Bengaluru Businessman Turns Rapido Rider After Losing Crores During Covid: ‘Life Is Unfair’

A post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a Bengaluru-based user has gone viral after he recounted an emotional conversation with a Rapido bike taxi driver whose life was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post, written by a user identified as Chiraag, described what began as a routine ride but slowly unfolded into a story of financial collapse and resilience.

“Life is so unfair, man,” Chiraag wrote, recalling how the driver struck up casual conversation about where he lived and which college he attended- the kind of small talk common during short rides.

According to the post, the conversation soon turned personal. The driver shared that he had studied hotel management at Amity and once lived a comfortable life. His father served in the Army, the family ran a successful business and stability was taken for granted.

“Life was good back then,” the driver said.

That changed after the pandemic hit. The driver told Chiraag that his family lost nearly Rs 13–14 crore during COVID-19, forcing them to shut down their business entirely. An attempt to start over with a new venture also failed, costing him another Rs 4 lakh and leaving him with no savings.

With little left to fall back on, the driver turned to bike taxi work.

“All I had was this bike,” he said, explaining how he came to work as a Rapido rider. What struck Chiraag most, however, was the man’s determination despite the setbacks.

“I’m not giving up. I still believe in God. I’ll try one last time. One more shot before I give up,” the driver said, breaking down in tears mid-ride.

“I didn’t know what to say. I just sat there, quiet,” Chiraag wrote, adding that the conversation left him shaken.

“It hit me. Life really is unfair sometimes,” the post concluded.

The post has since drawn widespread attention online as many users shared similar experiences, saying COVID-19 devastated families financially and pushed people into invisible struggles far removed from their earlier lives.