I left early morning 5 ‘o’ clock for Pune. Took a Rickshaw to Kanjur Marg, smiled at the sign “Ticket window on the bridge” on the bridge at railway station, unfortunately it was not working. The operational window was on the other end of the platform. I missed 2 local trains and time by the time I reached the far end. I had to reach Kalyan station by 6:35am. Plan was to take Indrayni Express from Kalyan and reach Pune by 9:30am. Assuming there will be no ticket checker in the morning. Boarded the next local and decided to buy the ticket at Kalyan.
Local train was on its time, but just before the Kalyan it began crawling. I reached Kalyan at 6:30am. Rushed to the ticket counter only to find long queue. Train was to arrive at platform no. 5. So I rushed. It was early morning and platform was crowded. Train arrived at the platform and as it slowed down people were sucked in the vortex created at the doors. I offered myself in the vortex to get sucked in. I was happy, got a good seat.
It was the first seat from the entrance. Suddenly a young chap, fairly built, with broad shoulders, reddish mouth - suggesting he chewed gutka, with long hair (Sanjay Dutt in Sajjan), dark broad Ray-ban glasses, strikingly shiny blue shirt bent over me and inquired how does the ticket checkers behave in this train. He spoke in typical mumbaiya accent. He justified his questioning without a pause. He said last time the ticket checkers were bad. They had thrown him in jail. This time he would prefer paying the penalty rather going to the jail. He was happy that he was carrying sufficient cash.
I couldn’t reply. He was asking me ! another without ticket traveller. People around laughed and suggested to sit and pay the fine if ticket checker turned up. My co-traveller sitting next to me offered him the seat.
A without ticket traveller asking a stranger who happens to be without ticket traveller about the consequences of without ticket travel. Amazing !!
Local train was on its time, but just before the Kalyan it began crawling. I reached Kalyan at 6:30am. Rushed to the ticket counter only to find long queue. Train was to arrive at platform no. 5. So I rushed. It was early morning and platform was crowded. Train arrived at the platform and as it slowed down people were sucked in the vortex created at the doors. I offered myself in the vortex to get sucked in. I was happy, got a good seat.
It was the first seat from the entrance. Suddenly a young chap, fairly built, with broad shoulders, reddish mouth - suggesting he chewed gutka, with long hair (Sanjay Dutt in Sajjan), dark broad Ray-ban glasses, strikingly shiny blue shirt bent over me and inquired how does the ticket checkers behave in this train. He spoke in typical mumbaiya accent. He justified his questioning without a pause. He said last time the ticket checkers were bad. They had thrown him in jail. This time he would prefer paying the penalty rather going to the jail. He was happy that he was carrying sufficient cash.
I couldn’t reply. He was asking me ! another without ticket traveller. People around laughed and suggested to sit and pay the fine if ticket checker turned up. My co-traveller sitting next to me offered him the seat.
A without ticket traveller asking a stranger who happens to be without ticket traveller about the consequences of without ticket travel. Amazing !!
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