologies for the Inconvenience.
If only apologies were worth a damn, according to them they would handle the Issue Internally and If I wanted I wanted to approach the police, they would provide the required tracking Info and other Information. Like that would help, It was his words against mine, may need a lawyer to go down to the police to raise a complaint and I am sure It would have been dismissed as a disagreement. So I have to eat humble pie and notch this up as my Uber Story. So If you are having a bad day, need to get a ride urgently, why not try Uber . You may have your own Uber moment. ‘Wink Wink’.
Btw If you are in Saudi Arabia and Ubering a Grey Dodge Charger with Driver named ‘سا ر ي’ , Tell him I said ‘…C… You’ .
The Narrator 