I left my office hoping to get some mask to protect myself n my swine flu infected friend. I had good intentions . But don't know whose face i last saw. May be my boss whose look was like " what the hell ? So soon.Its 6.30PM.Go and do more of shitty work". I undermined those vicious looks as if a beautiful gal looked at me and tauntingly said "Heloooo".
Coming out of the warmth of office into the cold airy night really chills one's up.I painfully started the bike i borrowed from my senior colleague and left for the chemist shop with the good intention i told you before. But the chemist shop had ran out of masks . Lucky, I thought . Saved a few bucks . But picturing me down and out with swine made me to turn to SECTOR-34, NOIDA. I was in full throttle and was actually enjoying the cold night ,when i suddenly noticed two constables and their lathis gleaming in darkness.They were actually trying frantically to stop me. As a law abiding citizen ,I braked .The bike came to a stop .Sssccrrhhhhhh.
"Good Evening Sir" I said as politely as the word polite goes.
"Where's your driving licence " one of the constable asked.
I have DL for 2 wheeer as well as for 4 wheeler . I showed them promptly .
They checked it to their satisfaction . I bet they didn't get much except the Govt.Emblem and my photo. But the next question that they put to me is the very essence of my writing this blog piece.
"Papers " they shouted as if I was bribing them with a 10 rupee note . I nodded likewise to say "Sorry no papers .Could I go now please ".But my face didn't seem to please them . An officer came and enquired about the catch which was me . In that small time gap i couldn't help noticing many such catch like me were in the net of SECTOR-34 Police . "Oh God!! why ? why ? why today? why me ? Why you let them(POLICE) remember their duties ? why let them awake from their endless slumber ?".I was disappointed,more so for the fact that they laid their hands on 2 wheelers only . Why this kind of prejudice against 2 wheelers while 4 wheelers run scot free.
"what loosers" they must be thinking.
I called my senior and asked him to bring the papers.I waited there and witnessed the utter lack of sympathy and humanity in our so called police walas. Sympathy, i said because bike riders are without the comfort of a 4 wheeler and also braving the cold winter night. Humanity, i mentioned because the way they treated those people was simply pathetic .But what can one say .It's MAYAWATI'S POLICE .
PS: Police referred below was in plain clothes and was pot bellied . So i guess he was kind of head of the mission there. Man referred below is not the suave ,refined kind of man u see in ur life . I hope u all got that.
Some of my overheard conversation :
Police : where are the papers ?
Man : Sir jee , Its not my bike. I was going to repair it for my owner.
Police (eyes about to erupt) : Shut up . Papers??
Man: Sir , no papers .
There was a moment of silence. I guess Mr.Head was planning his next course of action.
Man(on the verge of kneeling down): Sir what to do now ??
Police : Arey nothing . Tell me what would you like to have ? Tea or cofee ? Samosas are on their way
All hell broke loose . The man started crying . I felt pity on that man . I felt like crashing my helmet on that not so macho bald headed policeman.
The man was sidelined and I lost track of him .Sry folks.
Another interesting incident : Corruption at its very best
Constable : Stupid boy , u don't have any papers. How can we let u go? 1200 rupees fine
boy : Sir ....1200... I think he choked with surprise.
Const : yes,yes This is a felony . U have to pay the fine .
Boy : Sir , I dont have that much . Can't it be less sir .
Const: K. K. 500 will do .Final .No more discount.
Boy : Sir I have 100 rupees only . Will that do ?
The constable made a face as if he had swollen a rotten fish .
Const : Stupid fellow . Give that hundred. and get away fast before my saab sees u.
I was smiling . "What a looser constable "I thought. From 1200 to 100. Even my mom would have liked him. Both were easy to bargain.
So finally my senior arrived ,presented the papers and i was free at last. When i was about to get on the bike , the head policeman asked " Hey , U were not wearing helmet . U will be fined for that " . "Now what the hell is happening here . This asshole is bent on getting some money out of me" I mumbled to myself. But thanks to a good hearted constable who took pity on me or may be he realised that i wont be giving any money told his head that i was actually wearing the helmet when hey caught hold of me doing the unthinkable( bike without papers).
Finally, i was a free soul again , collected those masks from chemist shop and took another route to my house.
