“A year and a half ago, I lost my job at a private firm. I kept freelancing, sending pitches, chasing payments and hoping something would work out. Sometimes the money came late. Sometimes it didn’t come at all. But rent, fuel and EMIs don’t wait. So one morning, I took my scooter out and signed up for Rapido, Blinkit and Loadshare.

I’m grateful for those apps. They didn’t ask why I lost my job or make me sit through endless interviews. Once my documents were approved, I started earning the very next day. At a time when I really needed it, that meant everything.

But the road is tougher than it looks. Some days I’d ride for 15-16 hours. By the time I filled petrol and grabbed a quick meal, I’d wonder how much I’d actually made. If it rained, if Google Maps sent me the wrong way, or if I spent too long finding a flat inside one of those huge gated communities with dozens of identical towers, the timer still kept running.

Most people only see the last few seconds of a delivery. They don’t see the traffic, the heat, the rain or the close calls that came before the doorbell rang.

My parents still don’t know I do this. They know I’m freelancing, but not this part. I don’t know how to tell them that their post-graduate son, who once worked at a reputed organization, now delivers groceries and parcels whenever work is slow.

One delivery still stays with me.

A Blinkit order came in, and when I checked the address, it was just two streets away from my own house. I was delivering groceries to one of our neighbours. I pulled my visor down, spoke as little as I could, delivered the items and left before anyone recognised me. I’ve handled Hyderabad traffic for hours, but those five minutes made me more nervous than any road ever has.

Yesterday, gig workers across Telangana went on strike, asking for better base fares, transparent payouts and basic social security. I understood exactly why.

I’m still freelancing. I still hope I’ll find another full-time job. Until then, these roads are where I earn my living. And the next time you see that little delivery dot moving on your phone, remember there’s a real person behind it, trying to make an honest living.”