I usually take a morning run on weekend. Today Jakarta was raining hard at dawn, but fortunately the rain had stopped by 5 am. I was confident the weather would be nice, so I started running at 5.30 am from Gambir Station. I took my usual weekend running route: Gambir – Thamrin – Menteng – Cikini – Gambir. The sidewalks are mostly wide and comfortable for running, and are usually less crowded from Menteng onwards.
Along the way, I occasionally accompanied by light rain. After I passed Taman Suropati, the rain got so heavy that it was not feasible to run anymore. Fortunately, I found a security post for shelter which was occupied two friendly elderly officers.
Worried that the rain would last, I called a Grab car. Seeing the car approaching in the application, I was surprised when the status suddenly changed saying that the driver had picked me up. Meanwhile I was calling the driver, I saw a Xenia slowly passing by and stopping in front of the security post. I ran through the rain and was shocked to see another passenger in the front seat. I spontaneously asked, “is this a Grab car?”. The driver asked me back, “are you Chandra?”. “Yes”, I answered. The driver asked the stranger, “who are you????”, then kicked him out of the car. The stranger only wore a confused look.
Out of curiosity, I asked the driver why he stopped and how he saw me. He told me that the stranger doesn’t look like a Chandra. Well.. how should a Chandra look like?
This situation could be dangerous. A stranger hijacking a Grab car might have malicious intention. Grab drivers, please be careful and make sure the right person enters you car!
Have you been in a similar situations?
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