Every car has its rules and regulations, that’s a fact. There are those whose air conditioner knob turns on the music, the heater ignites the car and the exhaust pipe will ignite the brakes. A window knob starts the wipers and the wipers gear increase the music velocity. Following years of usage and yes, abuse, cars are never in their factory settings. It is what it is. Every driver or car owner knows their cars like the back of their hands. They become partners and as long as those rules remain unbroken, they serve each other for many more years to come.
Passengers need to be conversant with rules of getting into lifts. Firstly, it’s not a crime to give people lifts and the plausible thing passengers can do is ask before touching anything. No matter how hot the climate maybe, don’t rush to try and bring a window down for fresh air. Ask if a particular thing works. You do not want the car screeching to a halt with smoke engulfing an entire vehicle because a passenger decided to touch the untouchables.
I witnessed an entire door fall off a vehicle when one lift seeker decided to touch some buttons assuming they operated what they entailed on the label. The driver was furious and no amount of apology cooled him down. Achimwene, muzifunsa kaye musanagwile kanthu (Bro, ask first before touching anything). He stopped the car, got out and fixed the part in place before resuming the trip. The rest of the ride was completed in silence. The passenger was clearly guilty of violating the pact between car and owner.
Getting into a lift does not make anyone a slave to the ride. But a beggar certainly doesn’t have a choice, meaning, they ought to familiarise themselves with the operatives. Imagine travelling all the way to Lilongwe soaked in rain because of pressing wrong buttons you assumed worked otherwise. What about those people you stop for and the a few seconds into the ride they complement your car and then bam; “paja iti tili pa bwanji? Mafuta si a m’jumbo okha kukafika kuntchito? (This is a nice car. What is their marker value? It seems a little fuel will get one to work).
The rider demeans in a seemingly complimentary way, your small machine that he has the privilege to ride in and dares to inquire about their cost. If it seems affordable, search it on the internet or elsewhere and stop asking the cost of a vehicle you have been given a lift in. It’s rude and way out of line. Mpakana mafuta a m’jumbo? Kukondwa molakwika.
Humble yourself on other people’s cars and avoid unpalatable comments in form of pleasant conversations gone wrong. Talk about the weather or politics instead and keep your hands to yourself.
