-
Cameraman Phil, driver Ranjan and Commonwealth Games reporter Jack Tame after making it through Delhi's traffic chaos - Source: ONE News
Through cars, cows and tuk-tuk chaos, a white Toyota people-mover crosses four lanes of traffic. The driver, Ranjan, ignores his blind spots, ignores his indicator, accelerates. Vehicles skid and jerk as they strain to evade the tearaway.
In the back, we're tense. Phil the cameraman reaches for the handle above his head. He clenches it and inhales deeply.
Through the roundabout and the Toyota is still accelerating. It hits 65kph, flying down a corridor of lush green trees and Commonwealth Banners.
Ahead are a group of pedestrian... giddy boys... probably in
their late teens or early twenties. They're cocky and distracted,
meandering across the road wearing dorky volunteer
tracksuits.
Ranjan slams his hand on the horn, and almost as a secondary
thought slams his foot on the brake. The Toyota lurches& the
passengers weigh forward in their seats, pressing on their
seatbelts.
Ranjan laughs. He turns to me and makes some joke about the boys we almost ran down. Yeeeeah, good on you Ranjan.
Ranjan's our driver, and he's a top-notch bloke. Though his
English is poor at best (It's still infinitely better than our
Hindi!) he loves nothing more than a bit of muddled
conversation.
Things you should know about Ranjan:
- In rush hour traffic in central Delhi, Ranjan can change a flat
tyre in six minutes. Though it's 35C every day, it's the only time
we've seen him sweat.
- Ranjan thinks monkeys are very funny. Once to his acute delight,
a monkey came down from a tree and pulled his friend's hair.
- Ranjan loves eating fish, but reckons it's hard to find fresh
blue cod in central Delhi.
- Ranjan always brakes for squirrels. Somewhat worryingly, he
doesn't brake quite as keenly for people.
Like jellybeans in a jar, the vehicles on Delhi's streets disregard any form of order. The press against each other, sneaking into the slipperiest of gaps. Bumper to bumper, door to door.
Lanes? They're for losers. Rear view mirrors? Surplus to requirements. Blind spots? Only wusses check those.
Cellphones are for talking on and red lights are for show. Cars merge like marbles poured through a Coke bottle.
Through it all, Ranjan remains calm. Assertive. Bold and cocky.
Through cars, cows and tuk-tuk chaos, Ranjan is never phased. Without him, we'd be on the bus.
That would suck.
Latest NZ News Video
-
ONE News Minute 9am update: May 26 (1:00)
-
Kids cough up $14m for Government (1:50)
-
Education ministry 'barbaric' (1:55)
