A Costly Parking Ticket: Nrs 700!

For the first time in my biking experience so far, I was compelled to pay such a hefty sum for parking. It was just this morning: I parked my blue Splendour Plus at the side of the road at Charkhal, Dillibazar (in front of the Bajaj Showroom near the Ganesh Mandir). I went inside the galli into my relatives’ house for some time. After an hour or so, I came out on the road only to get an amazing shock- there was no bike, there wasn't my blue Splendor of Lot 29.

I rubbed my eyes, took off my specs and put them again to do away with any sort of dreamy confusion. But no. That was truth, a bitter truth and an adrenalin-shooting reality to me. My pulses went high for a while. I wondered for a minute regarding the possibilities. I thought to myself, “A bike disappearing on a bright Tuesday morning, that too from a very busy and dense area. Umm, no possibility of being stolen, but of course it could be the mean Traffic Police or the Nagarpalika walas who must have kidnapped my bike for a ransom.”

I, at once, went to the nearby showroom of Carpets and Curtains to verify my supposition. As expected, the Nagarpalika was the culprit. The shopkeeper gave me a smirking smile and warned me of a fine that could be as high as Nrs 1000. OMG was my first reaction. Then I thought he was crazy.

I walked to the Baggikhana where I was advised to visit Window 9. For me it is ‘Counter’ (because of the finance attached to it). The person gave me a yellow chit (similar to the one here) to verify from the near-by counter. I produced my originals of Driving License and Bill Book and got the verified chit to produce back to the same earlier counter. The conversation between me and the Nagarik ko sewak is reproduced below:

Me: कती पेनाल्टी हो?

He: एक हजार दिनुस!

Me: (exclaimed) ओहो दाई, कती धेरै हो. स्टूडेंट मान्छे, कहा यती धेरै दिन सक्नु. जाबो एकछिन मात्र राखेको थिएँ की लगी हाल्यो….

The bargaining went on for a while when I lost hope of winning over him. Then he advised me to visit any known Top-level officers. I knew none. I went to a front office building to the first floor. सानो मुख बनाएर  I explained the story but with a little twist to a desk officer.

I lied to him that I left my bike and took my aunt from the house inside the galli to Om Hospital in a taxi as it was an Emergency case. Sorry aunt. I hospitalized you today! Moreover, I was also pitching in as a Student. I think I still am a student after almost one year of completing my BBA from KCM. However, a prospective student for MBA! J  Then I again explained it to a little higher level officer but to no avail. Then as a defeated warrior my face looked upon which a gentleman (a policeman) called me and said, “१० नंबरमा एक जना हुनुहुन्छ, वहाँलाई भनेर ३०० डीस्काउंट गर्न मिल्छ. त्यहाँ भन्दा माथि त कुनै उपाय छैन”.  

I thanked to him with all my hearts for showing me a ray of hope at a time when I was completely dejected with the efforts that went on relentlessly for almost 45 minutes. I went there, met the kind man, got his signature on the chit as my discount stamp, went back to the window, and produced the thing.

He: हो, यही चाहियो के ७०० को रसीद का‌‌‍ट‍्न लाई. नत्र त १००० भन्दा घटी काट्ने मेरो अधिकारै छैन!

I paid Nrs 700. Took the release chit. Went to the garage. Got my bike. Drove off the Baggikhana.

I lose:- Nrs 700, 1 hour of my sometimes useful otherwise useless time.

I gain:- My bike, negotiation power, and a wholesome experience to share with you all.

However, here is for what I wanted to share this fresh real scenario through my blog with you all. I paid a huge parking sum. No doubt, I am sad L. I know I had committed a crime, a punishable offence in the eyes of law. I know I deserve punishment. But I am desperately sad because of the opportunity cost of Nrs 700 of mine (or for that matter, my father).

I would have been at a winning edge had I spent the amount providing food for the hungry, donating new clothes to the cloth-less, buying a book to someone who wants to read but couldn’t just because of poor financial status. I would be delighted to even do some voluntary work for the refugees as a punishment to my mere offence. I wish I could do something productive as a punishment rather than just pour some money in the drain. The drain which just has the entry mouth to chew off the general public but no outlet towards the betterment of the citizens and the public at large.

I just long for a change in the rudimentary system of charging people for their crime. A change that could bring about positive vibes and betterment for all and all. How about having social service organizations at the Counters with their donations slips instead of this: I would go for one more crime ;) J