Few Minutes After the Ride, My Phone Was Gone

Like my dad will always say, everyone always have these mindset that it is big moments that teaches us life's lesson but unknown to us, those little one will often disregard is what catch us off guard.

Every morning, we wake up looking refresh, hoping it's going to be an ordinary day, but something you never expected reminds us how life and people can be unpredictable. That was my predicament some days ago. a simple trip, a short ride, nothing unusual. But in the end, I learnt the hard way about alertness and trust

I had just ended my night shift and was heading home the next morning. So, I decided to stop by at the bus terminal to pick my packages that was delivered to me for my forthcoming kid sister wedding. I was about leaving when heavy rain started. Since, everyone was going to work and students were also going to school that morning, there was heavy rush for public transportation. Because of the big load, i was carrying with me, I couldn't compete with the passengers. I had to go to a spot that has less passengers rushing for vehicles and pray that I succeed.

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Luckily, I saw a tricycle with just two passengers, and I quickly jumped in without thinking. Other passengers rushed in, that was following the same route, but the driver bluntly told them "NO". I was a bit surprised. so, I asked him why he is not carrying other passengers since we still have one vacant sit left. he replied "that their destination was far, and he was not going to reach there". I had no idea; it was all part of his plans.

To be honest, I didn't suspect anything because one of the passengers was carrying his 2 years old kid to school. Along the way, the dad of the kid started telling me to shift a bit. I adjusted.

As I was adjusting, the other one on my left was telling me not to press him.

I had no choice than to adjust again and position my load in a way that it won't inconvenience anyone.

I didn’t know that while I was busy trying to be polite, they were busy trying to be perfect thieves.

Each time they told me to "shift", came with some form of distraction and each movement was carefully timed.

Mid way through the journey, when they had successfully executed their mission, the driver said he was not going to my destination again, that the money I was paying was too small. I was shocked over the sudden change of mind after we'd agreed on the price before the trip. I told him I won't pay him any money, he said no problem, that I should even be grateful that he had carried me halfway without taking any cash from me and I should board another tricycle going to my destination. I got down and he drove off with the others.

I entered another tricycle going to my destination, when I reached, I dipped my hand into my pocket to pay the driver — and my heart froze.

My phone was gone. The realization hit me like cold water.

I searched the tricycle to be sure it didn't fall inside but it wasn't there.

I stood there, speechless, watching the road that had swallowed both the tricycle and my phone.

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The driver noticed my panic and suggested, “Instead of standing here, why don't I quickly go to the bank and block my accounts before they steal all my money using my phone.

I didn't think of that. So, I quickly chattered him to be my personal ride. I took him to my banks and block all my accounts. then later went to also block my phone line before they use it to do something mischievous.

It wasn’t the phone that pained me most — it was how smartly they played it. How easily they made me let my guard down with nothing more than polite words.

To be honest, those first few days after the incident, I refused to enter tricycle to my destination. I will rather walk down to were I will see taxi and enter.

Well, my big sister gave me a small android phone that I am managing for now till I get another one. Now, anytime I enter public transport, I sit like a soldier on duty with every sense organ in me fully alert. Because once trust leaves with your phone, it never truly comes back.