I was standing at the Trivandrum
KSRTC bus terminal with my son Francis Xavier. I was taking him for his first
job interview at Nest Technologies at the TECHNO PARK. It was 8.30 in the
morning. The bus station was crowded. I was looking around for our bus. At that
time a super fast came to a screeching halt. I saw the passengers get down from
the bus. The last to come out was the driver and the conductor. They were
chatting amiably and walking towards the office. The conductor had the
journey's collection in his hand bag. The bag was bulging with money. He held
the bag very casually as he had been doing it every day. After all, the bus
stand was teeming with people. He and the driver were tough, burly people.
There was also a police 'flying squad' parked nearby. Who can even dare to
think of doing any thing to the bag?
As he was leisurely strolling,
chatting, laughing and carelessly holding the bag, I saw a young man walking
briskly towards the conductor from the opposite direction. When he came close
to the conductor, he greeted him as though he was his close friend. The
conductor although not very sure greeted the man in return and smiled at him.
As the conductor smiled the young man bent down, grabbed the bag and started
running. The conductor couldn't believe that such a thing could happen. He was
shocked for a few seconds. We also watched all this thinking his friend was
playing a prank. Suddenly the conductor started screaming, "My bag, my bag!
Thief, thief! Somebody catch him! He is running with my money!" He started
running after the thief. Only then the crowd realised that the conductor was
robbed. Some people started running behind the conductor chasing the thief. In
the mean while the thief had already reached the far end of the terminus.
The
dozing police 'FLYING SQUAD' woke up from their slumber. The police jeep
started and went after the thief with the siren screaming. The wily robber ran
into the narrow lanes and bilanes and escaped. The police men came back to vent
their fury on the already upset conductor. They told him that he fully deserved
to be robbed and chided him for being so careless with his money bag. They
advised him to go and give a written complaint in the police station. They assured
him that they will definitely catch the thief and restore the money.
The conductor was wailing. He has to pay the money out of his pocket to the office. He will have a black mark on his service record. His salary raise for that year will be held back. Too many problems for the conductor for just being careless.
The conductor was wailing. He has to pay the money out of his pocket to the office. He will have a black mark on his service record. His salary raise for that year will be held back. Too many problems for the conductor for just being careless.
So friends, be careful with your
valuables in crowded places because the friendly looking person standing next
to you smiling very innocently could be a robber. Who knows?
Do you have any real life incidents like this? Share it with me. I will be delighted to hear from you.
Do you have any real life incidents like this? Share it with me. I will be delighted to hear from you.
