Headlines to be seen....

I came from the office and sat on the chair which was kept outside of my house. I removed my shoes and socks. I came inside the drawing room. I was alone at home. My mom and dad were staying in Pune. I felt relaxed when I saw, there was yesterday’s food left for me. The biggest problem of staying alone is you don’t get enough food to eat. You have to make it. That is why such situation gives you joy and slight pulp of happiness. I switched on my television set and kept watching “Aaj Tak” news channel till 11 O`clock. It was now my time to sleep. I had my own timing for everything. A common banker who is working in a bank don’t get enough time for self-thinking. That night I decided to do something unique. Well, at night no one knows what you’re doing. I went outside my house.I searched for an auto-rickshaw. I found one.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

‘BMC office Chembur’, I said to the driver. He agreed with a single nod. My mind had something else stored in it. 

I reached. I got down from the rickshaw. I paid him extra 10 rupees as a tip.                                                                

My arrival had nothing to do with the silence around the office. I was also feeling sleepy. I went in the corridor. I saw a police vehicle. They saw me and came towards me. I was not at all afraid of them.                                             

‘Who are you and what are you doing here at this time?’ one of the police officer asked me.                                       

‘I’m here to rescue a man who called me at 10.30’ I lied. Well, here I was to do something unique. Unique- was the thing which police officer wouldn’t have ever thought about.                                                                           

           

‘You know him’, he asked.                                                                                                                                                       

‘No.’ I said.                                                                                                                                                                                 

‘How can you tell he is inside? Show us the mobile number.’ One of them had completed CID course. I saw two of them were alone.                                                                                                                                                                     

‘I don’t have it now. In a hurry I forgot to bring it’, I said.                                                                                                     

‘You know where he is in the office?’ they asked in unison.                                                                                           

‘He was in the bathroom when he called. I think he is stuck there. Let’s us go up and solve the issue.’ I suggested.                                                                                                                                                                                       

‘What do you mean by us? You stay here. We’ll go and check’, one of them said.                                                    

‘What’s your good name sir?’                                                                                                                                                        

‘Ashok Patil’, he said and they went.                                                                                                                             

I went near the car and looked for the police car keys. I got the keys on the back seat. I started the car and pushed the clutch. I was first time driving a police vehicle. It was nearly 12 O`clock. It was the next day. The date was- 15^th August 2013. It was the Independence Day. I went near Ghatkopar railway station. There was a street-hawker who was selling eatables. He was selling Chinese Noodles. I went up to him and ordered him one plate. I half ate it and left half of it behind. I went to pay him. I took out an hundred rupees note and offered him. He denied taking it.                                                                                                                                                                             

‘Why are you not taking the money?’ I asked.                                                                                                                     

‘Sahib, you’re a policeman. How can I take money from you?’ he said with a pleasing expression. I had a chance to do something which could help someone. I took out a thousand rupees note and gave him. This time he took it.                                                                                                                                                                                  

 ‘Take this note and feed all the children who are begging at that corner. Give all of them noodles and fried rice. 

'Okay.’ I said pointing my finger towards ten kids who looked famished.                                                                         

‘Why are you doing this sahib? No policeman does such things.’ he asked.                                                                   

‘I’m a public servant.’ I said and sat in the car. My unique night was just started.           

I went towards Panvel side. I passed from a farm house which bigger than my whole building. I went near Panvel station. I parked the police vehicle far away from the station and took something from the car. I went near the taxi stand and asked the driver, ‘Where bikers do bike stunts?’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

‘Come I will take you’, he said and in 20 minutes I reached where several youngsters were on their bike doing random stunts. I got down and paid the taxi driver. Many girls gave company too, many guys who were bike. One boy had a newest model- Ninja 300. Three girls covered that boy who had the newest model. Everyone was enjoying their selves. Three boys on bike had an argument and they started shouting at each other on the road. I came on the street and caught three of the boys.                                                                                                                  

‘Who are you?’ one of them asked.                                                                                                                                     

‘I’m your father’ I said.

I showed them Ashok Patil’s police ID card which I robbed from the vehicle. They frizzed for a minute. One of them took out bundle of five hundred rupees note. He offered me. I told them to lock their bikes and come with me. I caught a taxi from the main road. I took all of them and went where I parked police vehicle. All of them stayed in a join family. Their surname was, “Malhotra”. They were rich communities. They had a family business of infrastructure. I reached their house at 2 O`clock. They stayed in Mysore Colony in Chembur. I knocked the door. Behind me there were 3 monkeys. I think her mom opened the door.                                                                                             

‘Rahul beta….’ The lady who opened the door screamed like it was a Saas Bahu serial.                                                

‘Excuse me madam. I want to talk to their father. Please let me come inside. You three also come’ I ordered. Full family sat in the drawing room.                                                                                                                                               

‘Mr. Malhotra I caught your son creating scene on public road. They were clearly abusing each other. Now you say what should I do with them?’ I asked with a heavy accent.                                                                                           

‘Sir, I must tell you that you’re doing your job perfectly. These kids of mine are getting mad day-after-day.       

