I is for integrity

My friend Vinay Chandra8217;s father was a typical box-wallah. In the mid-8217;70s he worked for an old British Company in Lucknow and che...

My friend Vinay Chandra8217;s father was a typical box-wallah. In the mid-8217;70s he worked for an old British Company in Lucknow and cherished all the moral and ethical values that were traditionally imbibed by officers in such establishments. He lived life by the rules and expected his children to follow the example. He8217;d never cheated any one, not even civic and public institutions, and hoped his only son would do the same.

On one of their short holidays in 1975 8212; when Vinay was 11 years old 8212; Mr and Mrs Chandra planned a trip to Agra. Their trusted travel agent Khushi Ram was asked to buy the first A/C tickets and meet them at the railway station on the day of departure. This was the practice they always followed. The Chandra family, as was their custom, arrived at the station well before the depature time of the train. Khushi Ram had yet not reached. Minutes ticked away and yet there was no sign of the agent. They found out their seat numbers from the reservation chart and settled down. 8220;He must be on his way8221;, said Mr Chandra, almost to himself. The TTE was not bothered. Everyone knew Khushi Ram; they knew he would turn up. Eventually the train moved out of the station. Mr Chandra, resigned to the idea of buying new tickets, gave Rs 2000 to young Vinay and asked him to go and get the tickets from the TTE.

The TTE had other ideas. 8220;Why don8217;t we make a deal8221;, he told the kid. 8220;Khushi Ram would8217;ve already bought the tickets anyway, I don8217;t want you to pay double, why don8217;t you just give me Rs 500 and I8217;ll see you all out at Agra station. Let8217;s be fair, why should the government get paid twice. Just don8217;t tell Chandra Saheb. He will create unnecessary fuss8221;.

Young Vinay was happy. He would save his dad some hard earned money. As long as the TTE could guarantee a safe passage out of the station at Agra, there was no problem. The man even agreed to take the money on arrival.

The rest of the journey was uneventful. His dad8217;s query regarding tickets was answered truthfully, 8220;It8217;s all taken care of8221;. Family Chandra was seen off into a waiting taxi at Agra station and Vinay quietly slipped five notes into the TTE8217;s pocket.

Once in the comfort of the relative8217;s house at Agra, after a refreshing bath and satiating meal, our young entrepreneur decided to announce the happy tidings. Rupees 1500 were duly handed over to a shocked Mr Chandra and the entire logic explained with the young boy8217;s enthusiasm, 8220;Dad, I think I deserve a treat for this achievement. My first test of negotiating skills!8221;

The young boy indeed got a treat that night: a sound boxing of the ears, no meals, a lock-up in the store room and a strong warning against any such misadventures in the future.