It was just one of those days when one tends to thank their stars on being saved from potential financial loss. I was on my way home after finishing my business in the bank. While nearing the bus stand, three buses whizzed past me and I ran towards them frantically gesturing to them to hold for a moment—but in vain. As fate would have it, the next bus came but after half an hour.
By then a sizable crowd had gathered at the stop. I managed to get a foothold in the overcrowded bus and stood near the conductor’s seat like a man running a one-legged race. When I was about to pay for my ticket and fished into my trouser pocket, I had a strange feeling that someone was trying to help me extricate the purse. I dismissed the thought as frivolous.
Moments later, I again got the feeling that someone was trying to reach my wallet. I turned around. There was a lady standing behind me and a person with an unshaven face behind her. I frowned at the man, who just ignored my stare. I had files in one hand and with the other hand I was desperately holding on to the leather strap overhead to balance myself.
Hardly had the bus covered a few stops when I felt that someone was trying to probe my pocket. I chose to clasp my pouch rather than hold on to some metallic appendage for support, while casting a glance at the two people behind me, both of whom had not budged from their place. The bearded man with unkempt hair just kept looking at me imploringly while the lady suddenly became furious and wanted to know why I was staring at her repeatedly. The attention of the passengers shifted towards me. I chose to ignore all of them.
On arrival at the terminus, I got down from the bus and felt my pockets. After ensuring that I had not been harmed, I proceeded to walk home. The man with the unshaven face who also got down from the bus along with me was following me. I lost patience, stopped for a moment, turned around and looked at his face. He smiled.
“Sir, you are safe?” he queried.
“Yes, but why are you asking?” I shot back in return.
“Sir, that lady who was standing behind you, tried picking your pocket a couple of times but you successfully thwarted her attempts. I really feel relieved,”
“Why?!” “You are unharmed. She could not pick your pocket.”
I just smiled in response. “But Sir..,” he suddenly exclaimed.
“What happened?”
“She picked mine!”
M S Vaidyanathan
Email: maharajapuram.s.vaidyanathan@gmail.com