JOURNEY REPORT
>Boarded S3 berths 74(later exchanged with 77) and 76 at YPR AT 10 am on Saturday the 16th November. My wife and I were returning to Kolkata after a month long holiday in the south.
> The train departed on time. However, unlike in the past, there were no pre-departure announcements in English/Hindi/Kannada and BENGALI too, that WL PASSENGERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BOARD THIS TRAIN.
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As the train passed Baiyyappanahalli I was overcome with NOSTALGIA as I reminisced about the ADMINS MEET there on PF2 on Sunday the 28th Oct, which was attended by AS MANY AS 8 PARTICIPANTS. I even gazed open-mouthed at the benches we had warmed that WONDERFUL EVENING.
> 1 pm and no sign of lunch being served. Discreet enquiries revealed that the SERVICE WOULD COMMENCE AFTER THE TTE HAD FINISHED CHECKING SO THAT WL PASSENGERS DO NOT AVAIL THEMSELVES OF A FREE LUNCH.
> Berth 78 was occupied by a TECHIE on his way home via Kolkata. 2 of his juniors were closeted with him and engaged in HUSH-HUSH WHISPERS. Side berths 79 and 80 were unoccupied as they were earmarked with a legend "ONLY FOR PANTRY STAFF"
> The WISE (at least he thought himself to be one) SENIOR TECHIE told his wards to OCCUPY THOSE 2 BERTHS and PROMISED THEM THAT HE WOULD MANAGE THE TTE, when he came. Apparently the ROOKIES were wait-listed and on tenterhooks. But assured of protection by their GODFATHER, they made themselves AT HOME and one even started sleeping on the SU berth.
> HELL BROKE LOOSE as the TTE arrived and examined their WL tickets. He raved and ranted at them and said (a) They would be detrained at Renigunta which was the least harmful threat held out (b) They would be treated as WT and not WL travellers and fined and (c) They would be handed over for SAFE CUSTODY to the RPF. I could see the guys almost trembling. The TTE asked them to IMMEDIATELY VACATE those 2 berths which they did. Meanwhile, the DADA TECHIE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH EVEN ONCE and PRETENDED TO BE FAST ASLEEP.
> After LUNCH was SERVED AT 1.30 PM TO ALL EXCEPT THE 2 HAPLESS BOYS, around 2 pm, they returned to acquaint their LEADER with the latest UPDATE. Apparently a DEAL HAD BEEN STRUCK WITH THE TTE and they WERE ALLOTTED 2 VACANT BERTHS ELSEWHERE IN THE COACH IN RETURN FOR A PRINCELY CONSIDERATION OF Rs. 1500 ONLY, which was almost equal to the cost of 2 tickets. Once these COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS WERE OVER the GUYS REALISED THAT THEY WERE FEELING HUNGRY.
> The DADA then transformed himself from a MOUSE TO A TIGER as he ORDERED THE PANTRY STAFF TO SERVE LUNCH to his JUNIORS. But the PC staff were NOT COMPLIANT ENOUGH TO SUMBIT TO HIS ARROGANCE. HE THREATEND TO BASH THEM UP BUT THEY RETALIATED BY CALLING FOR THE RPF. That reminded me of the Shakespearian QUOTE "LIFE IS A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT, FULL OF SOUND AND FURY SIGNIFYING NOTHING"
> Ultimately, the juniors exchanged some quiet and soothing words with the staff at the other end of the bogie away from their CAPTAIN. And ONCE AGAIN AFTER AN UNKNOWN SUM OF MONEY HAD EXCHANGED HANDS, they were served LUNCH, or whatever remnants were available, at 3 pm.
> That brings me to the POINT OF CORRUPTION IN IR. WE REVEL IN A GREAT DEAL OF MORAL POSTURING AND PREACHING but WHEN IT COMES TO A CRUNCH, the PSYCHOLOGY OF THE AVERAGE MERA BHARATIYA MAHAAN (not all) REMAINS ONE AND THE SAME. DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER HE IS DRESSED IN JEANS/T-SHIRT, PYJAMA/KURTA or LUNGI/VEST. AGAIN DOES NOT MATTER IF HE IS TAMILIAN/TELEGU/BENGALI/MARATHI/ PUNJABI or ANYTHING ELSE
(To be contd.......).