Common sense is (not) allowed in public service

Common sense is (not) allowed in public service

Disclaimer

All the characters in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to incident or person in this story is purely coincidental.

Here I have two stories which I experienced during recent journey by public transport in two metro cities, Mumbai and Pune respectively.

A story from Mumbai:

I am Mumbaikar, I usually travel by Mumbai's most affordable mode of transport 'Best Bus' to commute between office and home. I hold monthly pass so that my journey is less hectic and give me freedom from exchange of money on daily basis. Otherwise you have to fight verbally with bus conductor to exchange of Rs. 100 or Rs. 50 for ticket of mere less or equal to Rs. 10. For any pass holder it is common sense for him to carry authorize bus pass before getting into the bus and for non-pass holder's, I will say they should have few extra coins in their pocket for exchange purpose, if needed. This is my observation on day-to-day travelling by Best-Bus. Apart from that I would like to highlight an unwritten rule in Best policy is to do not accept Rs. 500 note on the ground of fake currency in circulation and will incure loss to them....agree!

Let us look at what happened with Mr. Mumbaikar on last Tuesday. It's working day and slow moving traffic on Western express way. I caught the bus at bus-stop next my home. As a bus-pass holder, I used to of saying to conductor 'I have Pass with me' and making gesture of putting my hand in my pocket to show my pass, but before taking bus-pass out of card-holder from my wallet, conductor moves to next person, indicating no need to show him. This was happened a day before too. On Tuesday, a conductor was very professional, as I said 'I have pass', he asked me to show it to him. I took out my wallet from pocket and start searching for pass, I never found. So that I started searching in my bag. Meanwhile, conductor said 'Search again and keep your pass ready to validate' and moved ahead to book tickets. I puzzled, I started thinking when did I last shown bus-pass to condsuctor. My co-passengers watching and enjoying this drama.....

Within few minutes conductor come back to me. I was still searching my bus pass and he was looking at me like if I never produce, he will put me behind bar for cheating public servant with non-bailable warrant :)) He threatened me that Ticket Checker can check bus any time on express-way, so either I get down the bus or buy a ticket. During search of bus-pass in my pocket, I noticed that, I hold only Rs. 500 in my wallet. I asked conductor to give me ticket which cost Rs. 10 but I informed him too that I have note of Rs. 500/-. He became furious and said 'This is double trouble for me, you already not holding pass and now asking for exhange of Rs. 500 which we never accept for ticket of mere Rs. 10/-'. Suddenly my 6th sense start thinking the situation and I realize that if I never convince this conductor, then I have to get down the bus where I will not find exchange or I have to walk way back to home.....

I promptly asked conductor to give me ticket by accepting Rs. 500 note and if found fake he can call me on my mobile any time otherwise, I am daily traveler on this route, I will give you money back. As well as I ensured him that I got this note by ATM, so this won't be fake note. These few dialogs work perfectly for me and he agreed to give me ticket. After issuing ticket he told me how BEST authority deduct money from their salary for fake currency they collected. Before getting down at my destination and I firmly said 'Thank You' where he replied with big smile.....Happy ending......

Now, Mumbaikar come back to home after office and start searching for Bus-Pass at home. I tried searching in the pockets of Shirt and Pant I wear on Monday and realize that there is no bus-pass. Finally I checks within the pockets of jeans I wear on Sunday where I found Bus-pass. And flash back come to my mind of how confidently I travelled on Monday by both way of office without ticket and bus pass before getting caught till Tuesday :)

A story from Pune:

Recently, Mumbaikar visited Pune due to personal work where he experienced another incident of common sense shown by public servant. I went to visit a place near to Kharadi called 'Kharadi bypass'. I was waiting for bus at Khadaki bus-depot (this name too similar to Kharadi). Before getting into the bus I ensure for its route with few passanger standing in the queue next to me. I said to conductor give me ticket to Khadaki Bypass instead of 'Kharadi bypass' :) He puzzled and shout at me 'there is no such bus-stop on this route, get down of the bus and catch another'. I again brush my head and said its not Khadaki Bypass, its Kharadi Bypass and tell him there is similarity in name cause to confusion. As I was visiting first time, I asked bus-conductor to inform me once my bus stop come, then he replied 'It's far away, now you can sleep for an hour, let me know once you get up after an hour'. I stumbled by his kind reply.

After few kilometer, I got a call from the person to whom I was going to meet. And when I told him I will get down at Khadaki bypass, sorry Kharadi bypass, he told me to get down at 'Reliance', two more stop next to Kharadi bypass bus-stop. So that, sincere Mumbaikar asked conductor to give him ticket for 2 extra bus-stop next to 'Kharadi Bypass'. Bus conductor replied there is no need of ticket. And when I expressed my concern over ticket checker, he said no need to worry, there will not be any TCs on this route. I relied in him and seat comfortably.

I was waiting for my destination bus stop 'Reliance' with holding ticket till 'Kharadi Bypass' only :) Suddenly, before Kharadi Bypass bus-stop, bus halted a road side where two person posing as Ticket checker entered into the bus and started checking tickets of every passanger in the bus. I looked at conductor. He was busy in doing some paper work with TC. After thorough checking, TC left the bus and bus moved ahead. Due to fear of TC, I offered Rs. 10 to conductor for ticket for next two stop but he replied as earlier and refused to give me ticket and allow traveling without ticket. A thought came to my mind and struck me for a moment, what will happen if TC board the bus before 'Reliance' instead of 'Khadaki Bypass'. 

I get down the bus at Reliance. A question struck my mind will that conductor helped me if I caught without ticket before 'Reliance'. Anyway, conductor shows common sense of not giving ticket for mere two bus-stop but only luck will survive otherwise you should follow rule...it's public service!

Warning: Travelling without ticket is offence and punishable under acts of IPC.