The
advent of ecommerce companies has given rise to number of delivery guys who
deliver our goods to us in the comforts of our home. All we need to do is to
place the order and sit back; rest will be taken care by the e commerce company
for us. When the package is out for delivery, we are notified about it either
through a SMS or through a notification on the app. Final stage is being
delivery guys calling us to locate and to deliver the order and head for the
next delivery.
All these years, I really didn’t feel the
plight of delivery guys until I came across the challenges faced by them in
dire situations. That one incident changed my perception towards then and
increased my respect for them from the bottom of my heart.
Due
to pandemic I decided to shift temporarily to Kerala to spend some time with
parents as the past one year has been too toiling for all of us, as we were all
worried about each other than ourselves. Here too like in Bangalore, I prefer
to order things through Flipkart, Amazon, Zomato or e commerce firms which
provide home delivery at my location.
This
year Kerala has received more rainfall than it required and its repercussion
can be seen in news channels with alarming levels of water in all major dams of
the state. Even when I am writing this blog, it is raining heavily outside. Due
to these incessant rains, I have limited my outdoor activity to bare minimal,
similar to lockdown era, only difference is that was forced and this is
voluntary.
I
ordered few things through multiple e commerce platforms based and was tracking
their movement especially when are they out for delivery. It so happened one
day, a delivery agent called me inform about the delivery of goods and I was
waiting eagerly for its arrival but it started pouring heavily that day. Again,
that delivery agent called me to inform that delivery will be delayed a bit as
it is raining heavily. I replied take your time, I am in no hurry.
It
was still drizzling when I heard someone honking at the gate of my house; I
stepped out only to see a delivery agent with my parcel in his hand. He was
wearing rain coat with a heavy bag on his back, bracing the rain with a smile
on his place when he delivered the package. I happen to look at his feet, he
was wearing a chappal but due to constant exposure to water his feet has turned
little pale and same was the case with his hands. I was completely saddened by
his plight; I knew he would be feeling cold. I have experienced it personally
once.
It
so happened that I was on bike and suddenly it started pouring and there was no
place where I could take refuge from rain for some time, hence I drove the bike
and was completely drenched in water. Then I found a bus stop, parked my bike
there and waited there till the rain stopped. Once the rain stopped and I
reached it was more than an hour, all this while I was in wet clothes. First
thing I did after reaching home was to get rid of those clothes and then to
have coffee. I couldn’t bear an hour of chillness and these guys they are
endure this chillness all day long. Hats off to their sacrifice and risk
undertaken by them for earning bread and butter for their family.
Today
too, I had a delivery and when the delivery agent called to enquire about the
address, I requested him to deliver it tomorrow as roads were flooded and heavy
rain was anticipated for the rest of the day. I think they too are human beings
and I must think about them also. My package can wait for a day or two but they
can’t endanger their life in this extreme climatic situation just for a
delivery. I don’t think I can ever allow that.
Every
time a package is delivered to me, I make it a point to rate the delivery
guys, though it’s a small gesture but goes a long way in judging their
performance. I think that the least I can do for them. So next time, please be
little cautious before losing your temper at a delivery agent, don’t forget the
fact that at times they endanger their life’s for our happiness.