      

'Why didn’t you lock them up?’ he asked.                                                                                                                           

‘If I would’ve taken them to police station and if I had written an FIR then their future would be so fucked up?’ I explained them the reason.                                                                                                                                                 

‘You may be right but, how we can make these bulls understand that’, he said.                                                        

     

‘Give me a paper.’ He gave me A4 size paper in that I wrote something like this:

From now if three children of Mr. Malhotra create any drama or ride sports bike on road beyond speed limit mentioned. And if I Mr. Ashok Patil a servant of public catches them in such conditions they will be put behind the bars on urgent basis.                                                                                                                                                               

I wrote these words and took their signature on it. They promised me that they will never do racing things. Their father came to drop me till the door.                                                                                                                                  

‘Thank you, sir. There are very less police officers like you. I really thank you from the bottom of my heart’, a fifty years old man said it to me.                                                                                                                                            

      

‘Sir, there is no need to thank me. Police is your friend. And in friendship there is no sorry, no thank you’ I said. He saluted me.                                                                                                                                                                   

I felt proud of myself. This became the happiest day of my life.                                                                            

Well, leaving from there I had to do some more work. There was nothing for me. All I was doing that was for my country India. I went towards gateway of India. I went inside the rachna hotel. That hotel also had a small pub. I went inside and bought a simple cocktail for me. I sat there looking at youngsters who were spending my annual salary in one day. I’ll keep it a secret. One couple was spending a quality time and another couple had an argument. Everyone was enjoying their selves. And then I thought of my entry in that. I went to the manager.              

‘You stop this music. ‘I said him.                                                                                                                                           

‘Why? Who are you?’ he asked. I felt he wanted a punch. I showed him my ID card.                                            

       

‘HAHAHA our boss has setting with the commissioner. Go and talk to him upstairs.’                                              

Agreeing with his sayings, I went up to meet his boss. I went inside without knocking the door. There was a man sitting on a sofa with three bodyguards. He dressed up in full white. He was a white collar man I guess.                   

‘You tell your manager to stop the music.’ I said and showed him my ID card.                                                              

‘Constables don’t come here. They drink desi daru outside. Get out from here’, he said.                                           

‘You want your pub to be closed. I will call the media here.’ I said.                                                                          

       

‘Go call anybody you want to’, he said and pointed towards the door. Reporters arrived at the entrance of the pub with camera man flashing lights to click photos of the pub. I called them. “This pub is supplying drugs to youngsters who are visiting.” This made them come here. I sat inside the pub. Police arrived after more ten minutes. I sat inside the pub looking at all the drama which I had planned and implemented it. All young people were arrested including me. I showed one police officer my ID card and he released me. I climbed on the car bonnet and told everyone to shut their mouth. When there was silence I spoke up:

Today in front of everyone I’d like to say something very important. My name is Ashok Patil. I’m a police constable. I have made this happen today. Well, I don’t want to get famous but, sometimes it is necessary. I want to tell all of you something. From today all of you take an oath that you all will do something for your nation. It is very important. It’s not a favor towards our country India but, your responsibility. Say with me: “I am a common human in this country India. I take an oath that I will live and die for my country. I actually don’t have to die but, do some sacrifices for my country. From now on, India is my first priority.”

I told it. Everyone started clapping. My cameras took my photograph. I told them not to. I told them only to mention my name in the newspaper: Ashok Patil.                                                                                                                                                                  

‘We don’t see such police officers’, someone is the media told everyone.                                                                   

‘Police department is always for your service. You can be one of them’, I said and laughed inside. I took police van and parked near a police station. It was almost 5 O`clock. I went home.                                                                  

I got up late in the afternoon. I went down and bought “Times of India” (number one newspaper in India). I made coffee for myself. I sat near my mini-balcony. I opened the first page and saw the headlines:                               

“Police department is making India as their first priority. Constable Ashok Patil proved it.” headline said.

“A common man robs police van” another headline said. It was written at a corner. I laughed.                                   

Well, I don’t know what happened with Mr. Ashok Patil after that?                                                                                    

Perhaps, there can be one Ashok Patil in every town. Can you be one?  

Sorry for all the mistakes.

I hope you enjoyed the story.

Names of places are used for betterment of the story.