Nishith was a hardworking, sincere and a man of high morals. He never partied, spoke on phone for long hours or spent on clothes, gazettes and other luxurious goods like his friends. He worked really hard, He worked with utmost sincerity. Whatever he earned, he deposited the same in his bank account. He never borrowed a single rupee from any one . He loved eating in hotels. The figure shown in the bill pinched him, but he did it with a guilt that he was spending money. He always opted for cheap  goods and articles.  He gifted his friends with various articles on occasions like birth days, but he did not do it whole heartedly. His mind was always turmoiled with the thought that the amount in his account was getting sunk.

            One day Nishith was on his way home. He was waiting for the local train at the Churchgate station. The train was expected in two minutes. He leaned on the platform to see whether the train was arriving. His attention was drawn by a girl who was staring him from other end of the platform. She was an average looking girl. But the very fact that a girl was continuously staring  at him was enough to Nishith to lose his senses.

            The girl started walking towards the ticket counter. By gazing Nishith at her every move she ensured that he was following her. She climbed up the stairs near the ticket counter, which led to various administrative offices of the railways. Nishith now fully smitten by her beauty and empowered by lust or natural instinct as you put it, he followed her. “Come let us go to the bathroom.” she said in a coarse but seductive voice. “No I wont be comfortable here. I do have a place at Sion. Let us go there.” replied Nishith .By this time the train had arrived. Nishith and the girl both boarded the train. The girl kept on instigating Nishith by touching him at the right/wrong places.

They got down at Sion. They came out of the station.

Suddenly Nishith’s high morals raised their voice. “Whether I am doing the right thing?” his conscience asked him. “No……….” replied his inner voice. “Sorry I can not do that.” said Nishith to the girl. “What? Have you gone nuts? Why did you bring me here? What do you think you can take me for a ride?” “I am really sorry dear friend! Some other day. I am in no mood” Nishith persuaded. “Shut up. Do you know whom am I? I am the sister of Inspector Shinde of Colaba police station. Chal kharcha paani nikal or else I will put you behind the bars.” Nishith took out a ten rupee note out of his valet.

“Do you think I am a beggar?” she said followed by unquotable gaalis. “Come on the side of the road.” She pulled him on the side of the road. “Give me all your money” Nishith gave her all the money in the valet. “Aur paisa Nikal. Is it the money from your office? Place it in my hands. I swear by the name of Sai Baba, I will return it to you. ”

Nishith gave the money in his safe pocket. “How much do they make?” she asked in a rude tone. “Around 1800” Nishith replied. “ I have sworn by the name of Sai Baba so I will have to return it to you. But…” “Please pardon me and let me go.” pleaded Nishith. “Shut your mouth and sit here or else I will create a scene here. Do you want me to do that.” the girl said. “What is in your pocket?” the girl snatched the contents of his pocket of the shirt, which included his atm cards, railway pass and his cell phone. “What is in your bag?” Nishith’s bag was turned upside down, but in vain. “As I have sworn by the name of Sai Baba I will have to return your money. We can withdraw money using this.” She pointed towards his ATM card.  “You give me Rs.1000 I will return your Rs.1700” So both of them walked to the ATM. She returned him his mobile phone and ATM card. He withdrew Rs.1000 and handed it over to her. “Come on accompany me to the Church gate station.” “Settle the matter now” Nishith pleaded.  “Do you want to be battered by the police until you turn blue” “Please pardon me. Return the amount you had promised” “Shut up you bastard. Do not be over smart. You fucker! What did you think I did not see you tearing the Atm slip in to pieces? Now nothing for you. Turn your back and get lost you rascal.” Nishith turned back and walked towards his residence. He was left with no money. He ensured that the girl was not following him. He withdrew some money from the atm.

            Yes he was duped. But the incident taught him the following things:

1. Positive thinking. He thanked God that his mobile, ring, bracelet, watch were spared.
2. He learnt not to fall prey to any to the charms of any girl.
3. He learnt to keep his word. Think twice before you commit and do not think any thing once you commit.
4. He learnt that money was a means to achieve things and not an end in itself. He realized the futility of only increasing his bank balance. He may die one day, he may be duped. So he learnt to spend the money on himself and others without any kind of guilt.
5. He learnt that he had gained his mental equilibrium in couple of hours. He overcame the shock very soon and learned the lesson that experience had taught him and marched ahead in his life without any guilt. Every experience keeps on repeating unless you learn what it has to teach.

P.S: The above post is based on a real life incident. I appeal to all my readers to contribute such experiences which they or their friends or relatives have encountered so that we can prevent many other people who may get duped and who can not complain due to fear of losing reputation – MAHESH SOWANI