Help

-Guru Prasad

‘What? You’ve no ticket? No money to pay the penalty! Travelling in a train without ticket is an offence! At the next station I’ll hand you over to the police!’ After listening to the TT, she started trembling, and her eyes became wet! She was ashamed! The eyes of the other passengers in the compartment were piercing through her!

At that time, the young man sitting on the front seat said, ‘Excuse me, Sir! She looks to be a decent girl. After buying the ticket, she says, she has lost it. OK! I’ll pay the penalty of rupees three hundred! Make the receipt for it.’ He took the money and extended it towards the TT.

One old man in the compartment quipped, ‘Girl is young and also beautiful! Why not his heart would melt! Had she been an old woman, he’d not even turn to look at her!’ The young man turned towards the old man and said, ‘Sir! You’re hundred percent right! People generally do like that only. Similar incident happened with my own sister six months ago. She was handed over to the police! She could not stomach the insult! She came home and committed suicide! I don’t want this girl to suffer like that! I’ve no such ulterior motive as you suspect!’

After this reply, the old man hanged his head low!