My friend Prakash has always been a funny guy. He lives in Faridabad, a NCR town and was my college mate. But trust me he was one funny character I have ever known. But what he did on that particular day, I will never forget.
We were going to Chattarpur temple in Delhi. We both had this love for temples and artistic places and since we both didn't have any girlfriends, at that time, so we were like more or less free to roam around on our own. You see having girl friends (for girls it is boy friends) is like having a baggage on your shoulders. Wherever you go, it goes with you.
Well, we boarded the bus from Anand Vihar ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) and took the middle seats near the window. The day was pretty nice. Partly clear sky, a slight breeze, and a clear mind and heart. I was enjoying the trip when the bus suddenly stopped mid way. Two elderly, fat guys climbed up the bus and asked to show our tickets. We were travelling in a DTC bus which being a government owned bus was subjected to ticket checking and anyone caught without tickets would get a 6 months behind the bar.
The guys came up and announced, "Those not carrying tickets should come out of the bus immediately.". Prakash asked me to come along with him out of the bus. We both didn't buy tickets for that trip. In fact we never used to buy tickets. That day was no exception.
We climbed out of the bus and stood in a line of 7 other guys who were travelling without tickets. I was the 8th and Prakash the 9th one to be proscuted. One of thhose ticket checkers was standing at one end and the other was giving us some "challan" papers. Suddenly a bus went from in front of us. Prakash shouted, "Run man run". Before I coould realise anything I and Prakash were running towards the bus with the two ticket checkers at our pursuit. But then we were younger and fitter than them and caught the bus and climbed on to it. But then as luck would have it, the bus stopped at a red light almost the moment we got in. Before we could run out the two ticket checkers were already there.
They got hold of us and literally dragged us out. We were standing on the road like two criminals. Onlookers surrounded us and the two ticket checkers were panting for breath. Then one of them got out a booklet and asked us to pay 5000 rupees as fine or get ready to go to jail for atleast a year.
Prakash asked, "Why should we pay? we did nothing wrong. "
TTE, "You did nothing wrong? First you were caught without any tickets. Then you ran away from us. And you say you did nothing wrong? Travelling without ticket is a punishable offense and you will pay for it."
Prakash, "Ok I agree we don't have tickets but we do have the student bus passes which allows us to travel in any government bus in Delhi."
The ticket checkers were caught unaware as we both pulled out our student passes from our pockets.
Theri jaws dropped as they looked at each other, bewildered.
One of them asked, "Then why the hell you came out of the bus at the first place??"
Prakash replied, "Becasue you only said that those WITHOUT TICKETS should come off. We did."
The man, "Then why did you run??"
Prakash, "Because we were getting late and saw a bus going that way."
The man, "Why did you make us run??"
Prakash. " we never invited you to chase us. that was your wish."
Onlookers who have been watching all this split into laughter.
The ticket checkers went away grumbling. In the mean time the other 7 guys who were caught along with us, gave the officials a slip in the entire commotion..
Till date I laugh at the thought of that day when Prakash made those men look like ultimate fools by his sheer wit and humor.
We were going to Chattarpur temple in Delhi. We both had this love for temples and artistic places and since we both didn't have any girlfriends, at that time, so we were like more or less free to roam around on our own. You see having girl friends (for girls it is boy friends) is like having a baggage on your shoulders. Wherever you go, it goes with you.
Well, we boarded the bus from Anand Vihar ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) and took the middle seats near the window. The day was pretty nice. Partly clear sky, a slight breeze, and a clear mind and heart. I was enjoying the trip when the bus suddenly stopped mid way. Two elderly, fat guys climbed up the bus and asked to show our tickets. We were travelling in a DTC bus which being a government owned bus was subjected to ticket checking and anyone caught without tickets would get a 6 months behind the bar.
The guys came up and announced, "Those not carrying tickets should come out of the bus immediately.". Prakash asked me to come along with him out of the bus. We both didn't buy tickets for that trip. In fact we never used to buy tickets. That day was no exception.
We climbed out of the bus and stood in a line of 7 other guys who were travelling without tickets. I was the 8th and Prakash the 9th one to be proscuted. One of thhose ticket checkers was standing at one end and the other was giving us some "challan" papers. Suddenly a bus went from in front of us. Prakash shouted, "Run man run". Before I coould realise anything I and Prakash were running towards the bus with the two ticket checkers at our pursuit. But then we were younger and fitter than them and caught the bus and climbed on to it. But then as luck would have it, the bus stopped at a red light almost the moment we got in. Before we could run out the two ticket checkers were already there.
They got hold of us and literally dragged us out. We were standing on the road like two criminals. Onlookers surrounded us and the two ticket checkers were panting for breath. Then one of them got out a booklet and asked us to pay 5000 rupees as fine or get ready to go to jail for atleast a year.
Prakash asked, "Why should we pay? we did nothing wrong. "
TTE, "You did nothing wrong? First you were caught without any tickets. Then you ran away from us. And you say you did nothing wrong? Travelling without ticket is a punishable offense and you will pay for it."
Prakash, "Ok I agree we don't have tickets but we do have the student bus passes which allows us to travel in any government bus in Delhi."
The ticket checkers were caught unaware as we both pulled out our student passes from our pockets.
Theri jaws dropped as they looked at each other, bewildered.
One of them asked, "Then why the hell you came out of the bus at the first place??"
Prakash replied, "Becasue you only said that those WITHOUT TICKETS should come off. We did."
The man, "Then why did you run??"
Prakash, "Because we were getting late and saw a bus going that way."
The man, "Why did you make us run??"
Prakash. " we never invited you to chase us. that was your wish."
Onlookers who have been watching all this split into laughter.
The ticket checkers went away grumbling. In the mean time the other 7 guys who were caught along with us, gave the officials a slip in the entire commotion..
Till date I laugh at the thought of that day when Prakash made those men look like ultimate fools by his sheer wit and humor.
