A couple of nights ago, I went karaoke singing with my colleagues, and we didn't leave until well past 2 a.m. Since we all lived in different areas, we decided to take separate taxis back home. In our city, taxi drivers often engage in some questionable practices, like picking up additional passengers during the ride to earn extra money.
By this time, I had consumed quite a bit and was desperately craving my bed, hoping to sleep off my splitting headache. The taxi driver who pulled up was a young man in his early twenties. As we drove along, I noticed that he suddenly slowed down ahead, coming to a halt. It was quite an annoyance for me since my only thought was to get home and sleep, but I knew the local taxi etiquette.
You see, our taxi drivers often pick up extra passengers on the way, and they can earn a little extra if someone hails them mid-ride. So, I came up with a plan to get the driver moving without the detour.
Realizing that the driver was about to stop for the unexpected passengers, I shifted from appearing drunk and lethargic to a very concerned and stern expression. In a low voice, I told the driver, "Don't stop, keep going!"
The driver, perplexed, was about to ask why when I interrupted, "Don't talk, just go! Fast!"
Although he wasn't thrilled, my serious demeanor made him think twice. So, he reluctantly stepped on the gas, and we continued our journey without picking up those extra passengers.
When we finally reached my building and parked the car, he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer and asked, "What happened back there?"
I looked at him with a grave expression and said, "Buddy, you should thank me. You didn't notice those two women trying to flag us down, did you? Their heels weren't touching the ground... You're still young, and you need to be more careful when you're working night shifts like this. Otherwise, you might end up as an unwitting victim. I can't explain too much; you wouldn't understand. Just be careful from now on."
With that, I got out of the car, closed the door, and left the young driver sitting there in utter bewilderment. He didn't even ask for the fare.
The next morning when I was on my way to work, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the same taxi still parked outside my building. It hadn't left the entire night, and the driver seemed hesitant to start his usual day of picking up passengers.