There I am ridding to max of my comfort level, feeling the hot Chennai wind on my face. Squinting through my shades and dark visor of my helmet, Wherever I May Roam blaring in my ears on Rajaji Salai (Beach Road). As I am crossing the Labor Statue there is the traffic constable playing Kabaddi on the road with on coming bikes. It was a funny sight, there he was in the middle of the road both arms stretched out with a stick in one hand… running left to right and right to left… had to pull up to the side…. With one catch that was successful he came aside to me where I had switched off the bike and pulled the keys and put it in my pocket. He looked at me as I removed my helmet and the scarf that I was wearing under that, he had a triumphant look on his face. He asked me if I knew why I was pulled over the answer to that was a blank look on my face. His next statement was “ you guys think this is your daddy’s road and ride like you need to catch the next flight out of town”. To which my reaction did not change, his next question was if I knew how fast I was going… to which I replied “around 80”. He then told me that it was a 40 KMPH zone. I asked him what next. He said that he is cutting me a challan and I will have to pay Rs.500/-. As he said this he also added that if he wanted he could cut a challan and I would have to pay close to a double. And then he had the audacity to tell me that he was doing me a favor by only asking for that much. To my good luck had only a 50 in my wallet, took it out told him that was all I have. He took a look at me and said “this time its fine, and the next time he catches me he will not let me of so easy”.
Now with the policeman in my rear view mirror I was just thinking, I blame all the cops for being corrupt, but who really is to be blamed. What I did was not correct, I should have asked him for the receipt and paid the fine. Not offer him a 50 to let me just go! my mind now taunts at me by telling me that I am the reason for that corrupt cop. Which also means that all of us who have at any point opted to come out of such sticky situations like this is responsible for corruption.
