Dear Rickshaw Wala,

I am seriously frustrated with you. Though I know that you are not always mean and slimy, that is the disturbing trend that I have noticed of late. Three nights ago for example, you charged us twice the appropriate fare. I know, I know, I'm a tourist, I'm American, and I don't speak Marathi, and I live far away from the city center, but that is no reason to swindle me out of my money. Yes, I know that you live in a developing country, and I do not, thus my money goes a longer way here. It is true that paying double means that I pay only a dollar or so more, but that's not really the point. Three days ago I let you get away with it because it was ten at night, I was tired, it was dark, but when you tried it again the next day I was severely insulted. I refuse to be charged an extra 20 rupees just because we live 6 km away. In future I will give you nothing more than what the fare card indicates. I will shove it in you face and yell what little Marathi I know at you, I will threaten to contact the police, or I may just pay the correct fare and leave, but I will not give in again to your bullying!

Also, it is not kind to refuse a fare from two girls, soaked to the bone in the dark of night who want nothing more than to go home (like yesterday evening). Again, I know that we live outside of the city center, and maybe you wanted to go the other way. BUT STILL! It was wet and we didn't have phones. Instead we took refuge in a coffee shop in hopes that they would have a phone. No. No phone, no help, no rickshaw. In our desperation we were driven to ask a group sitting with an American for a cell phone so that we could contact our Aai, who expected us back 3 hours previous.To these people I am eternally grateful.

As for those of you who are fair and charge us the correct price and give correct change, to you I will give a reward. From now on I will give you a slight tip, because you are so much better then your brethren. Like today, the kind fellow that drove me to school did not quarrel about the destination or about the price. Thank you kind sir, I will remember your goodness.

To all the others however, be warned.

Your aware and resentful tourist,
Aisha Mergaert