What started as a simple airport pick-up for a Bengaluru-based Google employee has grown into a wider conversation about culture, labour, and gratitude. Kavleen Kaur Bakshi, a Digital Marketting professional at Google, recently shared on LinkedIn how a small gesture by a cab driver in India stood in stark contrast to her experiences in the United States.
According to her post, Bakshi said she only realised how much she had taken everyday help for granted in India after spending a couple of weeks abroad. “Every single airport cab ride [in the US] was a struggle. I’d be dragging my massive suitcases while the driver sat in his seat. Because there, you pay for the ride, not for the labour,” she explained.
The Bengaluru Moment That Moved Her
On her return to Bengaluru, Bakshi booked an Uber Black, expecting a standard ride. What surprised her was the driver’s initiative. Without being asked, he lifted both her “25kg+ suitcases” and placed them in the car.
“I instantly reached for my wallet. ₹200 extra. Because I valued that help so much and honestly had no energy to do it. He outright refused. Smiled and said, ‘Nahi nahi mam, it’s okay.’ I had to insist a couple of times for him to finally accept,” she wrote.
The moment struck her deeply, making her reflect on how often Indians extend small but meaningful acts of help without demanding extra compensation.
‘Why Do We Give Away Labour So Easily?’
Bakshi admitted that the contrast made her rethink the cultural mindset around work and generosity. “That hit me hard. Why do we, as Indians, so easily give away our labour, our strength, our time for free? And worse, why do we, as customers, expect it and take it for granted?” she questioned in her post.
Transactional vs. Grateful Living
Her post quickly drew responses on LinkedIn, sparking a wider debate. While some agreed that every interaction should not be made transactional, others pointed to the high costs attached to small services abroad, such as the $6 fee for an airport trolley in the US.
One user countered Bakshi’s view by noting that their American Uber experiences were more pleasant than in India, where drivers sometimes refused basic services like turning on the AC. Another commenter emphasised the importance of gratitude: “We often forget to show appreciation for small acts of help that make a big difference. Even a heartfelt thank you can mean a lot.”
As per her LinkedIn profile, Bakshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University and an MBA. She began her career as an analyst at KPMG India in 2016, later taking up roles at Flipkart and Myntra. Today, she works at Google as a Digital Marketing professional..
According to her post, Bakshi said she only realised how much she had taken everyday help for granted in India after spending a couple of weeks abroad. “Every single airport cab ride [in the US] was a struggle. I’d be dragging my massive suitcases while the driver sat in his seat. Because there, you pay for the ride, not for the labour,” she explained.
The Bengaluru Moment That Moved Her
On her return to Bengaluru, Bakshi booked an Uber Black, expecting a standard ride. What surprised her was the driver’s initiative. Without being asked, he lifted both her “25kg+ suitcases” and placed them in the car.
“I instantly reached for my wallet. ₹200 extra. Because I valued that help so much and honestly had no energy to do it. He outright refused. Smiled and said, ‘Nahi nahi mam, it’s okay.’ I had to insist a couple of times for him to finally accept,” she wrote.
The moment struck her deeply, making her reflect on how often Indians extend small but meaningful acts of help without demanding extra compensation.
‘Why Do We Give Away Labour So Easily?’
Bakshi admitted that the contrast made her rethink the cultural mindset around work and generosity. “That hit me hard. Why do we, as Indians, so easily give away our labour, our strength, our time for free? And worse, why do we, as customers, expect it and take it for granted?” she questioned in her post.
Transactional vs. Grateful Living
Her post quickly drew responses on LinkedIn, sparking a wider debate. While some agreed that every interaction should not be made transactional, others pointed to the high costs attached to small services abroad, such as the $6 fee for an airport trolley in the US.
One user countered Bakshi’s view by noting that their American Uber experiences were more pleasant than in India, where drivers sometimes refused basic services like turning on the AC. Another commenter emphasised the importance of gratitude: “We often forget to show appreciation for small acts of help that make a big difference. Even a heartfelt thank you can mean a lot.”
As per her LinkedIn profile, Bakshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University and an MBA. She began her career as an analyst at KPMG India in 2016, later taking up roles at Flipkart and Myntra. Today, she works at Google as a Digital Marketing professional..
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