A Reserved Journey

It was good day to start with. It was an early morning 6:00am in Bangalore and the outside climate was cool enough to make you think 'why did I come out of home ?'.

Reaching the Bangalore railway station to take my trip back to Chennai, I was waiting on the platform. Passengers and their accompanies as friends or relatives were rushing towards the respective compartment location mentioned on the digital board on top.

Looking at their tension packed faces, which was not having a single percent smile for that great morning, I was feeling really pity for them.

When the clock moved near to 6:40am the much awaited announcement has came about the train and it is expected in few moments.

Once the train arrived, as we all approach towards our compartment, there came an old lady & her son just pushed us away and started getting on to the train.

Surprised and just laughed on their behaviour everyone boarded the train and all were busy enough locating their seats, placing their luggage.

Since I was not having any luggage, I reached my seat and found that I am going to share my seat with the same Old lady & her son.

The only problem in Indian railway - during day time train is the sitting space. Though it is perfect for a 3 member team of lean people like me (and I am not lean nowadays), if any of the 3 is fat then you are done.

Looking at my team i am sure that i don't have enough space for me to make myself comfortable. Just to note, that I am returning back after a short visit to Bangalore and it is just few hours of sleep I had last night. So I was thinking to myself, how do I get myself comfort.

Sat on my allotted number, once the TTE verified my ticket I just got myself ready towards a sit-asleep posture. It was a wonderful sleep i was having.

And not sure, who is talking or where is it ? i heard someone calling me "Sir...", Is it real or my dream, once again I heard "Sir...", Oh it was my neighbor. I opened my eyes from a deep sleep, answered him, "Yes, what can i do ?"

The old lady was waiting for me to give way to move out of our seat. I appologised to them and gave way. While I decided to continue my sleep, He questioned me - "Are you single ?".

Already much irritated that he spoiled a good sleep of mine, I was about to say "No I am married and having a son", controlled my anger and answered him politely, "Yes."

He then asked me "Can you change your seat with my friend ? He is sitting in the next compartment."

Being helped by several people on several of my journeys, I couldn't avoid this request. I agreed to him. He was very much happy and called up his friend and informed about this. He said he will take me there and asked me to wait till his mother returns.

While we were waiting, let me explain the scenario of my current sitting location. It was 108 seater compartment. It has entrance at start, middle & end of the bogie. Not much crowded and the seats were not on a traditional way. Usually on a 2nd sitting coach the seats would be like 3 people will be facing each other like that way, you will have 6 seats on left & 6 seats on right.

But this one was arranged in a little different manner, like a Bus, 3 seats on right and 3 seats on left for each row and all rows facing same direction. There was not much gap between each row and it was quite comfortable for me to have a good sleep.

The old lady reached back, and then we moved to the next compartment. It wasn't an easy task. We have to swim through the crowd which was standing on the passage.

After a 10min travel, finally we reached the location. It is the same size bogie, but seats were like traditional (12 seats a row, and six on each side and 3 facing 3).

I occupied his friend's seat and we informed TTE about this swap. Now my mind said, common... go ahead and continue your sleep. I stretched myself and started my sleep again.

A little while after I felt the train was slowing down. Opened my eyes, It was a in-between station and so many people stepped in to the train. I was thinking, do we have that many space left for these people sit here. My mind said it is there problem, so I continued my sleep again.

Few more minutes passed, I was half asleep. I felt I am not comfortable. When I open my eyes, god.... between these 3/3 seat gap there was a small boy standing and then holding the bar on my seat back was a family like that everybody on the reservation compartment was troubled by an un-reserved compartment crowd.

Alas, my sleep is gone. How can I sleep when I can't stretch my legs freely. Neither I can put my head on the seat back nor I can move my legs. No space !!!!

We were eagerly waiting for the TTE to come. Promptly came our much awaited hero but failing all our hopes he just pass by murmuring to him self, "How many times i will say to these people to go to the General compartment ?"

