Private taxi driver

I am a private taxi driver in Yangon, not by choice, but rather of necessity. Life can be so unkind, and cruel is my luck in everything that I do. The difference between a normal Taxi (cab), and ours that I drive, are the number plates. The number plate of a normal taxi is red, whereas ours is black. The red number plated cars are registered with the city municipality and its drivers are also with applicable licenses, as such, are authorized to drive them accordingly. However, there is no meter, as customers prefer to bargain the fare, rather then by meter, which is more expensive, due to long waits on the roads on account of heavy traffic. Their automobiles display a taxi sign, which also can be lighted for night driving. Our car is a private automobile, meant for private use, thus an ordinary driving license is sufficient. In short, I would be breaking the law, should I canvas or do business with our car, besides, I don’t pay any taxes, as such either.

We are a sibling of four, all three elder sisters are residing abroad. One is in London, working as an accountant for a bookkeeper and the remaining two are in California, USA. The eldest sister is a doctor by profession and work at Los Angles General, while the next in line is a florist, in Orange County. Legally, they are still singles, and each sends U$100/- monthly, through the back door. This about covers our monthly vitualling, which is in no way extravagant.  As being the youngest and male by birth, my mother looks after me. My parents named me, Maung Aye Myat, loosely translated as precious quiet boy. Dad passed away donkey years ago, due to tuberculosis. I am twenty four years of age with no profession, as such. We live in a district of North Okkalarpa, in a teak, two stories house with no air conditioning.  To have a sense of self dignity, and work to keep me occupied, my mother bought a twelve years old Toyota Mark ll sedan, after pawning her ear rings and selling her necklace, which I drive as a private taxi. 

I do hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Chemistry, however, jobs are hard to come by, maybe that I do not have the right connections at the right places. I did try to have a girl friend while at university, in fact, I approached about seven girls during my four years, regretfully but to no avail. I was quite close to two girls, one from the Philosophy Department and the other was reading English. They all turned me down, talking with the eyes saying that I was out of their league. After my disastrous attempts, I stopped fishing, time better spent playing football and the guitar with my friends. I was no angel and in no way allergic to women, my first encounter with a call girl was during the end of term holidays, cost of which was equally shared between my friends. After that, enjoyment of the flesh, did continue now and then, but since the costs were piling up and unhealthy, I discontinued my urge. I had to work long hours at a slipper shop during weekends to pay back, which does not seem worth while. 

My mother is seventy three years of age, and I wanted her to retire comfortably at home or in California. With her heart and arthritis condition, she continued to cook and do the household chores. That was not right for such an old woman, to still undergo such a hard life.  If she felt there was time, she would also clear the leaves and broom the yard too. She loves me dearly and I was still her young boy that requires attention. As it also saddened me to see her work, therefore I would do the morning marketing, wash my own clothes, mop the floors, water the flower pots and also sweep the yard, when I’m not driving. I also love her dearly and made it a point to tug her in, after her nightly prayers in the shine room.

I would also massage her tiring legs and hands at night, which she liked and would say, " Sadu, sadu, sadu ", loosely translated, ‘good, good, good’. 

I would try and spend more time with her by talking and joking, so that she forgets her illness.

I do my private driving business, in other areas of Yangon, to avoid the local police and the long arm of the law. My main contact point is our telephone, and backed up by my mobile phone. I have a niche set of customers, preferring piece meal contracts, at a time. If not driving on business, I would drive my mum to pagodas, monasteries and meditation centers. I also do find solace there, however, there is also money to be earned to keep us going. No matter how busy I might be, I make it a point to accompany her for the doctor’s appointments. There is nothing more important, than her continued good health.

