The road less travelled...

Yesterday eve, I was waiting to catch an auto home. Usual fare is Rs.80, which is 20 more than the auto meter charge BTW.
Few of autowalas ask 100+ which is not so surprising as the area I work is full of IT companies. And people usually have the impression that IT ppl will spend any amount uselessly, which is partially true ofcourse.
Finally this auto came and the driver after thinking a minute over the area and the fare I said, he accepted.
I got into it with relief coz the driver looked decent.
I observed that the more calm and decent the driver looks then the lesser they complain about the fare or traffic.
What I didn't realise then was how the drive home would turn out to be...

The normal routine shortest distance route is usually busy. Traffic jams common.
So when the driver took another route, I was not surprised and didn't ask him anything.
But the change of route didn't end there.
He took so many turns and totally unknown roads to me that I was wondering whether he heard me right about the address.

Still I decided to trust the guys instinct and didn't ask him.
Primary reason being the new route was so much better... Full of green.. Wild grass on the side of the roads, bumpy countryside roads, and trees all around.
Tough to spot such area in middle of a busy city.
There was no blaring music in the auto. The driver was silent. I was silent.
And blissful peace all around.
There were a few passerbys along the road-couple of bikes and cars here and there...so it didn't feel dangerous or risky.

I didn't see the time it took to reach home.
It was definitely a longer route. But totally worth the time and distance.
Not a single traffic signal all the way long.

I paid the money gratefully and complimented him on the new route.
As I write this, I silently thank the driver for showing me such a rich green route home.

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"...
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
..."

((From the famous poem "The Road Less Traveled" by Robert Frost))