I can hear the frustration in his tone. What to do ?. Let me try to continue my sleep. Somehow I managed to got back my sleep and it was a wonderful sleep i was having.

And at that golden moment, I felt like water is dripping on my pant & leg. Awaken immediately, I looked outside - and it was not raining. Then what is this. Look up and i can see our friend Mr.Unreserved was trying to open a water bottle.

Really frustrated with the disturbance I had i asked him "What is this yar ?." He replied very cool, "Nothing sir, you relax"

I got angry and said, "What nothing ? You poured water on my dress and my shoes, how do you want me to wear that again ?"

I just looked into his eyes, there was no answer. I told him "Move away". Knowing nothing can be done to this unforced errors, I continued my sleep again.

Next disturbance was scheduled after 10 min, not knowing the same I was slowly entering into the world of sleep. There came a tap on my shoulder. Waken up by that I just looked on the side, I can see the Pantry vendor (railway catering) standing there with a trey full of Dosas.

While i was surprising I haven't asked for any Dosa, he said "move your head, I have to keep the trey here on the seat back to serve Dosa"

Okie.... I will. Few minutes of waiting, got my permission again to sleep, continued the same.

About 10 min pass by, got a tap on my shoulder again. Opening my eyes with full frustration of "Who is this time ?"

It was my neighbour, asking what station is Next !!!!

By answering his question, took a magazine on my hand I was saying to myself

"No more sleep on a train, that too a day train, that too sitting on an aisle seat, that too when there is everyone around you is wakeup"

Yours
Ragavan

Barbarian to 'Bribe'rian

It was an usual hot sunny weekday of Chennai. Our friend 'Mr.A' was moving to the Railway booking office with his friend to collect his vehicle which he booked from his home town. Riding through the usual traffic of Chennai he reached the booking office on the side of the Chennai central railway station.

He was having the booking confirmation slip in his pocket, which says he can collect the vehicle by showing the same to the office in the receiving end. Once he reached there, he was approached by 'Mr.B'. He was a coolie there and asked him,


B: Ahh sir, enna sir, book pannanuma illa delivery edukkanuma ? (What sir, do you want to book or take delivery ?)


A: Delivery edukkanum, naan parthukkaren. (To take delivery. I will take care) - He was trying to avoid him.

While 'Mr.A' walked towards the office, 'Mr.B' also walks along with him guiding him towards the office. Once 'Mr.A' reached the office, there 'A' met his friend. His friend enquired him what is he doing there and all, and then told 'B' to help him. Happilly 'B' sped up his walk and approached the office staff there and started checking the ledger using the help of the staff to know the vehicle reached or not.

Now 'A' - who has already visited the station the previous night checked the vehicle is arrived there. But he was not able to take delivery due to the out pass issue time is over - confirms to the staff that the vehicle is here. The staff now looks at A and tells him,

Staff: Sare sir, poi vandi angathaan irukka illa eduthu godown kondu poittangalaanu check pannunga sir. Anga iruntha eduththuttu vaanga sir. (Ok sir, go and check vehicle is still there or did they taken to godown. If yes, then bring it)

(Kindly note this point - he was telling 'A' to bring the vehicle)

The staff also added,
Staff: Sir, vandi inga 8 hours mela irukku. So storage fees 80/- rupees kattanum Sir (Sir, the vehicle is here for more than 8 hours. So you have to pay the storage fee 80/- rupees also.)

Agreed to the same 'A' walks out of the room. Now 'B' walks briskly in front of 'A' towards platform 2A to take the vehicle. They both entered platform 2. Since Platform 2A is not a complete platform, they have to enter 2A via platform 2 only. Accompanying him to the same, 'A' talks to himself.

A: So for sure, 'B' is going to ask for some money. How much we will pay. 50/- rupees will be fine. Let us see.