My working hours are governed by my work, with no set timing.  I take a tiffin (lunch) box from home to maximize my income. The money I earned are all handed back to my mom less expenses, such as petrol, maintenance and tea (maybe). My customers are a varied lot, about six regular customers a month. There is a construction company that uses me to distribute salaries to their different work sites, it entails me to drive them to their bank, where large amounts are drawn every third week of the month and be distributed. My car boot smells of stale cash loads, which I air during weekends. The accountant at times would disappear into tea houses, and I ensured not a single cent goes missing.  The construction company knows this and thus uses my private taxi regularly. There is a director of a pharmaceutical company, that likes to be driven to their customers on a regular basis and taking them to dinners, and at times, also drive them to clubs where hostesses would entice their customers, with extra curriculum activities. I also drive the hostesses a few days in a month, to their clients. I give no moral judgments, after all, my private taxi driving is not within the law, either. I also ferry six middle school pupils from their houses to school and fetch them back, into the bosom of their mothers. Four girls are seated at the back with two boys in front. The difference between a ferry and me is, I offer more of a personal service.  My private taxi, offers a more dignified service to my clients, who are able to go about their business, as if the car belongs to them. I also make one or two trips to Naypyidaw (capital), which consisted of three to four days continuous assignment, yielding a lumpsum income. All in all, about fifteen to seventeen days full employment in a month. Income, not too bad, for a twenty four years old, hoping the next year would be the same. In my spare time, I also tuition, a young lad by the name of Min Min, from two streets down, at our home, to be more by my mom’s side. Besides, also need to do maintainace on our car. Min Min is fifteen years old and need to get good marks in his ninth standard and matriculation examination. The matriculation is similar to General Certificate of Education (GCE) from Britain. He is well aware that his matriculation marks will decide whether he will get a worthy profession or otherwise. I am more at home with mathematics, physics and chemistry, which was what Min Min needed, for free.

One evening in August, as the monsoon rains were quite heavy, drove Min Min to his house, two streets down the road. I was pleasantly surprised to see his other sister, she is slim, fair, reasonably good looking, young, with (nearly) all the right measurements and well read.

Min Min sheepishly commented that, " She usually spend most of her time at the hostel, and just about the complete her Bachelor of  Education Degree (Bed)."

This was all music to my ears. Only at this moment, did I surveyed about his family. Parents were retired, gold merchants from Magway, a town on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, about 331 miles north from Yangon by road. One sister is married with one kid. Now, the other sister, just about to enter the real world, must get to know her better. I dropped Min Min, and with a straight face drove back home, while my heart was a merry go round and beating like a drum.

Seasons passed, after many moons, I was still driving my private taxi. However, Min Min did pass his Ninth Standard Examination with distinctions in Mathematics and Physics, which pleased me. His matriculation examination results were even more impressive, with not only distinctions in Mathematics and Physics, he got more distinctions, in English and Additional Mathematics also. With four distinctions (4Ds), he could be studying engineering at university. Must be the excellent tutoring.

I never did ask about his ‘other sister’, but I would like to know her better. One early morning, I saw her in the traditional green longyi, waiting for a bus in front of our house.

I was in our car and shouted, " I’m on my way to the petrol station, may I drop you somewhere?"

I was pleased she accepted by approach by her return comment,       " That’s nice of you, I’m on my way to school."

With that she stepped into the front passenger seat. I continued " Where to? "

 She said, " Tarmwe No.1 High School,  I got a job as a teacher for the Ninth Standards."

I was pleasantly pleased by the aroma of Thanakhar on her, not only did it smelled nice, she looked so sweet.

Starring in front, she continued, " My name is Tin Tin Than, Friday born, a bit talkative."

I replied by, " My name is Maung Aye Myat, Thursday born and an only son of Daw Htwe."

We both laughed and on getting off she commented, " Thank you for the ride and thank you very much for tutoring Min Min."

I could not let this opportunity pass, thus countered, " No problem, however, your thank you is not enough. Will you join me for a movie and a meal, Saturday evening okay?"

She smiled, before parting she replied, " Depends on you, why don’t you pick me up Saturday evening, say 6.30 p.m.? " With that, she walked gracefully into the school.

