I want to become an IAS officer, said Mahesh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A tall, healthy fellow wearing thick glasses welcomed me as I picked my Uber from the airport. I was returning from an early morning connecting flight from Mumbai. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahesh is from western Karnataka and studying a bachelor\u2019s in history from correspondence. He asked me where I am from: I said Bihar, and he spoke about Magadh, Chandragupta, and Buddha. It was my history 101 about Bihar, which I loved. I was happily surprised as, for the first time, someone did not say bad things about Bihar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahesh: Are you married?
Me: No
Mahesh: Why?
Me: Ladki bhag Gaye (Girl, ran away)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We both giggled for a few minutes afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahesh came to Bangalore to earn his living and study. In the early days of the cab aggregators gold rush, one of the drivers from his village made a lot of money. The guy owns 30 cabs now and employs all the drivers from his home. He provides them food, shelter, and a salary of 15000 monthly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahesh said he is preparing for his IAS exams. That is why he took arts and particularly history. Another reason is seeing the glorious past of our country. I have never seen anyone as proud as Mahesh. Was our past so glorious or written by the winners? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our cab crossed Lalbagh, and Mahesh stopped for a tea and lit a cigarette. He has been on 14 hours of duty and was feeling drowsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahesh asked for my phone number, which I shared. I am waiting for his call to give me the news about clearing the UPSC exam. It has been two years now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I want to become an IAS officer, said Mahesh. A tall, healthy fellow wearing thick glasses welcomed me as I picked my Uber from the airport. I was returning from an early morning connecting flight from Mumbai. Mahesh is from western Karnataka and studying a bachelor\u2019s in history from correspondence. He asked me where I … <\/p>\n