@#$%# Cabbie!

I had such a frustrating night yesterday. It all started with having to work late last night as there was a last minute request job to be done. Since I was informed late, I decided that I'd still go home for dinner after the job as Mum have already cooked my share. We could only start work at around 9pm as the users could only allow us to work on it after their operation hours. Initially thought it could be done quickly (like a half an hour's job) as it was a simply request, but ended up only leaving the place at 10:30pm!

 

Then there's the frustration with waiting for cab. There was a taxi stand there near Far East Square but the queue was a little long. But seeing that there's a constant stream of cabs coming in, I decided to just join the queue. However, most of the cabs were either on call or hired. Tired, hungry and frustrated, I called to book a cab. I gave the taxi call centre lady the "location no." of the taxi stand and waited while still in the queue. I was 2nd in line when I saw my cab zoomed passed by taxi stand!! I was like.. shit*! He missed me...

 

I contemplated cancelling the booking and take the next cab that comes to the queue.. since i'm so close to being the next person.. but thinking that it's quite bad for me to do that then the taxi driver has already arrived (sorta). So I got out of the queue and called the call centre again and told her that "your driver just passed me by, can you locate him and ask him to come back here?". The lady later told me that the driver is at another taxi stand near PWC building and asked if I can walk over there since it's quite near and the taxi would have to go one big round if he detour back to my stand. I was like... I BOOKED a cab, why would i wanna walk there? But i didn't say that lah. I told her that I'm not familiar with the place (which is true) and was thinking of cancelling the booking but when i wanted to rejoin the queue, a group of girls came and joined the queue.. so I told the lady to get the driver to come back.

 

Couple of minutes later, the driver himself called me.

 

Cabbie: Miss ah, I'm at the PWC taxi stand. It's very near your side. Can you walk over to my side coz I need to make one big round if I go back to you.

Me: Huh?!! You want me to walk down the road to your side?? But why aren't you here in the first place???

Cabbie: Erm.. (totally avoided my question), can you walk over? It's very near only. I guide you where to walk.You walk down the road and turn left, then it's on the right side at PWC building.

All I could see was lotsa construction and hoardings, I walked down a little and came to a junction and still couldn't figure out where he wants me to go.

Cabbie: You should see a bus stop at the opposite side...

Me: I don't see any bus stop...

Cabbie: There's just one bus stop there! How about the HDB flats...

Me: I don't see any HDB!! There's alot of construction here and I dunno where you want me to go!

Cabbie: I'll guide you, it's very near only!

Me: (Super irritated!!!) NEVERMIND!! I'll just cancel the booking!!

Cabbie: Ok lah.. you cancel cancel lah.

 

Wah Lao! Cannot take it! I walked back to the original taxi stand and it's still filled with people! Sianz.. Called another taxi company this time and booked another cab. So scared the next cabbie would miss this stand again.. luckily he didn't and came in a jiffy. Very polite cabbie... though he had to request to stop at a petrol station mid-way to change small change cos all his money are in big notes. Oh well.. just not my day i guess...

 

Only reached home at 11pm and ate dinner then. Totally missed the last episodes of 2 drama serials that i was following. Sigh...  :-(

 

-- End of short story --