Saturday evening went well. I was glad that I was not working.  We had a meal of roast chicken with roti parata, in the only Indian food outlet in Chinatown. We talked so much that movie went out of the window. A lot to learn and catch up on. She fascinated me and captured my heart and she would do very nicely, fit into our household like a glove. I need someone that can be trusted on, while I drive my private taxi. She is now twenty two and found her to be well matured for her age. I did not even try to hold her hand as I did not want her to be frightened and run away forever. I took her back about 10.30p.m. like a true gentleman, however did express that seeing her again would be nice.

From then on, I made it a point to fill up my tank early mornings, while driving her to school. At long last, I did identify that she would be the one for me. We also could convert the extra room downstairs, to be a bedroom for Min Min, should he wish to stay with us. He still comes around, a lot actually, in the daytime and watch over mother, which pleased me. Likewise, Tin Tin Than also made a point to spend time with my mother, during her school holidays. Not only did she helped in the kitchen, but also did the washing and ironing of clothes. Ironing required the use of charcoal, as electricity is at times can be lacking. Tin Tin Than mastered this and would massage my mother’s frail arms and legs in the afternoons.

Mother liked this kind act and would call her " Daughter ", which pleased all, including me.

Saturday and Sundays were for housework and maintenance of the car. Toyota Mark ll sedan is a sturdy automobile. The suspensions were strong and engine powerful with six cylinders can uphold the air conditioning plus gives a smooth ride. The trade off was the petrol consumption was higher compared to a four cylinder car. This was worth it, as all customers stayed loyal. The car is always kept tiptop as this being the money earner, and I made sure all is sparkling, before it slept in the garage. The old engine oil were kept aside, and I would apply this to the outside woodworks ensuring no wood insects would eat into them. It looked a wee bit ugly, but definitely good for the wood, especially as can withstand the yearly strong monsoon rains. I do this application every two years. The roof were made of clay tiles, thus no need for upkeep. It was cool during the hot season and was also rain tight in monsoons. All thanks to dad, who built our house with much foresight.

North Okkalapa is not the posh residential area of Yangon, however, with the scarcity of land, this part of Yangon is also sought after, as not too far from down town and talks of being also the second town area of Yangon. Whether good area or not, we have no intention of selling, as we have nowhere else to live, after all, this is our home.

I did sounded, Tin Tin Than one morning while on route to school, that I would be happy for her hand in marriage.

The reply I got was, " Ask my parents, I would do as per their consent."

In her round about way, I think she meant ‘yes’. Most surprising thing she said was " I would like to open a gold shop/works and also have a mokehingar stall to cater for the morning crowds."

This would be good, as it meant mother could now rest her frail legs.

I first approached Min Min and enquired whether there would be any reservations on his part, should I ask for his sister hand in marriage.

He smiled broadly and said, " Will it mean living here, I would love that."

Min Min indicated that should he get a place at the Yangon Institute of Engineering (YIT), he would prefer to read civil engineering and on passing out in six years time, work for a construction company in Yangon, where the pay would be good. Not really interested to join the defense force, join the public works or Irrigation Departments as do not wish to leave Yangon. He was happy here.

I must make it a point and go together with mother to see Tin Tin Than’s parents one evening, and officially ask them for their daughter’s hand in marriage. In our Myanmar way, this is the right thing to do. Should not be much difficulty.

Meantime, also checked with Mr. Chong Lee, the pawn shop owner, that mother’s ear rings and necklace were still there. He confirmed that all were still with him, which I intend to buy back, after all, this was mother’s gift from her parents when she got married.

I also must seek mother’s permission, whether a small gold shop cum works can be built beside our garage with a small moak-hin-gar stall attached, as our compound faces the main road, by the bus stops, and walking distance from the market. I have never herd of a gold shop going broke. After all, Tin Tin Than knows the business well and should be a piece of cake for her.  

Immm, must write to my sisters, soon.