Well, this blog is based on a true incident that happened to my friends. I have explained it as was narrated to me. Due to 'technical' reasons, the identity of the characters cannot be disclosed. Well, it happened like this.
Five friends are going out for shopping, in a bus. Another one(also their friend) is going home that very night in a train and hence is in the bus with them. Its around 7.30 pm.
A : Guys, anyway D is going home. So lets see him off at the railway station and then we'll proceed for shopping.
C : Ok. But its getting late. Will the shops be open after that?
A : I guess so. His train leaves at 8.30 right? We'll go straight from the station to the shops. The shops are quite near to the station.
D : Thanks guys. But I doubt that we'll make it to the station in time for the train, considering the speed of this bus.
C : Well, you are right. Even I have a feeling, you will have to race with time. Do one thing. Instead of having dinner, why don't you just take a parcel so that you can have it later inside the train?
D : Cool. That's a good idea.
A : Yeah! After getting down from the bus, you proceed to the train. I'll get the parcel for you.
D : Thanks man!
Finally the bus came to a halt in front of the station and the six of them got down. A hurried to get the parcel. Meanwhile the rest accompanied D inside the station. Upon reaching there, as none of them had taken platform tickets, they decided not to go out to the platform.
But as B was helping D with the luggage, B and D went through to the train. By this time A also arrived with the parcel and followed B and D.
A : Hey guys! I got the parcel.
D : Thanks a lot yaar!
A : No probs! Which is your compartment?
D : Wait, lemme check. (Takes a look at his ticket). Its S3.
B : Ok. There is S3.
All three got into the train. After finding his seat, keeping his luggage beneath the seat and a exchanging a number of good-bye's and miss-you's and take-care's, A and B started walking back to the entrance. They meet C on the way.
C : You guys accompanied him to the seat? Which compartment is he in?
A : Yup. He's in S3.
C : Ok. Even I'll say a good-bye and come.
A : Carry on. We'll wait outside for you.
And A and B start moving.
C(calls out) : Hey, where is S3?
A : Just go a bit more forward. You'll find it after the AC coaches.
And A moves again towards the entrance, while C towards S3. B has already reached the entrance and is waiting along with the others.
A : Guys, just wait for a few more minutes. Let C be back.
After some 10 minutes,
B : Hey, where is C? Its been around 15min that we are waiting.
A : I'll just go and see.
As A is about to enter the platform, he sees C with an elderly man. This man, in his late forties, is short wearing specs and has a small bag in his armpits.
A : Guys, C has come. He's talking with some old man out there. Guess he's helping him out or something.
Meanwhile C and the other man start walking towards A. When C saw A, he frowned. The look on C's face told that that he was in some kind of trouble. A senses that immediately. In the meantime, C is walking with the man towards the other side of the platform. As they crossed A, C murmurs something. Though A couldn't hear it properly, he made out what the problem was.
A(to himself) : That's it! C's been caught for not having a platform ticket. And he's in trouble. What do I do???
A starts running behind C. But then realizes he has a better idea and turns back. And runs back to the others.
E : Hey, where were you? Its been time. The shops are going to close.
B : Yea. Where did you run off like that? And where is C?
A(puffing) : Hey, there's a small problem. C's been caught for not having a platform ticket. We got to do something and fast. Do one thing B. Get a platform ticket fast.
B : Christ! Ok. Where do I get a platform ticket from?
A(looks around) : I can see a queue over there. Guess that's where you get it. Fast.
B : Ok
And B rushes off towards the counter. A glances around and sees a ticket machine.
A : Oh shit! You get the platform ticket from that machine. Any of you have a five rupee coin? I don't have any change with me.
F : Ya. Here's a 5 rupee coin.
A puts it into the machine and gets a ticket. Then starts to run towards where C had gone.
A : Hey call B back. I'll go and check what's happening to C.
A rushes off to the platform and starts running.
He goes till the end of the platform and still no sign of C or the other person. He sees a security personnel there.
A : Sir, where are people, who are caught without platform ticket, taken to??
Security : Hmmm.. Check the Ticket inspector's office over to the right.
And points to some place to the right. A runs over and finds a shabby looking small office. Moving to the door, he finds C and the other person(the ticket inspector, T) sitting across a table. A goes inside.
