I think it was a zillion years ago when me and my sister had some vacations in which we were creating the natural raucous in the house, bothering Ma enough for her to send us both to my grandparents’ house which was just about 100 kms from Gwalior (Dad was posted there). Quite naturally, we were accompanied by an orderly (Batman Bhaiya as we called him!).
At this time my sister was old enough for us to buy a full rail ticket for her (for the unaware readers, in India children under the age of 5 can travel in trains at half price, or so I think :)) and cute looking enough that anyone could believe if told that she was under 5. So in order to make a few extra rupees the orderly decided to buy half a ticket for her (pocketing the other half) and a full one for me.
He then brainwashed me through the journey that “chhoti baby ke liye agar koi poochhe to kehna 4.5 saal ki hain” (If someone asks about my sister, I should say that she was 4.5 years old). He knew the trick to make me feel like the responsible elder who was in charge of the situation, and I gladly took the bait!! Come Jhansi (my paternal house), we were at the station exit where a ticket checker was looking at the tickets.
We would have gone through easily, had it not been for the IN CHARGE elder sister! I walked up to the checker and boldly stated that I am 7 years old and my sister is 4.5 yrs and hence she has a half ticket (and if you are thinking about it….no he did not ask our age!!!). While he smiled and patted my head, my indignant sister walked up and declared that she was infact 5.5 years old and that Neha didi (me) was lying. Imagine the shame a 7 year old person can feel and empathize with me!!!
I have always been known to have a round face, but at that time the grape face shrunk to a raisin face and I could do nothing but blurt out “Bhaiya ne mujhe kaha tha”!!! (sniff sniff) (The orderly had told me to say so).
At this time my sister was old enough for us to buy a full rail ticket for her (for the unaware readers, in India children under the age of 5 can travel in trains at half price, or so I think :)) and cute looking enough that anyone could believe if told that she was under 5. So in order to make a few extra rupees the orderly decided to buy half a ticket for her (pocketing the other half) and a full one for me.
He then brainwashed me through the journey that “chhoti baby ke liye agar koi poochhe to kehna 4.5 saal ki hain” (If someone asks about my sister, I should say that she was 4.5 years old). He knew the trick to make me feel like the responsible elder who was in charge of the situation, and I gladly took the bait!! Come Jhansi (my paternal house), we were at the station exit where a ticket checker was looking at the tickets.
We would have gone through easily, had it not been for the IN CHARGE elder sister! I walked up to the checker and boldly stated that I am 7 years old and my sister is 4.5 yrs and hence she has a half ticket (and if you are thinking about it….no he did not ask our age!!!). While he smiled and patted my head, my indignant sister walked up and declared that she was infact 5.5 years old and that Neha didi (me) was lying. Imagine the shame a 7 year old person can feel and empathize with me!!!
I have always been known to have a round face, but at that time the grape face shrunk to a raisin face and I could do nothing but blurt out “Bhaiya ne mujhe kaha tha”!!! (sniff sniff) (The orderly had told me to say so).
To our luck the ticket checker found all this just amusing and let us through. And in this whole episode, my sister came out a true daughter of Harish Chandra (legendary truthful king (and in reality my father’s name!)), the orderly came out few hundred rupees richer and I came out looking like a buffoon!
Just typing this brought back a smile to my face :) but I will surely mock my sister today for telling on me all those years ago!
6 comments:
LOL :) Similar incident occured with one of my cousins.. That time it was my aunt who was red faced :)
Brought back my own memories from childhood :-) The great Indian economy in those days was also partially the reason for this. It was a big deal for a middle class family with 3 to 4 kids to save even on half the cost of a ticket.
Boy! Am glad we have progressed. Kids today are lucky :-)
@Sayu- Aunt wud be more embarassing :) cuz i m sure the TT wud not have smiled..
@Avais- kids these days travel in planes...usme half ticket hota to mazaa aata
Bachpan and the innocence
Love the pic...reminds me of someone we know :D
@Vagabond- Thanks :)
Will copy paste the comment on the pic and mail it :D
ha ha.. this one brought a real smile to mah face.. awesome story!!
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