INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN..287

                            INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…287

                                     Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Patel and Nehru are   seen driving on a motor cycle in Hyderabad. They are Basheer bagh cross road)

Gandhi.  We are sitting three on the bike and  are going on main road. The police may catch us.

Patel. What to do?  If we travel by bus we shall never get it. We can not get in when it arrives. The driver will stop the bus far away from the bus stop. Then all the guys standing at the stand like cattle run to catch the bus. Before some people get in he will drive away. Only few youngsters manage to hang on holding some steel window rods

Nehru. Patel. Please do not call  it as bus stop.

Patel. Then what should I call? Should I say Bus- move, because Bus never stops.

Nehru. Call it Bus bay.

Patel. Yeah. In USA they call like that.

Gandhi. Haa..Haaa. Haa. Whatever you call you will not be able to get the bus to travel. So we are doing correct thing.

( At traffic signal, the motor cycle stops as red light shows up. A traffic constable suddenly pounces on them and pulls out key of the bike)

Gandhi. Hey,  What are you doing?

Police man. I am doing correct thing. Get down from the  bike first.

Patel. OK. OK.  But if you take out key like this , the handle gets locked up.

Police man. Do not tell me things. I have also a bike.

( The trio get down from the bike and the police man takes control of the bike and  takes it to a side off from the road. When he takes  sharp turn the handle bar gets locked and the police man falls down along with the bike. SI is also close by sitting on a parked bike.)

Police man.  Mar Gayare. Utao mujghe. ( I am dying. Lift me up).

( The hot silencer pipe of the  bike is stuck to the leg of the police man. He cries in pain.Gandhi, Patel and Nehru with great effort lift up the constable and is made to sit on a large stone. He cries loudly in pain.)

SI. Look guys . show up the papers of the bike.

( Patel shows the papers  that are found OK.)

SI. Papers are OK. I am  doubtful of address and names

Patel. Why?

SI. It is written  MK Gandhi, Farther of India,  Heavenly  towers, Flat no 1234, vaikunta puram. Where is this colony. I never heard about  it.

Gandhi. You can verify if you want.

SI. I do not have time. Tell me why are you traveling three on one bike.

Patel. Because we do not have another  bike.

SI. No jokes.I am sure you know that triple riding is an offense.

Patel. Probably it is. Look SI sir, Look there. Three constables are going on one bike. Catch them if you can.

SI. Do not teach me my job

Patel. SI sahib. Rules have to be same for all.

SI. That  I see later on. Now pay challan of three hundred rupees.

Gandhi. We do not have money.

SI. You have to pay or we shall seize the bike

Patel. Look SI Sahib. Rs 300 is  much high. Please reduce it.

SI. OK . I shall make it Rs 200.

( Patel gives Rs 200 to SI and  he accepts)

SI. You may go now. Take this key.

Patel. Now can we travel three?

SI. You may if you wish till some one again catches.

( The trio drives off on the bike past the  traffic lights)

                             CURTAIN FALLS