He's Just Not That Into You

This is dedicated to Miss Q, one of my flat mates in Dhaka, and her search for a rickshaw wallah....

He asked me if I wanted a ride. I said, "Yes, can you take me to Gulshan 1?" During our ride, we began many conversations about our respective lives. I was a temporary researcher at the Cholera Hospital and he was a student and part-time rickshaw wallah. When we arrived at my destination, he asked if he could have my number. I had heard about this before--rickshaw wallahs taking phone numbers and then incessantly calling their clients. I told him, "Don't call me though!!!" And he said that he wouldn't and promised that he would "protect me in the night." (Rickshaws are dangerous for foreigners to take at night). I also took his number.

The next few weeks were wonderful. I would call him and he would get me. We even rode in the night. He knew me well and we grew fond of our trusting relationship. And then the wheels took a turn....

For the past two weeks, everytime I would call him, he would apologize, "Sorry Miss Q, I'm busy...can't pick you up today." This continued for several day. What happened to my rickshaw wallah?! What happened to him being DEPENDABLE and always there for me? I continued to call, wondering if maybe it was just a "bad time" the previous calls. And still the answer was, "No, I'm not available Miss Q, not tonight."

After my last call to him, he called me finally. "Miss Q...we need to talk. You didn't understand this before....but I can't take you places anymore..."
"Why not??"
"Because....."
"........I don't understand?...Did I not pay you enough? Have you moved to a different part of the city?" but then I thought to myself, Who wouldn't want to work in GULSHAN and heck, I paid him VERY well for a rickshaw ride.
"No...Miss Q, it's not about you. I moved....I got a new job....I'm not a rickshaw wallah anymore!!!"
"WHAT? You aren't???!!!!......Oh, I mean I'm happy for you. That's great. Okay, I'm sorry I bothered you so much."
"Thank you. Ok bye."

And that my friends is why we cannot get emotionally attached to rickshaw wallahs....because they just come and go...