'We take it for granted': Google employee on cab experiences in India vs US after driver carries her luggage

Kavleen Kaur Bakshi reflected that the small act affected her outlook.

A LinkedIn post by a Google professional comparing cab rides in the United States and India prompted widespread conversation about labour and appreciation. Kavleen Kaur Bakshi, a Senior Solutions Specialist at Google, recounted how a driver in Bengaluru surprised her with an unsolicited gesture that left her reflecting on how work is valued in different contexts.

Bakshi wrote that after spending time in the United States, she realised she had underestimated certain aspects of everyday life in India. “I didn’t realise how much we take for granted in India… until I spent a couple of weeks in the US,” she explained. She noted that during every airport journey abroad, she had to manage her “massive suitcases” on her own while drivers remained in their seats. “Because there, you pay for the ride, not for the labour,” she observed, adding that the arrangement was logical given that the payment was for transport services rather than baggage handling.

On her return to Bengaluru, she described a contrasting incident when a local driver lifted her “25kg+ suitcases” into the car without her asking. “I instantly reached for my wallet. Rs 200 extra. Because I valued that help so much and honestly had no energy to do it,” she wrote. According to her, the driver declined the money, replying with a smile, “‘Nahi nahi mam, it’s okay.’” She said she had to insist before he eventually accepted the payment.

Bakshi reflected that the small act affected her outlook. She concluded that Indians tended to offer their labour readily and that she had learnt an important lesson about valuing assistance. “And the next time someone goes out of their way to make my life easier, I will value it (even if they refuse),” she added.

The post sparked a range of reactions online. One user responded, “I never let drivers pick up my bags. They didn’t sign up for that.” Another commented on the cost differences between the two countries, writing, “My biggest gripe is the $6 fee for an airport baggage trolley, which is free in India.”

Others shared personal experiences. “My experience has been very different. I always load my luggage on my own, unless I’m unable to. In the last 5–6 years most cab drivers I’ve requested (aggregator/private) have refused to haul up suitcases or even small bags. And once when I was 8 months pregnant,” one individual wrote.

Another said, “We often forget to show gratitude in our daily lives… especially for the small acts of help that actually make a big difference. Even a heartfelt ‘thank you’ or a small gesture of appreciation can mean a lot and give real value to someone’s effort.”