Ticket

This incident happened during our training days; we were in 3 star hotels for first 15 days. I was in hotel “Chennai-Deluxe” near to Koyambedu bus stand. I and my roommate SAJIN were returning back to hotel from ADAYAR. We were on-time and the journey was in the same bus in which we used to travel daily.
It was a “trailer” (build by combining 2 buses). The bus will have 2 conductors. We used to stand in the middle portion, since it is a different experience when the bus takes a turn. And of course rush in the peak hours will not affect the comfort ness in this portion.
In addition “Chennai Tamil makkal” will not stand in the middle of the bus. They always hang in the doors, especially in back doors.
As per the turn that day I took the ticket. I put both the tickets in my pocket. Journey was ok till the bus terminal. We will get down at the last stop of the bus. It was about 8 o clock in night; SAJIN stepped out first from the bus. Since it is last stop I didn’t made any hurry. When I stepped out, I noticed some 10-15 “khaki-walas” standing besides the door.
Yea, they were “TICKET CHECKERS”. They asked me my ticket. I took one from my pocket and kept SAJIN’s in my pocket. Then he allowed me to go. I walked a bit distance, but I didn’t see my friend anywhere. I looked around, he vanished in the air??!!
I felt some one calling me, I turned back. It was my colleague. He was surrounded by checkers. He asked me for his ticket. I went to him, and took the ticket from pocket and gave him. Suddenly the checker who was talking to him started shouting. He said both of us traveled with one ticket.
I told him, I gave my ticket to another checker who was standing close to the door. He refused the acceptance of ticket from me. Then I asked him: “I didn’t give ticket, how can I escape from you people?”
They didn’t have any reply. They only continue to say “you have to pay fine of rupees 500”. I asked him to check the ticket number; his tickets will have ONE_MORE or ONE_LESS number. Then a fascinating reply: “The entire people traveled from Adayar to CMBT stand will have same number”. I choked. I refused to pay the fine. Then a staff from MTC came, none of the checkers other than the MTC staff understands English. I talked to him. Finally as a judge he said – “Sir, you have no other go. You have to pay fine; else we’ll go to police station”. I got angry and I told them “Let’s go”
Suddenly my friend came to me and whispered “we will give him some thing, 500 not needed”. I asked him “why the hell should we pay?”
“Just do it what I say”. Since he’s elder than me and already he has a better experience with Tamil people, I said ok. We gave them 200 rupees. Suddenly their tone changed, everyone was happy and they used to call us “sir”. I surprised by this change.
Then they asked for our whereabouts. I was getting angry and was not able control my nerves. I was shouting –something hazy. One of them chased me and tried to convince me that everyone will do like this only. It is our duty to keep the tickets. Till that time they were angry and I was calm. But seeing this, my nature reversed.

That night onwards I used to treat the MTC ticket as precious diamond.

Grounding leaves

It was just a touch, by time. Getting mad?! Hey….
It was a yellow leaf; floating in breeze, finally landed on my head. You may be thinking what could be special with it Huh? Well, I say nothing.
But it was a magical touch which pulled me back to my school days. Hmmm. sounds ok?
There was a big tree (pardon me, I don’t know its name. Still the tree is there) in our school compound. Its shade covers almost quarter of our play ground. We had two trees like that; wisely cornered ones. Normally boys won’t sit under the tree. Perhaps we like to play cricket. Its roots were our gallery. But the table turns at exam times. All the students will come under it. Not only for studies. We had a belief that “if we manage to catch one leaf (only one leaf) in our palm, it will wipe out all our difficulties (we’ll surely pass the exam)”. It was too difficult as getting a pass mark. Because the leaf was too small and it will take a turn in the air, if there is any deflection in air circulation. I never managed one, but once- accidentally I had one. I hope, I cleared the fence without fail that time. :-)

Chennai: - An OutLook

It is my tenth month in Chennai. Previously I had been here, on the way to Pondycherry. A few comments about this land; both good N bad…

Good about Chennai:
Good roads
Many flyovers
Bus to all route
Metro rail.
Low bus fare
Luxury buses on long routes (all in good condition)
Many companies
Share autos
Call taxis
Main attractions in Chennai:
Marina beach –Lengthiest beach
Besant Nagar beach-Thrivanmyur beach-Golden beach etc.(TN is rich in beach)
Hangout places-Spencer plaza, City Center etc.
Weekend @ Queensland, Kishkinda, VGP, Vandalur zoo, Guindy Children’s park, Egmore Museum, Birla Planetarium at Guindy.
Bad about Chennai:
Very hot.
Dirty surroundings
Rash driving-accidents.
Blade auto drivers
Rude MTC staff (Bus checkers)
High cost of living.
Headquarters of duplicate items. We have to go for branded items, if you require standard product. And so on…..