Now 'B' started the conversation,

B: En sir, nethikke eduthiruntha intha dhutu waste agama irukkumla ? (sir, if you would have taken the vehicle yesterday itself this money would not be wasted na ?)

A: Naan nethikku vanthen sir, Aana 10 money ayiduchu. Athanala outpass poda mudiyathunnu sollittanga. Athan ippa vanthen. (I came yesterday. But it was 10'o clock. So they said they can't issue outpass. So i came again today.)


B: Oho... Athellam summa sir. Kudukka vendiyavangalukku kodutha ellam nadakkum (Oho, it is not like that sir. If you give something to somebody all is possible)


A: (Surpriced !!!!)....Oho, appadiya !!! (Oho, is it)


B: Munnallam railway la 24 hours free time koduthurunthanga. Ippa atha 8 hour a kuraichittanga. (Earlier railway use to give 24 hours free storage. Now they reduced to 8 hours)

Both of them reached the vehicle, now 'A' is identifying the vehicle and 'B' verified the way bill with the vehicle and then started pushing the vehicle towards the exit. 'B' pushed the vehicle towards platform 2 again. Now enters the next staff here. He questions,

Staff: Ennapa outpass pottacha ? (What man, outpass ready ?)


B: Illa, poiththan. (No not yet. We have to go there)


Staff: Athellam aavathuppa, problem theriyumla. Sare oru paththu rupa teakku vaangiththa sareya. (It is not possible man. You know na. Ok ask him to pay ten rupees for my tea expense)


B: (with complete tired) sare pa. (Ok man)

Now both walk towards the exit.

B: Sir, Veliyila vandiyila petrol irukkannu ketpanga sir. Illainu sollunga. Illaatti rendu perukkum pirachini aayidum sir. Neenga apparum 1500/- fine kattunum sir. (Sir outside they will ask, do you have petrol in vehicle. Say no. Otherwise it will be problem for you and me. You also have to pay 1500/- rupees)


A: Vandiyila unmaiyave petrol illa sir. En kooda en friend vanthirukkar. Avar kitta bottle la petrol kondu vanthirukken (Really there is no petrol in the vehicle. My friend who is with me, is having petrol in bottle)


B: Oho.. Avara kooda veliyil nikka sollunga sir. Itha kooda securityla sollatheenga. (Oh... ask him also to stand outside. Don't tell this also to the security)

Now our next artist enters the scene. It is 'Mr.Policeman'. Dressed decently, he approached both 'A' & 'B'. He questioned 'A'

Police: Where is the outpass ?

'Mr.A' shows the slip what he holds to him. But the policeman refuces to accept that and started shouting at 'B',


Police: Ennaya, outpass illama vandi edukka koodathunnu theriymla ? (What man, without outpass you can't take vehicle. Don't you know ?)

now our person interrupts and says,

A: Sir, naan office ponen, avangathan vandi eduthuttu vanga. Outpass pottukkalam endru sonnanga. (Sir, i went to the office. They only told to bring the vehicle to make outpass)


Police: (He ignores 'A' and turns to 'B') Solluya, outpass illama edukkakoodathunnu. Enna parthukkuttu irukka. (Tell man, with out outpass you can't take. What you are looking)

While 'A' was amazing about this policeman's duty conscious, 'B' whispered in A's ears


B: Sir, oru pathu rupa kodu sir (Sir give him ten rupees sir)

Got shocked with this statement, without any option 'A' gave him a 10/- rupees note to the policeman and he happily took that and walked. Now 'A' had several questions on his mind.

Before we got to his questions they reached the end of the platform. 'B' asked 'A' to enter the office and finish formalities while he wait near the security gate. So 'A' entered the office again. There comes the complete picture of 'Bribe'. He is a railway staff. He tried to pull the delivery slip from the hand of 'A' and says,

Bribe: Enna sir, deliverya ? (What sir, delivery ?)


