‘Sometimes a side hustle isn’t about money at all’: Microsoft techie’s weekend auto gig reveals a hidden crisis

Bengaluru has always had surprises in store. For someone in the know, it's a city where conversations about startups, coding, artificial intelligence or funding rounds happen in everyday dialogues. But recently, Bengaluru created another story that has since been making many curious. The latest internet sensation seems to have it all: drama, money, a side hustle, loneliness and success. So, what really happened?


A LinkedIn user shared an unusual incident involving an auto driver. He claimed to have hopped into the vehicle only to be surprised to see a Microsoft hoodie worn by an auto driver. Curiosity piqued, the passenger engaged with the driver in a conversation, discovering that the 'auto man' is not a full-time driver. What followed was the surprising revelation that the latter is, in fact, a Microsoft software engineer with a 'good salary package'.

Contrary to what one may expect, the motive for the extra chore is not because of money: According to the post, he rode the auto because he feels lonely

While the Microsoft employee's story may seem surprising, it connects with many in far deeper ways than one could imagine.

Today's professionals have far fewer reasons to socialise as compared to previous decades. Friends grow distant, lovers break up, colleagues shift to different teams and/or countries, parents are busy with work and kids are too occupied with studies to connect meaningfully. As a consequence, people feel lonely and isolated even when surrounded by a buzzing city.


This is perhaps why the Bengaluru auto incident hit such a raw nerve with so many. The truth is that often, people have far less going for them than one imagines.

The Microsoft employee, therefore, decided to take up a side-hustle as an auto driver to 'gain human interaction and to listen to people's opinions', which he apparently lacked in his otherwise 'successful' life.

People are feeling lonelier today, despite being 'more connected than ever'.

Young professionals that find themselves in the throes of an empty lifestyle and/or a loveless marriage are choosing to share rooms, apartments and even lives in an attempt to feel more connected.

If one analyses the Bengaluru auto incident, it's apparent that one of the reasons why it struck such a nerve is because there is a huge emotional void that people want to fill. Each auto passenger brings a new story to the driver.

Whether it's an interview, going to college, returning from a trip, heading to the airport or visiting relatives, the experiences are all unique. As the passenger shares these, the driver gets exposed to a plethora of human experiences that he would not get in his daily corporate life.

Bengaluru, and other metro cities for that matter, have turned into concrete jungles where human interactions are becoming harder. The opportunities to chat with strangers are fast disappearing as people are constantly on the move, trying to avoid any 'unnecessary' conversations. This creates a strange paradox where young professionals feel lonelier.


“Honestly this is such a Bengaluru story 😂 Sometimes the side hustle isn't about the money at all. That part about driving just to meet people and break the loneliness really stayed with me” wrote one user.

People feel more comforted in their own skin when they get that extra bit of socialisation or emotional support. Such a situation can arise when one takes up a side-hustle.

“Bengaluru auto commutes always turn into unexpected networking or tech therapy sessions” shared another user.

Whereas another user wrote: “Sometimes a side hustle isn’t about the money at all. It’s about the human connection we don’t get enough of in our “successful” lives.”

As artificial intelligence, robotics and the gig economy rises, professionals will always search for more meaningful ways to deal with the world around them. We humans are far more emotional creatures than we care to admit. That is why, even in a world run by robots, people will always yearn for human connection in whatever way possible.