T : Who are you? What do you want?
C(terrified) : Sir, he is my friend.
T(to A) : Well my boy! Your friend here has been caught for not possessing a platform ticket.
A : Sir, here's his platform ticket. Actually we had come as a group of 10 people to see our friends off. So the platform ticket was not with him, sir. It was with another friend. I just got it for you.
C just let out a sigh of relief!
T : Where is it?
A : Here sir!
And hands the ticket over. The TI inspects it for long and then smiles.
T : Well, you just took the ticket, didn't you??
A : No sir. As I told we had already taken the ticket. Just that, it was with the others.
T : Don't lie. I caught him at around 8.05 pm. The time on this ticket is 8.15 pm. So you realized the matter and then took the ticket.
A felt something strike his head hard.
A : Err.. Sir, that err.. was .. ya because there was a long queue for taking the platform ticket. So as the train was about to leave C proceeded. Another guy took the ticket for him and guess because of the queue it got delayed.
Now the TI got angry.
T : Don't mess with me son. I know you took the ticket after you saw me catch him. And now you are giving a lame excuse. This is a very serious issue and you will get into trouble. Tell the truth. And show me your ticket.
A : Well umm.. I err.., my ticket is with my friends sir. If you want, I'll just go and get that.
T : No need. How dare you mess with me? You don't know the severity of what you have done? Lying to me eh? Whom did you think I was? Some stupid jobless railway officer? Well, then you are wrong.
A : No Sir. We are telling the truth. All our friends are still standing there waiting for us.
T : Enough of your lies. I can't bear any more of this. You come and sit here.
Turns to face C.
T : Which college are you studying?
C : Sir, I am from ****** college sir.
T : Give me your id card.
C takes out his id from his purse and hands it over.
T : Hmmm.. ok.. You boys don't know the crime you have committed. For you the five rupee ticket may not be of worth or important. But for the railways it is and we are losing money because of people like you. And on top of that you are lying to me.
A : But Sir we were....
T(infuriated) : Don't you dare interrupt me! Shut up! Shut up, I say! Now I will speak and you listen.
TI takes out some book from inside his table. And he asks C.
T : Tell me your name.
C : C, sir.
T : Your father's name.
C : Mr. ******, Sir.
T : Your address. I mean your college address.
C : That's on the id-card, Sir.
T : Ok. Give me your mobile number.
C : ##########, Sir.
TI now turns to A.
T : What is your name?
A : A, Sir.
T : Your father's name?
As A was about to reply, C interrupts.
C : Sir, tell us what we should do Sir, as a compensation? We are sorry Sir.
T : Well, you should done the apologies before. Instead you lied to me. Now I am going to charge a case against you.
Both A and C are shocked. A shiver went through their spine. The ambience was eerie. Now, the TI turned to A again.
T : Tell me your father's name.
C : Sir, we are sorry sir. But our friend's brother is very ill. He's in a hospital in Chennai. His condition is serious. And so we were rushing with D. And it was almost time for the train. So in the hurry we forgot about the ticket sir. We are really sorry.
TI turns to C. He closes his book.
T : Because you said so, I am sparing you both from the case. But you will have to pay the fine.
C : Ok Sir. We are ready to do that. How much should we pay?
TI takes out a book and a calculator and does some calculations.
T : The fine amount is Rs. 135. each. So together it will be Rs. 270.
C : Ok Sir. We will pay that.
C takes out his purse. And to his amazement, finds that empty except for some coins. A look of despair comes over his face. Meanwhile A also searches his purse. Luckily the total amount in his purse was Rs. 310. He hands over the three hundred rupee notes to the TI.
T : Ok. But I don have change. Give me twenty more rupees as I have only a Rs. 50 with me.
A : Sorry Sir. But we don't have change with us either. I only have a ten-rupee note more.
T : It is ok. Give me that. I am putting ten more rupees for you from my pocket. Here's the balance fifty rupees. Now you can go and see to it that you never repeat it again.
Both A and C get up, apologize again and leave. Outside they find the rest of the gang.
B : Hey, what happened? What took you so long?
