Roads full of crime!

This is a bit of personal news that promoted me to write this post. Do not dismiss this story just as another crime or incidence. Crime sometimes walks right into you, your home. As it happened to my friend in our Town, Manipal which student of Manipal calls it as “the safest town” to hang out even late at night.

Yes, here you go with my story. How my friend was robbed recently.

With the advent of evening everyone knows it’s a busy time for the pick- pockets and criminal on the prowl.

I have heard many people saying that their pockets had been picked and wallet been snatched but felt very bad to see the same when it happened to my friend.

Shruti Mishra who is a student of Journalism and Communication at Manipal University lost her valuables while she went out for some fresh air and a bit of fun with her friends Aishwarya V Nair & Apurva Mishra.

Her wallet was snatched on 28 of April 2009. No, she was not out late in the night and she was not alone. She was walking down the lane on the way back to hostels.

It was 6:30 in the evening. Yes, it was dark but not much. She was robbed on a busy road nearby MIT. A guy crossing her snatched the wallet from her hand and ran. For a minute she and her friends were numb, didn’t know what to do. In the mean time the guy disappeared. It was all over in 30 seconds. Yet no matter how well-lit roads are but the guy snatched the wallet from her hands.

Her friends too, didn’t witness wallet being whisked away from her hand but they saw the guy running. But then they didn’t know what happened as they just heard Shruti screaming. They were first only concerned about her welfare. Thankfully she was not hurt. They thought that the guys had attempted to annoy her or something of the sort.

Guys who had robbed her just vanished. What did she lose? About few hundreds in cash, ATM card, ID card, some statements, visiting cards, and some other stuff.

She straightaway started calling bank to block her ATM card. Mean while she contacted her friends and parent to take some action. Frankly, at that moment all she cared about was to block her ATM card. She kept every else action waiting till she was done. She reached back to hostels. For what action to take next, she recounted the incident to her friends and told “it was not much dark but rushed and she has no way of identifying the robber since she couldn’t see his face”.

Now, it is a total mess for her to replace her id and ATM card. After a month things would be horrible. Everything had to be replaced and also reporting this to the police is not easy too. Yet she wants to lodge a FIR. But as police always ask you to write the application and handle it to them and they would drop a copy of FIR. How pleasant! She will write the whole story out on the paper. Do you think there will be an end to this? No! According to me… there won’t be!

What in case she writes an application? Policemen will read her application and will insist that she should delete the phrase “a guy snatched the wallet from her hand”, instead simply write “wallet was stolen”, because then only they will give a copy of FIR for non-knowable offence. Wow! Isn’t it great? Huh!

Now, what should one do? Wait for the policemen to take some action? Or go to the college administration who will neglect your complaint by just simply saying that the incidence didn’t take place in university’s campus… what the heck?

Which place is safe for women? Would you please tell me? The police are always reluctant to file an FIR because it then becomes a part of official statistics, and reflects badly on the “thana” (station) as long as it remains unsolved. We need law enforcement reforms. Problem is how to begin with them; none of our politicians seem to have it on their agenda.

Criminals move freely under the protection of the force which is supposed to protect the “aam-aadmi” (common man). Even the busy roads are not safe these days. I know at that particular moment you are almost in a state of shock but I would be happy in case I would have been there and beaten that guy.

My BIG TEDDY, Me and The messy Journey

Oh! My returning journey to home was a big mess. But naah!! It was not that bad as it could be… But then it was fun and exciting. It’s been the messiest day. I was leaving from Manipal for home. I was supposed to catch my flight at 12:55 pm in noon… I had already booked a cab a day before, I was supposed to leave. And I asked the cab guy to be outside my hostel sharp @ 9. And as I have asked him he was there… quite punctual… Huh!! But I was late by half an hour… never mind…! I was feeling a bit bad somewhere inside about being late… I was thinking that what the cab guy will be thinking about me…???  I had three luggages with me… One my back bag… a stroller and a BIG Tedyy (almost of my size) gifted by my brother on my birthday. At first when the Cab guy saw that huge thing… He was puzzled… How to fix that in car??? But some how he did manage to place that well… I left Manipal for Mangalore airport around 9:45 am. Reached there before time…I reached there around 10:45am or 10:50 am.

As soon as I got off the cab all eyes were at my BIG TEDDY… and I was highly embarrassed.  The TEDDY was catching the attention of every eye. I took steps further, ignoring people looking at me with their surprised eyes. As soon as I reached the entrance…

The security guy asked me out “Madam, yeh toh app se bada hai!!! Aap issay le kaisay jaa rahey ho?”

