Bengaluru CA got into a cab expecting a silent drive home. But a conversation later with 18-year-old cab driver left her humbled

It was meant to be just another late-night ride home in Bengaluru. Instead, it turned into a moment that left a seasoned finance professional questioning every complaint she had ever made about her own life. What began as irritation over a chatty cab driver at 11 PM slowly unfolded into a story of loss, responsibility and relentless grit that she says she will never forget.

Meenal Goel, a Bengaluru-based Chartered Accountant and former employee of KPMG and Deloitte, shared the experience on social media. She described getting into the cab after a long day, hoping for silence and a quick ride home. The driver, however, was unusually cheerful and talkative for that hour. He asked her where she was from, whether it was her first time in the city, and what she did for work.

She responded with brief answers, expecting him to pick up on her reluctance to engage. He did not. His energy at that hour struck her as odd. She even found herself wondering whether something was off. The tone of the ride shifted when he asked about her family. After she responded, she asked about his. There was a pause before he began sharing his own story.


The 18-year-old told her that his father struggled with alcoholism and had taken his own life. At 17, he suddenly became the sole earning member of his family. There was no time to process grief, no break to gather himself, and no support system to fall back on. Responsibility arrived overnight. For two months every year, he drives cabs in Bengaluru. He saves everything he earns. Then he returns to Kerala to continue studying for his CMA qualification. Once that stint ends, he comes back to the city and repeats the cycle.