TRUST NO ONE

Chapter 1

It was late in the night (around 11pm) Suzain had to travel from sector 108 NOIDA to sector 82 of GURGAON (around 35 kms)
Given the timing & distance , she was sure that the person who will accept the Uber ride would either be heading towards Gurgaon or working in the night shift.
An Uber driver named Jaswant Singh accepted the ride. She boarded the cab & sat like a dumb on the rear seat just staring at her mobile phone. Soon they crossed the DND heading towards Delhi. Jaswant wondered about his passenger. Was this lady a talker, a mummy, a newspaper reader or a mobile addict?
After a few moments she started the conversation. It began ordinarily enough. " How do you like driving a cab?" It was a stock question &Jaswant gave her a stock answer. "It's okay", he said. " I make a living & meet interesting people sometimes. But if I could get a job making ₹ one thousand a week more, I would take it, just like you would."
" I've always been curious about people & I've tried to learn what I could from them."
" Many times during long rides I have developed a rapport with my passengers & quite often I had received very good advice from advocates, lawyers & plumbers."
His words gave a deep thought to Suzain. Maybe, it was that this fellow dearly loved his work, or maybe it was just the pleasant mood of spring night.
Suzain: " Is your home in Gurgaon?"
Jaswant: " No it's nearly eight kms from your drop off location."
Suzain: " So, you are working in the night shift?"
Jaswant: " I've to go to the office tomorrow morning & I accepted this ride because you were traveling alone in the night. I'll drop you & then straight away head towards home. My mother is waiting for me to have dinner together."
Suzain: "Okay, thanks for that. You drive an Uber for additional income?"
Jaswant: " Yes, ma'am , this is the only age when I can work & earn enough to fulfil my future needs. Actually I've seen extreme conditions. When I came to Delhi for a job I wasn't financially sound. I borrowed a trouser, a pair of shoes & a couple of formal shirts from an old friend of mine who's staying in Delhi from the last three years. In the daytime, I used to consume a glass of tea & some bread only. In the nighttime I used to search for a place that can offer a full meal at cheapest rates. But now, I think, I'm settled."
Suzain: " That's great! So, Uber can generate you a good amount of income?"
Jaswant: " No ma'am, I drive only in the evenings & make some ₹ ten thousand working six hours a week. In the daytime I work as a peon in a company & earn nearly ₹ fifteen thousand. I've seen hardships & have never been able to sit idle after that. If, in the initial days I would have got frustrated & went back home, I wouldn't have achieved even this much."
He even mentioned that his day will start at five am daily & consistently he goes to the gym before heading to office.
During the whole trip, Suzain was astonished & happy to meet a man who preserved during his struggling days & is satisfied & proud of his achievement now.
Before alighting from the cab at her destination, she asked Jaswant
" Can you come down daily at the same hour to pick me for the same destination "
Jaswant: O!! Yes, Ma'am ji , why not?"
. This liaison with Jaswant continued for two months & then one day, while on her journey, Suzain asked Jaswant
" Would you like to work for our organisation & your salary can be ₹ one lakh or even more"
On hearing this Jaswant was dumbfounded.
Stuttering, he asked " And what would be the job like?"
Suzain: " Well, nothing very serious "
" But would you like to help the cause of your country. That, such help was necessary & important for the cause of our nation."
" Anything for my country, Ma'am ji . Let it be known to you that my father was in the army from Punjab regiment & unfortunately he was killed in the 1975 war with Pakistan" Jaswant answered in a sad tone.
Suzain: " Okay then, here's the card of my office, & try to come down tomorrow by 11am sharp & meet Mr. Satpal."