And then I replied him back “Aap ke saamne hai, le ke toh jaa rahi hu.”

His smile killed me there itself with embarrassment. But then never mind… I continued my journey further. I faced that embarrassing situation. The most interesting part at Mangalore Airport was… people were playing with that as if it doesn’t belong to anyone and the saddest thing I could not do anything about it. I was just a spectator…

I was sitting in a corner near the security checks… I don’t remember the time when the security guy (who was playing with the teddy when I entered in the airport) came to me and asked me … “madam would you mind to proceed? The security checking has started for Indian Airlines”

Before I could react to him. He took my trolley and moved towards the scanners without taking my permission. I just followed him. He uploaded my luggage to that scanning machine and done all the stuff and then again took hold of my trolley and moved towards the check in counters… I haven’t done anything at all… the guy himself did everything for me. He was so pleased or excited to see that TEDDY… But chuck that part! I was more relieved after giving my stuff and TEDDY in the luggage and I was just left with back bag.

I sat on a chair and was waiting for the security checks… I had a cold coffee in between… few minutes later a girl came and sat next to me… for sometime she was looking at me and she was trying to look at the boarding pass in my hand. I was feeling quite uncomfortable… but when she saw my boarding pass… she asked me “Are you also traveling my Indian Airlines?”

I said “yes!! Are you also traveling by the same?”

She replied “yeah! But I am seeking some help dear… this is the first time I am traveling by a plane. If you don’t mind… can u please help in doing the things…?”

I said… “Yeah! Why not! Sure I would love too…”

The girl and I had a long chat… in between the chats I got to know …. She is going to Ahemdabad and originally a Gujrati…

I was irritated more when I heard the announcement that the flight is late by 1 hour…. I was so excited to reach Mumbai airport as one of my friend was waiting for me…. But no… this didn’t happen… I had to wait… but in the end… I board my flight and reached there at 3pm.

As soon as my flight landed I switched on cell phone and made a call to my friend Prateek who was waiting for me outside the airport. But what a CRAP? This happened at the best moment… I wasn’t able to make any outgoing calls… I could only receive incoming…. CRAP, CRAP, CRAP… !!!!! well never mind… I did sent a sms to my friend… but he didn’t replied… few minutes later I went out of the airport to look for him but I couldn’t see him anywhere… saw a PCO near by and made a call.. But the stupid fellow wasn’t picking up the call.. i didn’t knew what to do next… and I was not having any ONE RUPPEE COIN… which was required to make  a call… suddenly a idea popped upon my head and I made a call to my cousin who works in Mumbai… I called him up… He was in some meeting or so… But yeah he picked the call…

I told him “bhaia it’s me Mini here…. My phone may disconnect any moment… Make sure u call me back as I am in Mumbai…” and the call disconnected…

He called me back… I told him the whole scenario…

he said “… he is in some important meeting might be he gets late to reach there…”

I said “no, no … no issues…”

But then he asked my friends number to inquire where he is… As and when I gave the number to bhaia… I saw my friend… DAMNED!!!!! Crap!!! He was sleeping out there… I went near… And kicked him… TIGHT but was happy to see him waiting out there…

We sat somewhere there… and started chatting…. We ate VADA PAUW and SANDWIHICHES with COLD DRINK out there…. Around 4:15 pm he asked me “Soumya when is your next flight to Delhi?”

I replied with full confidence “hey, it’s on 6pm so I will go inside near about 5:15pm, no issues na”

He said “why don’t to check your ticket just like that?”

I said… “Why? What’s the need? I have seen it when I was leaving re…”

But then he forced me to check my ticket…. And the first words I uttered after looking at my ticket were “oh my god! You saved me!!!!”

My flight was at 5pm. We ran towards the departure terminal… But we reached on the wrong one and the lady out there said “madam you are traveling by Indian Airlines, you have to go on another terminal” it was quite far and by the time it was already 4:30pm. We decided to take an auto but that Auto guy he denied… And said he will charge more for such short distances… we agreed to that… he dropped me on there

And my friend asked me… “oye tu jaldi se andar jaa.. Main yaha pay kar dunga.. tu flight pakad…”

I had already got my boarding card from Mangalore airport but the main problem was… the gate number for the flight was not printed on it… I inquired it and got to know it is gate number 5 from where my flight will board… But then after all the formalities like security checks and all, I moved towards the gate but reached on gate number 6, 7… It was already 4:50pm by then. I ran back… to inquire from the lady and to ask her if she can accompany me.. There was a gentle man who was going on the same way…

I stopped him and asked him… “Sir are you going from IC658..?”

