{"id":2851,"date":"2026-07-19T18:04:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T12:34:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anilsinghal.com\/manan\/?p=2851"},"modified":"2026-07-19T18:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T12:57:02","slug":"in-the-passenger-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anilsinghal.com\/manan\/english\/in-the-passenger-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Passenger Seat"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n\n
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During the last few months, I have travelled many times by Ola and Uber. Most of these journeys were within Delhi and the surrounding areas. I would book a taxi from home, go to a particular place, finish my work, and then book another taxi to return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slowly, I began to enjoy these rides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Once I sat in the back seat, I did not have to think about the road. I did not have to watch every traffic signal, find a place to park, or worry about which lane to take. I could sit comfortably and allow the journey to move on by itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes I used that time to think about my clinic or my writing. Sometimes I planned the small tasks that were waiting for me. At other times, I attended phone calls or replied to a few messages. There were also days when I did nothing at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I simply sat quietly and looked outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delhi kept moving beside me. Roads, markets, trees, buildings, people, bicycles, buses, and small roadside shops passed before my eyes. I could look towards the left or the right whenever I wished. I was moving, but I was also resting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The driver was doing his work. I was free to use the journey in my own way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This comfort was not entirely new to me. Whenever we planned a holiday from Delhi, we often reserved our seats on a Shatabdi train. Train journeys had their own pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After finding our seats and arranging our bags, we could relax. Tea would arrive, followed by breakfast or another meal. We could walk a little inside the coach, speak with one another, read a book, watch something on the phone, or take a short nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside the window, the view kept changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cities slowly gave way to smaller towns. Crowded areas turned into open fields. We saw farms, rivers, railway stations, children waving from a distance, and people waiting on platforms. Even before reaching the holiday destination, the holiday had already begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For longer distances, we preferred travelling by air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An aeroplane reduced a long journey to only a few hours. Yet air travel also had its own special moments. There was the excitement of entering the airport, finding the gate, boarding the aircraft, and settling into the seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then came the take-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The runway moved quickly below us, and within moments, the city became smaller. Buildings looked like tiny blocks. Roads became thin lines. Cars almost disappeared. Soon, there were clouds outside the window and a wide sky that seemed to have no end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We might have snacks or a meal, read something, watch a video, talk softly, or simply close our eyes. After some time, the announcement of landing would come. The earth would slowly appear again, and another city would come closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey would end, but it would leave its own memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People across the world enjoy many other forms of travel. Some travel by bus, metro, tram, ferry, ship, bicycle, motorcycle, cable car, or mountain train. Some enjoy long road journeys through forests and hills. Some sit on the deck of a boat and feel the sea breeze. Some walk quietly on a village path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vehicle may change. The country may change. The language may change. Yet the feeling is often the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We enjoy the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We enjoy the changing views, the small breaks, the conversations, the food, the silence, and the feeling of moving towards somewhere. We do not enjoy only the destination. We also enjoy the time spent reaching it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day, while sitting in the back seat of a taxi, another thought came to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During all these journeys, how much did I really think about the driver?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I knew there was someone sitting in front of me. I knew that person was controlling the car, choosing the road, watching the traffic, and taking me towards my destination. Yet I did not keep looking at him. I did not ask him about every turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not say, \u201cWhy did you take this lane?\u201d at every crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not worry about every vehicle that passed us. I did not keep checking whether the driver knew how to use the brakes. I did not ask whether the next traffic light would be red or green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had entered the taxi because I trusted that the driver could drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same was true in the train. I did not know the train driver. I did not know what signals he would see or how many times he would slow down. I ate my meal, read my book, looked outside, and even slept peacefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the aeroplane, I had even less control. I did not know the pilot. I could not see the route. I did not understand all the sounds of the aircraft. Still, I fastened my seat belt, sat quietly, and trusted that we would reach safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why, then, was it so difficult to trust the journey of life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This question stayed with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In life, I often wanted to know every detail in advance. What would happen tomorrow? Would my plans succeed? Would my family remain well? Would my work go smoothly? Would something unexpected disturb the peace?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even when everything was fine, the mind would sometimes search for a reason to worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps I was sitting in the passenger seat of life, but still trying to hold the steering wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I began to understand that responsibility and control are not the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have responsibilities. I must care for my health, fulfil my duties, work honestly, respect others, and make sensible decisions. I must choose the right destination and take the necessary steps towards it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I cannot control every road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I cannot decide when the traffic will slow down. I cannot prevent every delay. I cannot know every turn before it comes. I cannot stop all difficulties, losses, disappointments, or changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life will sometimes take a route I did not choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may be traffic jams, diversions, rough roads, and unexpected halts. At times, I may feel that I am not moving at all. Yet even then, the journey may still be continuing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A delay is not always a failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A different road is not always a wrong road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something that appears to be a disturbance today may quietly protect me from something I cannot see. A closed door may lead me towards another entrance. A plan that does not work may save me from a path that was never meant for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I may not understand the road while travelling on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This does not mean that I should become careless or stop making efforts. Trust is not laziness. Faith is not an excuse to avoid responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A passenger must still reach the correct pickup point. He must enter the right vehicle. He must keep his belongings safely and remain aware of where he is going. But after doing his part, he does not need to spend the whole journey in fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps life asks for the same balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do what you can. Do it sincerely. Take the best decision available to you. Correct yourself when necessary. Then allow life to unfold without fighting every moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people call the Driver God. Some call it destiny, nature, time, or a higher wisdom. The name may be different, but the comfort is similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not controlling everything, yet we are not travelling alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This thought brought a quiet peace to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do not need to understand every turn today. I do not need to know the complete road before beginning the journey. I only need to remain sincere in my duties and awake to the direction of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest may be left to the Driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, when I sit in the back seat of a taxi, I sometimes look outside and smile. The city continues to move. The driver continues to drive. I sit quietly, trusting that I am being taken towards my destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life, too, may be travelled in this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can plan, work, care, and remain responsible. But we can also breathe, look outside, enjoy the changing view, and accept that not every turn is ours to control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps peace begins when we stop trying to drive from the passenger seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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