Moody’s train on track – no increase in fares (satire)

It was a Big Day for not only Moody but all his men and women – it was the day when Soo Race Babu would be the center of attraction because he would open his magic box and bring out one after another goodies for the common man.
It was budget day for the railways and Moody had given strict instructions that increase in fares must not be on the agenda. If the minister needed money to run the trains, he would have to arrange it on his own.
Poor Soo Race Babu was confused when he had met Moody before drafting his budget.
‘Unless I can generate the funds, how will the railways survive?’ he had asked.

‘Think up alternate methods,’ Moody was blunt. ‘I do not want to add to the burden of the common man. They have brought us to power and must be respected.’
‘Yes,’ Jet Lee added. He was also present in the meeting. ‘Boss is right. It is better not to talk about any increase right now.’
Nitty Gadcurry smiled. He always had a ready smile on his lips and loved to share it whenever he got the chance.
‘Money is never any problem Babu-ji,’ he said. ‘Very soon bullets will speed through our countryside. The railways we have right now are ancient and once the bullets run, money will roll in.’
Poor Babu was still not convinced.
‘I want to introduce new trains,’ he said. ‘I have also coined new names because that is the tradition.’
‘That is a good idea,’ Moody looked sat him. ‘What names have you thought of?’
‘One of our previous ministers had dreamt up the ‘garib rath’ or the chariot of the poor. Then there was another one who had introduced the ‘duronto’ or wild. I want to do something similar.’
‘No one is stopping you,’ Moody said. ‘But – remember, no increase in fares.’
‘I want to introduce bio-toilets in the coaches and I want to have provision of supply of milk for children.’
‘Not a bad idea,’ Nitty Gadcurry remarked. ‘We could ask Pat & Jolie to supply pure milk from his farm.’
‘Yes, that also is a good idea,’ Moody agreed. ‘But, no increase in fares. I am against that.’
Soo Race Babu threw up his hands in despair.
‘How can my projects go ahead minus funds?’
‘There is a time and place for everything,’ Moody said.
‘What it means is that you can do that exercise after a couple of months,’ Nitty Gadcurry explained under his breath.
Suddenly, Babu’s face lit up. He smiled. (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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