In the quiet confines of an almost empty train coach, an elderly man found himself in an unexpected encounter with a group of eight to ten lively boys. The atmosphere quickly shifted as the boys engaged in playful banter, contemplating mischievous activities.
One of the boys suggested, “Let’s pull the chain!” A second one chimed in, cautioning about the consequences, emphasizing the punishable nature of the act with a fine of Rs 500 and a potential six-month imprisonment. Undeterred, a third boy proposed a unique solution – they would collectively donate the fine amount, sparing them any personal liability.
As the boys pooled their resources for the supposed donation, something unexpected happened. Instead of the intended Rs 500, they managed to collect Rs 1200. The money comprised a single Rs 500 note and two Rs 50 notes, with the rest in the form of Rs 100 notes. The boy responsible for holding the funds confidently tucked the cash into his pocket.
Before executing their plan, one of the mischievous boys suggested a deceitful tactic. They decided that if questioned, they would blame the elderly man for pulling the chain, thereby evading any consequences. The ulterior motive was to enjoy a celebration using the collected funds.
The old man, feeling a sense of despair, folded his hands and pleaded with the boys. “Children, what have I done to deserve this? Why are you trapping me?” His appeal, however, fell on deaf ears as the mischievous group proceeded with their plan, pulling the chain as the train continued its journey.
As anticipated, the Ticket Collector (TT) arrived with a constable in tow. The boys, unified in their deception, pointed fingers at the elderly man, falsely accusing him of pulling the chain. The TT admonished the old man, questioning the morality of such actions at his age. The elderly man, with folded hands, responded, “Sir, I did pull the chain, but I was left with no other choice.”