He said “yes my dear child… Are you also going by the same?”

I said “yes uncle, but I thought I am about to miss my flight”

He said “don’t worry beta, don’t panic now… Still there are 5 minutes more… We will catch flight… now take a deep breadth and catch up with your breadth…” and in a while we were in the flight.

All eyes were at me… as my face was red and I was trying to catch up with my breadth.. I settled down at my seat and reached Delhi by 7pm.

I had forgotten to inform mummy about the flight. She was on the way as I told her “mom I will reach Delhi by 8pm”

I was waiting in the queue like others for my Luggage. I got my bag but I couldn’t see my TEDDY. I waited for long but really couldn’t find it anywhere. Then I contacted a security guy out there…

I said  ” I couldn’t find my whole luggage. I had two. One bag and a HUGE TEDDY but I cant see it anywhere. Can you please inquire about it? Where is it? Is it lost?”

He was gazing at me as if I am talking talking all nonsense to him. And I was quite shocked with his behaviour as he was gazing at me from up to down.. down to up.. one more guy stopped there…. And joined the conversation…

I had no idea what was going in his DAMN brain. But then… I asked him in a but loud voice ” Helllooooo!!!! I am talking to you sir… could you please tell me where my stuff… is could you please help me in finding that?”

He replied “oh yeah!!! Haan haan madam who bada wala TEDDY BEAR… haan who aa raha hai… actually who bahut bada hai na.. isliye who dusrey way se aa raha hai luggage may nahi… waisay aap kaha se aayi hai?”

I said “Mangalore!!”

He said “what Bangalore?”

I said “no, no its Mangalore”

Again he said “yeah madam.. Bangalore na”

I said “no its Mangaaalore, MAN-GA-LORE!! Karnataka!!, got it ?

He replied “oh okay Mangalore”

He gave a pause to the conversation to some time mean while I got the TEDDY… and I managed to place that on my trolley.

And again he looked at me and said “madam aapko angerzi (English) bolni nahi aati?”

I turned pale. I was shocked to hear that and within myself I said “WHAT THE HECK???? What wrong I said? What blunder I made? Have spoken something really wrong..? Was a grammatically wrong?”

And I was repeating all that I have already spoken to that guy in my brain to analyze where I have made a mistake?  Before I could find a answer to all my these questions that guy correct himself and said.. “Oh I am really sorry Madam… I mean aapko Hindi bolna nahi aata..?”

I said “Aata hai uncle bahut achay se aata hai…!!!!  Main bhool gayi thi ab main South India may nahi apni jagah per hoon Delhi may hoon..”

He said “Oh… okay okay madam..!!!  Don’t worry..!!! Koi problem nahi..!!! Aisa hota rehta hai..!!! Aap jaha rehtey hai waha ka aadat padh jata hai.”

Never mind… after that… I just took my luggage and moved from there… Again the same was to happen… The same situation I faced which I faced at Mangalore Airport.

As and when I came out of the Airport that uncle who helped with catching my flight saw me… he came near me and said ” oh wow!! what a lovely HUGE TEDDY?? very pretty beta…. who gifted it to you? you boy-friend?”

I was quite Surprised to hear his question. And I replied him back ” no, no uncle! it’s not gifted by my BOYFRIEND. Actually I don’t have any… its my Bother who gifted this HUGE STUFF I mean TEDDY to me.”

The uncle replied ” oh! poor you…!

Well now what I could say …. and he went on his way… and I moved on to mine.

The best thing was my phone didn’t worked even at Delhi.. I tried to make call to mom and dad… but I couldn’t reach any of then as the outgoing calls were barred by the network… I thought a lot how to reach them. There were no PCO I could see…. I sent many SMS to dad and mom.. but then after few minutes it seemed that either some problem with the network or they are not checking the SMS’s … As I am brilliant… a IDEA again popped up in my mind…

I typed down a SMS “it’s urgent, please call me back” to my Cousin. Bhaia called me back. I told him the situation and asked him to call papa and inform him that I already reached Delhi and ask him to call me as soon as possible.

Bhaia did that and after few minutes I received a call from papa. I told him whatever happened at Mumbai Airport. He said “beta RELAX!!! Don’t worry… Mom will be there in matter of few minutes or maximum in half an hour…”

Dad contacted mom meanwhile… somehow.. my Mother cell was out of charge… and dad called me back and told me.. ” mom will be there soon.. she will find you there.. just tell me the place where are you standing and waiting for her..?”

