What happened on Friday evening was a continuation of the love between me and the Western Railways. We share a bond now. They issue the fine, I pay it!
Taking the foot over bridge from Bandra(E) to Bandra(W) had been a regular routine for me to gain easy access to Carter Road, Linking Road, Hill Road, Pali Hill and what not! Why would Friday evening be any different? Saves me the trouble of having to plead with a rickshaw driver that its worth the trip to take a complete round around Mahim to get to the western side. Earphones in my ears, fox-trotting to one of my favourite tunes *ok relax 'bout the fox-trot, I do it now, but that ain't the point being discussed here, so focus*. As I walked casually out towards the exit, a tummy bulging, blading, mustachioed man dressed in a black coat and stained white trousers asked me for a ticket. Of course I won't have a ticket, I came from home, just to cross over to the other side!
Now those who know of my travails, a similar situation had shown up its ugly head in Pune as well. That same bad churn arose in my stomach again, and this time I didn't even bother to ask. I asked the bloke "It says 'only bonafide passengers allowed' on a dingy white board just above my head, which nobody wouldn't even care to look at, doesn't it?'. He smiled and took out that dreadful receipt book. There we go again - Rs. 256 again. No matter how much I pleaded with him, he was not ready to listen. He had a point. He asked me where he was wrong. I can't plead on humanitarian grounds now could I, he was taking the clinical technicality high road wasn't he. I needed a haircut. Had to spare myself some money. Couldn't have gone back home and have only a "fine paid" to show for the evening's outing. "Thoda mandvali nahi ho sakta?" is what I blurted out. He smirked. "How much you got?" It felt like negotiating for smack or hashish as he pulled me aside, in a hushed voice asking for Rs. 200. We agreed upon Rs. 120, as I reluctantly handed over the money to him. 200 would have been me having to sit down along with the beggars lines up on the platform to get a rickshaw back home! Did I have a choice? *I know that's a dicey question, refrain from answering it or judging me!*
I was pissed off with my luck. Shouldn't I have been? How many times have been people been fined for the same thing, TWICE?!
Walking down the road for another 2 minutes, it struck me. What in the devil's sweet name did I just do?! At this point I could tangent off into patronising you about scruples, but am going to refrain from doing so, not because am considerate, but more so since its easy to preach in hindsight, the feeling at that moment is what makes you swallow an elephant and probably feel your heart plummet to the deepest abyss of the stomach. I got frantic. I had to get to an ATM machine. Eureka, found one - Axis Bank! Now what I need is change. Voila, a Dairy Milk and 8 Mentos, that would get me Rs. 36 bucks in change for a 50er. I ran back to the station.
It took some searching but I got hold of the bloke. Patted him on the shoulder as he turned around and had a look of surprise on his face wondering what I could want after he so "affectionately" told me before - "beta next time dhyaan rakhna abhi main aapko chhod raha hun for Rs. 120, because I understand your situation", as he pocketed the 120 bucks. Understand my situation - BALLS !! You just ripped me off for Rs. 120!! After the initial moment of awkwardness for him, he let out a puzzled "yes?". Now I must confess, what I was about to do was something I had never done before. Don't worry I did not make him bleed! ;) I opened his palm and put in Rs. 136, and asked him to give me a receipt. Beyond that time, it is best if I give the actual conversation verbatim.
Me: Yeh lo, bakaya136 rupaya.
Him: Arre aapko chhod diya maine, main samajhta hun.
Me: Main bhi samajhta hun, chalo parchi kaato.
Him: Arre bhaisaab kyun apna aur mera nuksaan kar rahe ho, 120 mein apna mandvali ho gaya na!
Me: Mujhe nahi karne ka hai, parchi kaato.
Him: Arre khali khoti dimaag na kharab karo mera, jao yahan se.
Me: Tu parchi kaat, mujhe fine dena hai.
Him: Bade hi ajeeb insaan ho. Mujhe nahi kaatni.
Me: I-card dikha apna, mujhe check karna hai tu valid checker hai.
Him: *haughtily* Yeh le!
At this point I noted down his employee number and name into my cellphone, as he started yelling for his card to be given to him. He threatened me about the police, I asked him to bring it on. He freaked out, signed a receipt for Rs. 256 and shoved it into my hand. Profanities were yelled back n forth but am going to spare you the trouble for want of public forum decorum. While leaving, I handed him an address, for the Anti-Corruption Bureau Bombay, and told him he'd be hearing from them soon! ;)
I walked away.
I know some of you might be shaking your head calling it a dumb act of losing more money. Some might not agree on the way I handled things. Hell even I don't agree I executed things perfectly, let alone describe them properly. But I do know one thing for sure, I know that I smiled at myself in the mirror the next morning rather than lowering my eyebrows for being a hypocrite. It might seem corny, but that feeling of doing what you think is right, no matter what others might think is what brings a smile rather than the sinking feeling of being untrue to who you are.
I slept well that night.
12 comments:
while reading the post, I was like...what..you asked him to settle the matter with some money...[:o]..but bravo..you came out as a winner eventually..even if it cost you 256 bucks...it was worth it I would say, you did the RIGHT thing boy ;-)
You know me well dontchya ! ;)
the initial part about "thoda mandvali nai ho sakta?" is the innate indianness that we all have come to accept now... maybe thats y it was so instinctive on yr part.. n u goin back to pay the whole fine is the new india that is emergin, the next generation which is tryin to cut the corruption... may the next generation win!
yea yea i kno bohot jyada ho gaya.. :)
OMFG !!! @ vibs
dhaa, shaataaapp!!! i kno it was a bit not me..
i could agree with the innate indianness of the first part .. but the new emerging india ?!?!?! gimme a break .. it seems like we were true to our principles in the yesteryears and have now found deviant ways of killing our conscience and going about our measly lives with no regrets!
the country might be progressing, but the "culture" we so brag about is going to the dogs *no offence meant to the canines*
maybe thats true of a part of the public.. but the educated class, with the realization of their rights IS offering resistance.. have seen some examples around me.. 100 crore ka ek percent bhi change hua to bohot hai..
a PART of the public ?! that is what we present to the world, in general! "educated class" ?! Don't even get me started on all those so called sophisticated rascals. They're the biggest hypocrites of the lot. At least the illiterate can be excused for want of making ends meet and thereby having flexible morals, but its the literate imbeciles who bend and mend around rules and principles to make sure they get their share of the pie without having to give in too much! What resistance?! Please do not list down the useless "initiatives" that have been put in place. The day they actually DO something worthwhile, I'll acknowledge their relevance :) One percent is a huge figure for a country like ours lady, change ain't enough woman, its the EXECUTION after the change that we need so desperately now !
not all of the educated class are hypocrites, not all of them bend rules, not all of them have flexible morals.. if we have dhirubhai ambani who didnt mind taking advantage of the corruption, thes also ratan tata who doesnt bend rules... we jus need more tatas than ambanis.. :P n if the change happens, so wil the execution.. dheeraj rakhiye, apni country bohot vaddi hai.. change takes a lot of time for such a huge nation.. but happen, it will..
i'll let you have your optimism and keep my skepticism .. i want the nation to change .. and i too know it will .. its inevitable .. its just that i don't see the amount of progress people brag about :)
must say .. well written comments vibs .. prolly for the first time ever, am proud of ya ! ;)
its not bragging... ppl are proud of the stuff we are achieving despite so many obstacles... i guess its a case how u look at it.. a half empty or half full glass..
haan haan chaapley!! first time tu kyu, first time ANYONE is proud of me bol ne.. :X
first time i offered an opinion.. otherwise its just fun khichofying yr legs ;)
Post a Comment