When we moved here, we decided that we would buy a minivan, use it for the year, and sell it when we left.  We figured that this was the best option for us, and went so far as to put a deposit on a Toyota Innova (basically a Sienna) before we left on our look-see trip.

Unfortunately, delivery on the van was expected to be about three weeks after we arrived with the family, so we needed to make other arrangements for our first month.  Willy got a referral from a colleague for a driver that came with his own car and was willing to take us on for one month.  He proved to be very friendly, competent, and great with the lils, and we were feeling sad to be losing him as delivery day drew near.  Turns out he was also happy with our family, so the week that we were to take delivery on the car, we cancelled it and hired Subbu for the year.  We have never looked back, and we don’t think he has either.  If nothing else, I know that the antics of the lils at least amuse him….

Every now and again I am reminded of how good we have it. Like when Willy’s Mum and I took a taxi to the airport, and the driver’s GPS had to warn him to slow down, as he was driving too fast (which is hard to do on Bangalore roads). Or the man the drove us from Kochi to Alleppey like he was driving the Indy 500 dekeing in and out of traffic, squealing off the highway to get gas, and stopping on a dime with no warning.  For the most part, these were minor faults for driver’s that just could not meet the standard that Subbu has set.

This past weekend’s driver, however, was really bad.  He picked us up at the airport in Delhi, as arranged, and we headed off on the long ride to Agra.  We quickly noticed that he was the type of driver that liked to surge ahead and break, surge ahead and break in traffic.  While this is just a minor annoyance for Willy and I, it is the very driving style that makes Goose carsick.  Sure enough, not one hour into the ride, she was sick.  We spoke to the driver, and asked him to take it easy, but even though he understood, he did not change his driving style.  It was a long and uncomfortable ride for poor Goose.

We arrived in Agra, and let him know that we would text our plans to him, but that it would likely mean an early pickup, so one of us could visit the Taj Mahal at dawn.  Later that day, he called to confirm, but we didn’t have plans set. Willy talked to me and called back within five minutes, but received no response, despite numerous calls and texts.  After a couple of hours with no response, it was  to look like he was going to get stranded, so we made back-up plans with the hotel for a 6:00 am pick-up.  It was a good thing we did, as the driver never contacted us or showed.  He finally called at 9:30 when we were at the Taj Mahal, and gave us excuses about his phone not working, and how calls to our hotel room were unanswered from 5:00am on.  We knew this to be a lie, as I was up, and missed no call on any phone in the room.

We asked him to wait for us at the hotel, and headed back at our leisure. The driver did successfully take Willy and the lils to Agra Fort, and took the family to dinner that night.  The last straw for me, as when he flicked on the tv, and started watching a movie as he was driving us back to the hotel! He could not wait to watch it, even though the drive was a mere five minutes, and I could not wait to be rid of this driver.

We headed back to Delhi on Sunday morning, and the ride was much like the ride down to Agra. Many rough starts and stops, a green Goose, and a horn worn out from too much honking.  I think the lils had had enough at this point, as they made several pointed comments, along the lines of: Subbu is a good driver, why didn’t Subbu come with us, and I miss Subbu…  We were all so happy to see him waiting at the airport for us when we got home!!