Everyone in the family loves travelling by the railway. Longer the journey, the better.
It was a Sunday in May 2010. My 13 year old daughter and 65 year old mother in law were going to Gwalior by the Punjab mail. I had gone to drop them to CST. The train was at platform 16 or 17, a long walk from the suburban platforms. I had booked their tickets in III AC online and they were confirmed. So we knew the compartment well in advance. We reached in time, they settled in the train and I left.
As I was near the exit of the main line platforms, a ticket examiner asked for my ticket. I showed my local ticket, it was a return ticket from Mulund to CST. He said, I should have bought a platform ticket before entering the main line area.
That's when I realised that I had gone to CST to drop someone after a very very long time. Otherwise I am the one who is traveling. I showed him the smart card, saying I genuinely forgot to get a platform and was sorry. He asked me to stand aside. By this time, I was feeling very embarrassed and angry. Angry with myself for not thinking about this small but important detail.
After ten minutes or so, the ticket examiner let me go. I came to the local platforms and got into a train to Mulund.
In about 20 minutes, my daughter called, sounding very upset.
''Aai, the TC in the train is asking for a fine because we don't have our ID!''
Oh god!
''How come? I thought Jiji (m-i-l) had her senior citizen's card with her.''
''No, she has kept it at home.''
''So pay the fine, what else can you do? Does she have enough money?''
''yes.''
They had to pay something like 1,700 Rs as a fine for not carrying a valid ID, necessary for an online ticket.
My mother in law travels at least thrice to MP, as our extended family is all there. But usually, my father in law is with her and he is very careful about documents. This was the first time she was travelling on her own.
Even my daughter's school ID would have been enough. But...
That was a lesson learnt the hard way, like most lessons.
I thought later, probably I had some dues to be paid to the railways that day. If I had paid the fine for that platform ticket, would they have been spared?
No point thinking about this.
Lesson - ALWAYS carry an ID with you. Wherever and whenever you travel. Alone or with company.
It was a Sunday in May 2010. My 13 year old daughter and 65 year old mother in law were going to Gwalior by the Punjab mail. I had gone to drop them to CST. The train was at platform 16 or 17, a long walk from the suburban platforms. I had booked their tickets in III AC online and they were confirmed. So we knew the compartment well in advance. We reached in time, they settled in the train and I left.
As I was near the exit of the main line platforms, a ticket examiner asked for my ticket. I showed my local ticket, it was a return ticket from Mulund to CST. He said, I should have bought a platform ticket before entering the main line area.
That's when I realised that I had gone to CST to drop someone after a very very long time. Otherwise I am the one who is traveling. I showed him the smart card, saying I genuinely forgot to get a platform and was sorry. He asked me to stand aside. By this time, I was feeling very embarrassed and angry. Angry with myself for not thinking about this small but important detail.
After ten minutes or so, the ticket examiner let me go. I came to the local platforms and got into a train to Mulund.
In about 20 minutes, my daughter called, sounding very upset.
''Aai, the TC in the train is asking for a fine because we don't have our ID!''
Oh god!
''How come? I thought Jiji (m-i-l) had her senior citizen's card with her.''
''No, she has kept it at home.''
''So pay the fine, what else can you do? Does she have enough money?''
''yes.''
They had to pay something like 1,700 Rs as a fine for not carrying a valid ID, necessary for an online ticket.
My mother in law travels at least thrice to MP, as our extended family is all there. But usually, my father in law is with her and he is very careful about documents. This was the first time she was travelling on her own.
Even my daughter's school ID would have been enough. But...
That was a lesson learnt the hard way, like most lessons.
I thought later, probably I had some dues to be paid to the railways that day. If I had paid the fine for that platform ticket, would they have been spared?
No point thinking about this.
Lesson - ALWAYS carry an ID with you. Wherever and whenever you travel. Alone or with company.
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