Principles Put To Sleep
Karthick was feeling uncomfortable. He was one of the many software engineers who alternate between Chennai and Bangalore on weekends owing to different work and home locations. He was used to planning his trips early and travelling by train comfortably, that is, until this time. Karthi's ticket was waitlisted for this journey and ended up becoming RAC on the day of travel. The price paid for being lethargic at planning was sharing a seat with another passenger.
The ticket collector came at around 11:00 pm and said that he can allocate a berth to Karthi only after checking for vacant seats. Karthi waited eagerly for the TC to return back and allot him a seat. There was a berth free in Karthi's bay and Karthi wanted to just get on it and catch some sleep. Time was passing painfully slowly and there was no sign of the TC. Karthi decided to board the free berth and rest till the TC came back. It was 12:30 am when Karthi woke up to the TC's call.
Karthi: "This berth is free. Can you please confirm my ticket for this berth?"
TC: "Sure. You need to pay a small amount for it"
K: "Pay? I guess you have mistaken. I have a ticket in RAC. I just want it confirmed"
TC: "Yes, but you need to pay for it. Nothing much, just Rs.50"
Karthi was shaken out of his half-asleep mode by the TC's “nothing-great” attitude towards asking for a bribe. He took his bag and moved out of the berth. Karthi woke up the person with whom he was sharing the seat earlier and requested him to sit. When Karthi explained the TC's demand for money, the other person gave Karthi an irate look and turned towards the TC. He argued with the TC for few seconds and then thrust 20 Rupees on his hands and left for the free berth with an askew look at Karthi as if to say, "Can't you afford Rs.20? Why the hell did you wake me up for this?"
Though Karthi was taken back by the behaviour of his fellow passenger, he had another dilemma at hand. Now that there was no one to share the seat with, can Karthi sleep in the free seat? Or will it be against his principles for which he had left the other berth?
Karthi’s brain was functioning slowly due to lack of sleep and he decided to think over his decision the next morning...... as he stretched into a full sleeping pose on the seat.
The ticket collector came at around 11:00 pm and said that he can allocate a berth to Karthi only after checking for vacant seats. Karthi waited eagerly for the TC to return back and allot him a seat. There was a berth free in Karthi's bay and Karthi wanted to just get on it and catch some sleep. Time was passing painfully slowly and there was no sign of the TC. Karthi decided to board the free berth and rest till the TC came back. It was 12:30 am when Karthi woke up to the TC's call.
Karthi: "This berth is free. Can you please confirm my ticket for this berth?"
TC: "Sure. You need to pay a small amount for it"
K: "Pay? I guess you have mistaken. I have a ticket in RAC. I just want it confirmed"
TC: "Yes, but you need to pay for it. Nothing much, just Rs.50"
Karthi was shaken out of his half-asleep mode by the TC's “nothing-great” attitude towards asking for a bribe. He took his bag and moved out of the berth. Karthi woke up the person with whom he was sharing the seat earlier and requested him to sit. When Karthi explained the TC's demand for money, the other person gave Karthi an irate look and turned towards the TC. He argued with the TC for few seconds and then thrust 20 Rupees on his hands and left for the free berth with an askew look at Karthi as if to say, "Can't you afford Rs.20? Why the hell did you wake me up for this?"
Though Karthi was taken back by the behaviour of his fellow passenger, he had another dilemma at hand. Now that there was no one to share the seat with, can Karthi sleep in the free seat? Or will it be against his principles for which he had left the other berth?
Karthi’s brain was functioning slowly due to lack of sleep and he decided to think over his decision the next morning...... as he stretched into a full sleeping pose on the seat.
posted by Jammy at 2:55 PM
5 Comments:
And how did Karthi spend the rest of the night? By sleeping occupying the full seat or by sitting and dozing off occupying half of the seat?
@Ravi
I did not contemplate the option of dozing off occupying half of the seat. Thanks for pointing it out. Have made it explicit now.
Just to avoid confusion let me state "This story is fictitious"
Nice !!!
there's no moral dilemma here. he can use the entire seat for himself. that's the reward he gets for not bribing.
nice story!!!
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