Thursday, March 31, 2005

And He Who Is The Indian Traffic Cop

Phew
In my usual fashion of not-so-good-luck streak, I got pulled over by the traffic cop just as I cleared the last toll gate entering Durban. Oh great…. Not again!

“You were at 140 km/h. Please step out of the car”, the cop said to me.

I obediently got out of the car and instructed the rest of the travellers to remain in the car. As I was approaching the cop, I saw my aunt coming out of the car and coming towards us. I excused myself from the cops and said to my aunt in Mandarin, “Don’t come here. Let me handle them.”

She headed back towards the car and I spoke to the cop. I was quite surprised when I had a closer look. Indian. Damn. There goes my chance of getting away with just having a bribe. I put on a pathetic expression and explained myself, “I am so sorry. I was trying to overtake the big truck thus having to accelerate. That was why I was over the speed limit. I am sooooo sorry… can’t you help me out at all?”

That Indian cop looked at me in amusement and after a momentary pause, he said to me, “You can go.”

“What? I can go? You’re letting me off?”, I gushed.

“Yes. Just remember not to speed again. You can go. And you owe me one for this.”

“Oh… thank you! Thank you! Yeah… I owe you one for this. Thank you sooooo much!”

I was so shocked! This is the first time ever I’m getting let off for speeding without bribery involved. Wow! I was starting to believe what my auntie said is true. She is born lucky and she brings luck to everyone around her. Maybe it is true…..

I got back to the car, grinning wider than a Cheshire cat. I told them what happened and everyone was delighted.

Just as I drove off, I announced to them, “I think my life fate is with the bloody Indians. I just hope I don’t end up marrying one.”

They laughed and we proceeded on to Durban.

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