I told my location. Meanwhile I was waiting for my Mom… every eyes was over that TEDDY… but this time that didn’t bothered me at all.. As I was Quivering with cold.. I was not having any warm clothes with me. Mom was supposed to get those for me from back at home..

In about 45 minutes my Mom and one of my relative reached Airport and she located me… we moved and settled my stuff in car for I continued my journey.

On the way mom received a call from her Brother saying that ” no need to go anywhere… take Mini along and directly come to the restaurant.. we all are waiting for you three outside… Because it’s Baday Bhaia’s Marriage Anniversary”

We came to the place directly from the airport where we were invited… I met all my cousins and congratulated my MAMA and MAMI on the anniversary.

God Damned!!!! It was a South Indian restaurant….!!!! Everyone ordered DOSA, VADA SAMBHAR and all that crap… which I ate almost daily in Manipal… I had to eat all those stuff again.

Huh!!! Well whatever…!!! It was fun and I was happy to be back at my home with my family… I enjoyed that night with my cousin and we went back home… chit- chatted with my cousins and all my MAMA’s and MAAMI’s till late night. And slept.. Mom woke me up around 6 in the morning as we needed to leave for Dehradun. She said it’s better if we leave the place early in morning so that we can reach home by noon… but her plan didn’t worked out… My relatives invited my mom and me for Breakfast and lunch. She couldn’t deny her brothers as they are elder to her. We went to their home had our share of feast and said… “Okay now! We should leave for Dehradun otherwise it will be late”

My Bua, Didi, Bhaia and my Nephew joined us. They said we are coming with you to Dehradun. They were warmly welcome… there was a lot of luggage so the back portion of the car was full with all that stuff. 7 people had to accommodate in the car in the seats 5 people. Well we somehow managed to sit in the car and we continued to move towards Dehradun.

Whole way all of us kept asking each other “Are you okay? Sitting well? Properly? No problem na?”

We had a loads of laughter on the way to Dehradun. We made fun of each other through out the journey. And at last I reached home by night.

Glad at last I was at home…

Power of asking, Being honest! :-)

There was a time when “Archie” as Neha used to call her, didn’t have a lot of friends. She was a bit shy and reserved. She never really wanted to be popular, but she did want to have someone to share secrets and laughs with. All through junior school, though, she just slipped in and out of “light” friendships where she didn’t find a lot of comfort or companionship.

When it came time to go to secondary school, Archie was quite nervous. She was going to be rooming with someone she didn’t know. There wouldn’t be a single person she knew in the new school. She had no idea how she was going to make friends in this new environment.

The first week of classes, something happened that changed Archie’s life forever. In the class, all the students were asked to share a little about themselves. When Archie turn came she told everyone where is came from and all of the other ordinary details that students share in such situations. The final question for each student was always the same: “What is your goal for the this class?” Now, most of the students said “to get a good grade, pass the class or something similar”, but for some reason, Archie said something entirely different. She said that her goal is to make just one good friend.

While most of the students sat in silence, one student came to Archie and held out her hand and introduced herself. She asked if she would be her friend. The whole room was silent – all eyes focused on the Archie and the hand extended just in front of her. She smiled and stretched her hand out to take her and a friendship was formed. The other girl was Richa and it was a friendship that lasted all through the school. After a day Neha became her friend too as Neha and Richa were the best friends since class 1st. They three rocked the secondary school and it was a friendship that turned into more than friendship. It was a friendship that brought three people together.

Neha, Richa and Archie learned the power of asking for what they want, being honest and taking action. They learnt that the term friends forever is something that makes them smile, no matter how young or old they are. Friends forever mean a gift that is very rare indeed, and should be cherished. But even friendships that don’t last as long as they are supposed to are amazing gifts as well. Archie is not in contact them with them anymore. No idea where is she. Neha and Richa hardly talk to each other now. But those cherished moments bring smile to their face today as well.

We have many friendships in our life time and some friendships will grow and change over time. Sometimes we’ll have a great circle of friends with whom we enjoy every waking moment. We share all of our secrets, tell our friend our ultimate desires, and know that no matter what she says, we’ll be there for her as well. However, most friendships change. People move on, or grow older, or get involved in different activities that push them away from their friends. Part of being a friend knows when its time to move on to another friendship or to closer ties with someone else.