/* Dedicated to Muthu Sundarajan, whose story "Style wins- Undoubtedly" triggered this story in mind */
The bus was about to move. A beggar got into the bus. She started clapping, singing and begging. As she came near to me, I had a full look at her. She was lean-built, but seemed physically healthy. She came near to me and shook her palm with the coins.
I gave a disdainful look at her. Some passengers had dropped some coins in her palm.
"You seem to be hale and healthy. Why don't u work and earn, instead of this easy method?" - I said loudly. "Instead of begging like this and causing nuisance".
She was taken aback. Meanwhile some other passengers started shouting at her. They were afraid, that the conductor will delay the taking off of the bus, due to this beggar. They shouted at her to get down.
The beggar rushed towards the exit and got down. I looked all around with pride. I have achieved something.
The bus started moving.
*****
The conductor was coming near to me asking for tickets.
My hands searched my pant pocket for the purse. I usually keep it there. I could not find it.
I got up and frantically searched all my pant and shirt pockets. I could only find a hole in the pocket where I used to keep my purse. My purse with cash, credit cards, ID card etc is all gone.
And that too this place is a new place. I had come to this place on sight-seeing. I knew nobody here.
Good that I had locked my mobile in my suitcase and kept it in the luggage space above. My suitcase will have some cash. Also I can contact people from my mobile. I can block my credit card. I can use the cash to travel to my place. My mind was thinking fast on what all I should do.
I stood in the aisle and searched for my suitcase in the luggage space. I remember to have kept it on the space just above my seat. I could not locate it.
I searched it on the right. I searched it on the left. But I could not get it. It was nowhere to be found.
*******
The conductor neared me and asked for tickets.
I told him about the loss of bag, purse et al. I asked him to drive the bus to police station.
The conductor stopped the bus.
People started shouting. They did not want the bus to be diverted to police station. In any case there is no police station in the vicinity.
Suddenly one person doubted my story. He said "Now-a-days, theives dress up well and cheat. Who knows if this person is saying the truth..?"
The tide turned against me. The conductor pushed me out of the bus for not having money to pay for the tickets.
As the bus moved on, I stood alone in that anonymous place.
******
What should I do..? I thought about it for a while. I decided I should check for a telephone booth.
As I stood there looking, I saw the beggar coming towards my direction.
As she was coming near to me, I wanted to talk to her. She is the only known person to me in that area. I can ask her, where the telephone booth is. She knew I was sitting inside the bus. She can understand and vouch that I lost my belongings.
I kept looking at her. She crossed me.
"Excuse me" - words finally came out of my mouth. The beggar gave a strange look at me.
"I want to know where a telephone booth will be..?" - I told her.
She looked at me for some time. "You were the person sitting in the bus.. Isn't it..?" - she asked.
"Yes" - I said
"What happened..? Why did u get down immediately?" - she asked.
"Somebody has looted my purse, suitcase and all belongings. I have nothing with me now. I want to call up some known people in chennai to get some help." - I said.
"Oh…" - said she. She was silent for some time. "What are you doing sir,,? Are u an officer..?"
"No.." - I said. "I am a sales person. I sell a lot of stuff. I head the sales for a company".
"There u see.. Take right to that tree. If u walk for 5 minutes, you will get to a booth." - she said.
"Ok.. thanx.." - I said. "Probably I have to beg that guy to allow me to make a call" - I talked to myself, but bit aloud.
The beggar laughed. "Sir.. begging is not as easy as selling. In selling, u have something to offer in return, to make the customer part with his money. In begging, u have to make your customer part with this money for nothing. That telephone operator will not allow u a free call whatever happens, even if it is few rupees. Don't waste your time there. If u walk 2kms, you will get a police station. They can help"- she said.
"Ok.. thanx.." - I said. "Probably I have to beg some policeman there.." - I said cursing myself. My fate has suddenly made a beggar out of me.
"No sir. There are so many factors you have to think like time, place, appearance, social background of customers who will give money or heed to your request. Contact a constable named kanniappan there. He is a kind-hearted gullible guy. The head-constable who manages the station is such a hard-brained fellow, he will not even listen to you. Don't waste your time with him. In begging, u have to identify the right customer with right proposition and spend time with him. Otherwise you will fail" - She laughed and moved.
As she walked past me, I realized the enormity of the task that I have to do. Something much greater than selling. Begging.
-TBT
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Dear supriyad,
Thanx for ur comments.
Dear chiksunny,
Thanx for ur comments. But it was imagination and not incident.
Dear vijaianand,
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fantastic write!
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