In the heat of the taxi moment
“I will not get out until you give me my Shs500!” The man in a cream t-shirt said in a determined tone. The taxi conductor bluntly told him to expect no change on the Shs1,000 he had just paid. There was a brief pause as the two men sized each other up. They were both determined to have their way.
“You will give it to me.” The man said while slapping his hand across the metal bars behind the driver’s sitting area. The conductor had convinced the man to board the vehicle after they had agreed on Shs500 as fare from Wandegeya to Kamwokya. Being a public holiday when not many people were making movements, the conductor had quickly agreed.
The rest of the passengers in the taxi grew impatient at the stalemate.
“Stop wasting our time and take us,” a man in a short-sleeved shirt demanded impatiently. A young woman that had been engrossed in her phone reiterated the man’s sentiments.
“How do you fight for Shs500?” Another passenger added to the fuel. The man held his peace. The conductor was encouraged by the support that the passengers were offering. He must have convinced himself that the triviality of the sum in question would marshal unwavering support from the rest of the passengers.
The man, dissatisfied with the injustice staring straight at him, determinedly held his forte. He appeared to be an individual that was not used to backing down even in the tightest of situations.
We had been waiting for about a minute now “Give the man his money. You had an agreement,” a woman at the back calmly spoke out. “The man is right give him his money,” another passenger added. Human beings are quick to offer their support after someone has taken a position.
At first, I too quickly wondered how someone would make a fuss about Shs500. However, the more we sat at the stage trapped by the impasse, the more sense the man in the t-shirt made. It was interesting that the focus of most of the passengers had been on the amount involved and not the injustice.
Finally, the conductor handed the man his coin. “Now I can go,” the man exhaled.