A: No problem sir, naan parthukkaren (I will take care)


Bribe: Sir, inna sir, nee 'B' ittantha aaluthane. Kodu sir. Namma aalu sir avan. (What sir ? 'B' only brings you na. He is my man sir. Give me)

'A' walked to the desk and but the staff is only talking with these sort of people. They just ignore the general public. So 'A' finished all the formalities with the help of 'Mr.Bribe' and 'A' paid the storage charges and then collected the out pass. Now 'Mr.Bribe' came there and took the out pass (actually pulled) and left only the copy of the out pass with 'Mr.A' and went away.

Our 'A' stands there without any help. He can't do anything. He is completely helpless. Now he walks out of the office. He was surpriced to see an arguement going on there between his friend and 'Mr.Bribe'

A's Friend: Enna anne. Sollu enna amount (What brother, tell me. How much)


Mr.Bribe: 250/- kodukka sollupa (ask him to give 250/-)


A's Friend: Enna anne, vilayaduriya. Vandi delivery edukka 250 ah. Naan 'B' kitta than help ketten. Avar oru 50/- rupees koduthu iruppar. Nee enna ivvalu ketkare. (What brother, are you playing. For taking vehicle delivery 250 rupees. I was asking 'B' to help. He would have paid 50 rupees to him. You are asking too much)


Mr.Bribe: aai, 'B' yaaru theriyuma avan. en aalu (oye, do you know who is 'B'. he is my man)


Mr.Bribe: Sare, friend nu solre. Evvalavu neeya sollu. (Ok, you are telling friend. Tell me how much)


A' Friend: Sare anne. 100/- vangikko (Ok brother. Take 100/-)


Mr. Bribe: Ennathu 100/- rupees ah. Oru vandi edukka 350/- rupees aagum. Nee friend nu sonnathunaale naan 250/- ketten. Naan yaaru theriyuma railway staff. En help illama nee oru out pass vaanga mudiyuma. (What!!! 100/-rupees. For taking one vehicle we charge 350/-rupees. Since you told me friend i asked 250. Do you know who I am ?, I am railway staff. Without my help can you make an out pass ?)


Mr. Bribe: Naan ulla officerkku 20, securitykku 20, outpass podara edathula apparm police ethini perukku kodukkanum theriyuma. (I have to give to the officer 20, security 20, outpass incharge 20 and police like that so many i have to give, do you know ? )


A's Friend: Anne Ennanne nee. Jasthine ithu.(What brother, this is costly)


Mr.Bribe: Avaru storage fees 80/- thararu. Ithu thara maatara.(He is giving storage fee 80/- rupees, can't he give this ?)


A's Friend: Athu avar panam na (That is his money brother)


Mr's Bribe: Sare vidu. 150/- rupees thara sollu (Ok, ask him to pay 150/- rupees)


A's Friend: Illane jasthi. (No brother, too much)

'A's Friend' turns to him and said, friend give him 100/- rupees. So now 'A', A's friend, 'B' & 'Mr.Bribe' walks to the security door. 'A' signed the ledger and moved out of the office. 'B' came till the exit and helped 'A' to remove the cover and fill the petrol. 'Mr.Bribe' came again and argue for 120/- rupees.

Finally 'Mr.A' forced to pay 120/- rupees, 'Mr.B' standing there was litterally cursing him with complete bad words. 'Mr.B' said, 'Mr.Bribe' is a railway staff and doing all these Officially. He is so much greedy and a complete nonsense there.

While our 'A' move from the booking office following questions where running in his mind

1. If outpass is compulsory to take the vehicle out of platform, why then the staff ask you to bring the vehicle without that ?
2.Knowing all these is the staffs there are playing to generate 'Bribe revenue' for them ?

3. If Mr.A just taking a single vehicle is having all these trouble... what is the situation of others ?

With all these questions 'Mr.A' was laughing to himself with the following calculations
Vehicle booking charges - 400
Vehicle delivery Bribe - 150

Jai Hind
Yours
Ragavan