Shorts:Tales from the Rider

Tales from the Rider: A Story of Estrangement

The road stretches endlessly ahead, the hum of the engine a constant companion. The Rider, a delivery driver, weaves through the city streets, carrying parcels, meals, and groceries—bringing convenience to people who never stop to wonder who is behind the wheel. But today, the weight he carries isn’t just the stack of orders strapped to his bike.

It’s something heavier: Estrangement.

A Father's Duty, A Child’s Shame

Once, he was more than just a rider. He was a father, a provider, a partner. He worked long hours, not just to make ends meet but to give his child a comfortable life. Yet, despite his dedication, his job was never seen as "good enough"...

His partner—someone he once shared dreams with—saw his work as lowly. It started with small remarks at first:

• “Maybe you should find a real job.”
• “Delivering food all day? Is that really a future?”
• “People with stable jobs don’t have to ride in the heat and rain.”

And then, slowly, the words began to shape their child’s mind.

One day, while dropping his daughter off at school, he felt it: the hesitation in her voice, the nervous glances at classmates, the way she stepped out of the vehicle quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might see her father in his rider’s uniform.

That was the moment he realized—his own child was ashamed of him.

The Silent Struggle

It wasn't that he wasn't providing. He made sure there was food on the table, school fees paid, new clothes when needed, and an allowance for little joys. He wasn’t absent—he was just working a job people didn’t respect.

And yet, despite the long hours and effort, he was looked down upon.

His friends—fellow riders and even regular 9-to-5 workers—understood his struggle. They reminded him:

• "Every job that puts food on the table is an honest job."
• "We keep cities running, we help people get what they need. That’s real work."
• "Your kid might not understand now, but someday they will."

A Joke with a Lesson

Over drinks, he laughed bitterly. "Funny thing is, I still provide everything my kid needs—allowance, food, school budget. But that’s just it. It’s never about the money. It’s about status."

He knew deep down that society had built a hierarchy of jobs, and unfortunately, his was near the bottom in many people's eyes. Not because it was less valuable, but because it was less glamorous.

But as he scrolled through the news, something caught his eye—another story of someone who once had it all, now ruined by their past.

A former internet personality, someone who made fast money in the most degrading way possible, was now crying online, begging the world to forget. But the internet doesn’t forget.

The Last Laugh

The rider smirked.

He knew he had sold his labor, but not his dignity.

He had no digital footprint that would haunt him forever, no regrets from a desperate past, no scandals that would resurface the moment he tried to move on.

So what if they looked down on him now? His work didn’t stain his soul.

He didn’t trade his future for quick cash and long-term regret.

And so, as he tightened his gloves, revved his engine, and sped off into the night, he felt something his child may never understand—

Pride.