Random Expressions

When the overtly abundant but rarely active traffic cops pulled over my car at the busy landmark intersection of St. John’s College, I wondered if, engrossed in the song playing on my stereo, I had jumped the signal. Traffic violations are so rampant in Agra that I have ceased to pay attention to the rules, finding it quite tough to adjust to the more stringent (though not the best) Delhi traffic rules. I saw cars rushing past mine, so I was sure I hadn’t broken any law. If any, I would be following a few extra ones, for example wearing a seat belt, which is not mandatory here, but I still fasten it just to keep the habit alive.

The cop sauntered by my side, as I switched off the stereo and rolled down the window. He explained that the big boss of the cop, standing beneath the tree shade wants to speak to me. I am very wary of law enforcers in India, and even though I haven’t done anything wrong, I find myself stammering in their presence.

Nervously, I walked to the tree, noticing that I had badly parked my car, its backside jutting out right onto the main road. The conversation that ensued was beyond my imagination. In no uncertain terms, the senior cop stated that my car was needed for the elections, and I should follow him to some place where they would use it. Not only was I aghast, I was totally infuriated.

Still, keeping my calm as best as I could, I explained where I worked (at which I noticed him thaw a bit) and that I didn’t belong to Agra, even though I was staying here (a bad mistake, I shouldn’t have mentioned it); after all, I drive a Delhi registered vehicle. “No, no,” he went on resolutely, “your car has been chosen, you come along with us and there you can forward your plea.” There? Where? I wasn’t going anywhere. And certainly not handing over my car! And ‘chosen’? From what? Was this some sort of ‘Unlucky Draw’ which in my misfortune I had won?

I could feel my discomfort rising and the words now tumbled out incoherently.

I searched desperately for various arguments (and some were indeed innovative, for example, how my company could lose immense money if I didn’t reach Delhi the next day and some were plain excuses, like my father is a heart patient and I have to be with him). To my each statement, he promptly countered it. At one point he stated how important the elections were, and what was the point of my work if there is no stable government in the state. This was irony at its best! He forwarded a plea of democracy while very undemocratically impounding my possession, giving me no choice in the matter! Thankfully, at all times he didn’t sound very serious or stern (and this I can say only retrospectively).

We were still negotiating when a colleague came over, whom I had to pick up from this crossing. I told him as to what was happening. As we spoke, we strolled back to the car, sat in it and drove off. I peered into the rear view mirror to check if they followed; thankfully, they didn’t, which is why I think they weren’t too serious about the whole thing and were just trying their luck to see if I would cower below their might.

Agra votes for the Assembly tomorrow, but before any one else evilly eyes my car I am rushing off to Delhi, which is happily over with its own set of municipal elections on Thursday.

Related Reading - Agra Snapshot

Technorati : Agra, India, elections, politics
Del.icio.us : Agra, India, elections, politics

Enjoyed the post? Subscribe to Random Expression's RSS Feed

A fresh way to contact me - New Contact Form added to the site. We love to hear from you, keep writing in!

This entry was posted on Friday, April 6th, 2007 at 9:35 am and is filed under General, Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.