It was just another day..
10:30 am reached office
1:30 pm had lunch
4:30 pm coffee break
7:30 pm left office
But that was it.. what followed was just something out of a movie.
Hrishi, my colleague was sitting behing my bike and we were cruising comfortably on the inner ring road ( for non bangaloreans , its the life line for travellers between Koramangala to Airport Road). As usual, the roads were jam packed ( Gosh ! i wish we had elevated roads) . I was waiting at the signal and waiting to hit my friend's place to have some cooked Food. As the traffic slowly moved, suddenly from no-where an indica Cab decided to take a left turn and Bham ! there was a collision. When time stopped, i could see that i was with my friend on the road with the bike just waiting to fall on us.
To make matters worse, this cab guy came rushing towards us .. shouting in Kannanda ( certainly the offensive one ) and pushed our bike down. That was it. The Nuclear Reactor had achieved the "threshold mixture" . I had taken it much enough. Suddenly all those moments that i had faced as a non-bangalorean splashed in front of me. the time when in the innovative Multiplex the guards charged upon us, but we gave up. the time when innumerable auto guys had taken advantage of us.. the time when my friend was threatened in an PCO to not take "panga" with the locals. I knew this was the time i would give back all that i have got. it had to be this "cab driver".
I was no longer bothered about my bike lying on the middle of the road( it might have created a traffic jam as long as 2 km for 10 mins). This time he came charging at me and i gave him the one "wack" which would have made him remind his "forefathers" . But it seems he was getting nostalgic.. he wanted more of it.. so i gave it to him, with the purest devotion. He seemed to be liking it. so i had to suffice him with a few more. Basically he was no match for the Giant i was.
After a good free "5 minutes" action for the crowd, suddenly people from no where emerged. It seems it was a disgrace for the cab drivers and auto drivers that one of their people got hit in the middle of the road. So a few auto drivers asked me the question .." how come u beat a common man ? We are the"public" . i replied .. "I am an indian. I am also the public. I pay my taxes . And i have the right to stand for my rights. ( Ok i know i crossed the line).It seemed they all wanted to pounce on me. But as i said. it was my day. i had reached my "threshold" value enough to fission. It was my Day, every Dog has its day. The auto guys threatened me with dire consequnces if i did not pay the cab guy for the Damage ( which was absent from both the vehicles.) . I said whatever i had to give him.... i have given it ( and i liked it too ) . And anyone who wanted it , could come for more. By this time, about 10 of my friends had come there ( thats why i said.. thank GOD i was near Koramangala)and now i knew nothing could happen to me. After all UNITED we STAND :P
The traffice police came after a good 20 minutes. I could feel they had nothing to do with the traffic nuisance we were,or for that matter any rules had been bended or for that matter who was responsible for the incident. All i could smell was that they felt this was an oppurtunity to make some money. They told me i would have to come to the Traffic Police Station and file a report. I said i am fine with anything. No, i was not going to give them a single Coin, not even a smile .
I was taken to the ACP of traffic police and made to sit. The traffic constable narrated the whole incident to him in kannada , by whatever i could sense , he said it was my fault and the bike hit the car from the back . I interrupted him in the middle and asked him to speak in English. But he did not. I mean what the hell ! Does this State not take policemen who know english?
OR is it there also.. " Jai karnataka Jai Kannada Jai Policemen".
Finally after keeping me in the Traffic police station for about an Hour, they let me go. FYI the cab guy did not turn up at the station.
A lot of people ( inculding my conscience) might say what i did was wrong. But what about the innumerable times we "middle class" people who pay our taxes, abide by rules, live a peaceful life have been put to test by these so called " Public" of india - auto drivers, cab drivers . Why should i take that shit ...
And above all why should i take the shit if i am not from Karnataka and if i dont know kannada...
No i will not. Not after yesterday. I am sure many of you who read this will agree with me....