A : Aw, I'll explain later. The railways had a small financial problem and we just lent a helping hand.
Five friends are going out for shopping, in a bus. Another one(also their friend) is going home that very night in a train and hence is in the bus with them. Its around 7.30 pm.
A : Guys, anyway D is going home. So lets see him off at the railway station and then we'll proceed for shopping.
C : Ok. But its getting late. Will the shops be open after that?
A : I guess so. His train leaves at 8.30 right? We'll go straight from the station to the shops. The shops are quite near to the station.
D : Thanks guys. But I doubt that we'll make it to the station in time for the train, considering the speed of this bus.
C : Well, you are right. Even I have a feeling, you will have to race with time. Do one thing. Instead of having dinner, why don't you just take a parcel so that you can have it later inside the train?
D : Cool. That's a good idea.
A : Yeah! After getting down from the bus, you proceed to the train. I'll get the parcel for you.
D : Thanks man!
Finally the bus came to a halt in front of the station and the six of them got down. A hurried to get the parcel. Meanwhile the rest accompanied D inside the station. Upon reaching there, as none of them had taken platform tickets, they decided not to go out to the platform.
But as B was helping D with the luggage, B and D went through to the train. By this time A also arrived with the parcel and followed B and D.
A : Hey guys! I got the parcel.
D : Thanks a lot yaar!
A : No probs! Which is your compartment?
D : Wait, lemme check. (Takes a look at his ticket). Its S3.
B : Ok. There is S3.
All three got into the train. After finding his seat, keeping his luggage beneath the seat and a exchanging a number of good-bye's and miss-you's and take-care's, A and B started walking back to the entrance. They meet C on the way.
C : You guys accompanied him to the seat? Which compartment is he in?
A : Yup. He's in S3.
C : Ok. Even I'll say a good-bye and come.
A : Carry on. We'll wait outside for you.
And A and B start moving.
C(calls out) : Hey, where is S3?
A : Just go a bit more forward. You'll find it after the AC coaches.
And A moves again towards the entrance, while C towards S3. B has already reached the entrance and is waiting along with the others.
A : Guys, just wait for a few more minutes. Let C be back.
After some 10 minutes,
B : Hey, where is C? Its been around 15min that we are waiting.
A : I'll just go and see.
As A is about to enter the platform, he sees C with an elderly man. This man, in his late forties, is short wearing specs and has a small bag in his armpits.
A : Guys, C has come. He's talking with some old man out there. Guess he's helping him out or something.
Meanwhile C and the other man start walking towards A. When C saw A, he frowned. The look on C's face told that that he was in some kind of trouble. A senses that immediately. In the meantime, C is walking with the man towards the other side of the platform. As they crossed A, C murmurs something. Though A couldn't hear it properly, he made out what the problem was.
A(to himself) : That's it! C's been caught for not having a platform ticket. And he's in trouble. What do I do???
A starts running behind C. But then realizes he has a better idea and turns back. And runs back to the others.
E : Hey, where were you? Its been time. The shops are going to close.
B : Yea. Where did you run off like that? And where is C?
A(puffing) : Hey, there's a small problem. C's been caught for not having a platform ticket. We got to do something and fast. Do one thing B. Get a platform ticket fast.
B : Christ! Ok. Where do I get a platform ticket from?
A(looks around) : I can see a queue over there. Guess that's where you get it. Fast.
B : Ok
And B rushes off towards the counter. A glances around and sees a ticket machine.
A : Oh shit! You get the platform ticket from that machine. Any of you have a five rupee coin? I don't have any change with me.
F : Ya. Here's a 5 rupee coin.
A puts it into the machine and gets a ticket. Then starts to run towards where C had gone.
A : Hey call B back. I'll go and check what's happening to C.
A rushes off to the platform and starts running.
He goes till the end of the platform and still no sign of C or the other person. He sees a security personnel there.
A : Sir, where are people, who are caught without platform ticket, taken to??
Security : Hmmm.. Check the Ticket inspector's office over to the right.
And points to some place to the right. A runs over and finds a shabby looking small office. Moving to the door, he finds C and the other person(the ticket inspector, T) sitting across a table. A goes inside.
T : Who are you? What do you want?
C(terrified) : Sir, he is my friend.
T(to A) : Well my boy! Your friend here has been caught for not possessing a platform ticket.
A : Sir, here's his platform ticket. Actually we had come as a group of 10 people to see our friends off. So the platform ticket was not with him, sir. It was with another friend. I just got it for you.
C just let out a sigh of relief!
T : Where is it?
A : Here sir!
And hands the ticket over. The TI inspects it for long and then smiles.
T : Well, you just took the ticket, didn't you??
A : No sir. As I told we had already taken the ticket. Just that, it was with the others.
T : Don't lie. I caught him at around 8.05 pm. The time on this ticket is 8.15 pm. So you realized the matter and then took the ticket.
A felt something strike his head hard.
A : Err.. Sir, that err.. was .. ya because there was a long queue for taking the platform ticket. So as the train was about to leave C proceeded. Another guy took the ticket for him and guess because of the queue it got delayed.
Now the TI got angry.
T : Don't mess with me son. I know you took the ticket after you saw me catch him. And now you are giving a lame excuse. This is a very serious issue and you will get into trouble. Tell the truth. And show me your ticket.
A : Well umm.. I err.., my ticket is with my friends sir. If you want, I'll just go and get that.
T : No need. How dare you mess with me? You don't know the severity of what you have done? Lying to me eh? Whom did you think I was? Some stupid jobless railway officer? Well, then you are wrong.
A : No Sir. We are telling the truth. All our friends are still standing there waiting for us.
T : Enough of your lies. I can't bear any more of this. You come and sit here.
Turns to face C.
T : Which college are you studying?
C : Sir, I am from ****** college sir.
T : Give me your id card.
C takes out his id from his purse and hands it over.
T : Hmmm.. ok.. You boys don't know the crime you have committed. For you the five rupee ticket may not be of worth or important. But for the railways it is and we are losing money because of people like you. And on top of that you are lying to me.
A : But Sir we were....
T(infuriated) : Don't you dare interrupt me! Shut up! Shut up, I say! Now I will speak and you listen.
TI takes out some book from inside his table. And he asks C.
T : Tell me your name.
C : C, sir.
T : Your father's name.
C : Mr. ******, Sir.
T : Your address. I mean your college address.
C : That's on the id-card, Sir.
T : Ok. Give me your mobile number.
C : ##########, Sir.
TI now turns to A.
T : What is your name?
A : A, Sir.
T : Your father's name?
As A was about to reply, C interrupts.
C : Sir, tell us what we should do Sir, as a compensation? We are sorry Sir.
T : Well, you should done the apologies before. Instead you lied to me. Now I am going to charge a case against you.
Both A and C are shocked. A shiver went through their spine. The ambience was eerie. Now, the TI turned to A again.
T : Tell me your father's name.
C : Sir, we are sorry sir. But our friend's brother is very ill. He's in a hospital in Chennai. His condition is serious. And so we were rushing with D. And it was almost time for the train. So in the hurry we forgot about the ticket sir. We are really sorry.
TI turns to C. He closes his book.
T : Because you said so, I am sparing you both from the case. But you will have to pay the fine.
C : Ok Sir. We are ready to do that. How much should we pay?
TI takes out a book and a calculator and does some calculations.
T : The fine amount is Rs. 135. each. So together it will be Rs. 270.
C : Ok Sir. We will pay that.
C takes out his purse. And to his amazement, finds that empty except for some coins. A look of despair comes over his face. Meanwhile A also searches his purse. Luckily the total amount in his purse was Rs. 310. He hands over the three hundred rupee notes to the TI.
T : Ok. But I don have change. Give me twenty more rupees as I have only a Rs. 50 with me.
A : Sorry Sir. But we don't have change with us either. I only have a ten-rupee note more.
T : It is ok. Give me that. I am putting ten more rupees for you from my pocket. Here's the balance fifty rupees. Now you can go and see to it that you never repeat it again.
Both A and C get up, apologize again and leave. Outside they find the rest of the gang.
B : Hey, what happened? What took you so long?
A : Aw, I'll explain later. The railways had a small financial problem and we just lent a helping hand.
you could have added some masala highlighting the heroic deeds of a & c- Mr.C
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