Some 3 years back when I was standing in our office corrider, having tea, at about 7 PM in the evening I got a top-up message in my mobile. The balance rose by 196 rupees. I checked with my friend and she confirmed that she didnt put any top-up for me. Within moments, I got a call from a number, looking very similar to my number, except the last but 1 digit changed.
The voice at the other end said "Sir, Did you get a top-up of 196 rupees"
"Not sure, I need to check..."
"Actually I was trying to put a top-up to my number, but by mistake, it topped-up yours..."
"I didnt get any top-up message..."
"Please check Sir, I will call you back in a few minutes..."
I started thinking what to do in that scenario. If I say yes, he will ask me to put a top-up for him for the same amount. I dont have Rs. 196 with me. So I have to arrange for that first. Next, my office is situated in a Special Economic Zone and to reach a recharge shop, I have to either go in my bike, spending my petrol & time, for about 3 kms. In those days, we didnt have the online recharge facility. Recharges & top-ups have to done in shops.
I thought why I should strain for some mistake that he did and let this be a lesson to him so that he is more careful in future. After five minutes, I got a call from the same number.
"Sir, that top-up was actually from me..."
I interrupted... "Sorry, I didnt get any message on top-up nor my balance has increased..."
"Please check again Sir..."
"I checked... No update... Please check again from your end again..." I cut the call.
There were repeated calls from the same number a couple of times after that. I never attended. I just ignored those calls. Calls came from different numbers. I made it a point not to attend a call from any unknown number for the next one week. The calls stopped after 3 days.
One day we got a call taxi. There was one person extra, for whom the cab driver asked Rs. 30 extra. I agreed to pay him. But when we got down he forgot to get the extra amount. Since I was also in a hurry to get down and enter the railway station, I too forgot. But I remembered when I went home, and called to that cab driver, since his number was in my call register and reminded him about not having paid the thirty rupees. He asked me to put a top-up a top up to his number. I religiously went to a nearby kiosk and recharged him, as I do not want to worker to get stiffed.
Another day I was travelling in train with Family. A middle aged man, strongly built, was in the berth opposite to me. When the TTE came, he showed an SMS for ticket. It was 1.5 years back and the system of showing SMS or softcopy of the ticket didnt exist at that time. The TTE refused to accept it for a ticket and demanded a hard-copy of the ticket or a penalty of Rs. 50 for ticketless travel.
He checked his shirt pocket, pant pocket, bag's pouches, purse, etc. but couldnt get any money. He showed his empty purse to TTE and said that he has only card, and didnt take money from ATM, since he was late to train and was hoping to get money from ATM on getting down.
TTE refused to accept any explanation and said that he has to either pay Rs. 50 or get down in the next station. Also he brought a RPF to monitor that he gets down in the next station. The RPF asked him to check again his bags for Rs. 50. He tried to help him in non-monitory ways. I was in a mixed mind whether to help him or just ignore the situation as if nothing has happened. Finally I decided that, if he asks for help, I will give the Rs. 50.
When the train neared the next station, he came to me and tried to say something. I immediately took my purse, pulled out a 50 rupee note and gave it to him. He said thanks and confirmed that he will give me back on getting down. We both have to get down in the same station.
In the morning, at 5:30 AM when the train reached our station, I was thinking how he will be giving my Rs. 50 back. I cant leave my family and go with him upto ATM, being the early morning hours, we all wish to reach home as soon as possible. I immediately took out a sheet of paper, wrote my number on it and gave it him and asked him to put a top-up of Rs. 50 to that Airtel number.
Reached home and relaxed and almost forgot about it. At around 10:30 AM, I got a message that my number has been topped-up for Rs. 50.
- Pavala.
The voice at the other end said "Sir, Did you get a top-up of 196 rupees"
"Not sure, I need to check..."
"Actually I was trying to put a top-up to my number, but by mistake, it topped-up yours..."
"I didnt get any top-up message..."
"Please check Sir, I will call you back in a few minutes..."
I started thinking what to do in that scenario. If I say yes, he will ask me to put a top-up for him for the same amount. I dont have Rs. 196 with me. So I have to arrange for that first. Next, my office is situated in a Special Economic Zone and to reach a recharge shop, I have to either go in my bike, spending my petrol & time, for about 3 kms. In those days, we didnt have the online recharge facility. Recharges & top-ups have to done in shops.
I thought why I should strain for some mistake that he did and let this be a lesson to him so that he is more careful in future. After five minutes, I got a call from the same number.
"Sir, that top-up was actually from me..."
I interrupted... "Sorry, I didnt get any message on top-up nor my balance has increased..."
"Please check again Sir..."
"I checked... No update... Please check again from your end again..." I cut the call.
There were repeated calls from the same number a couple of times after that. I never attended. I just ignored those calls. Calls came from different numbers. I made it a point not to attend a call from any unknown number for the next one week. The calls stopped after 3 days.
One day we got a call taxi. There was one person extra, for whom the cab driver asked Rs. 30 extra. I agreed to pay him. But when we got down he forgot to get the extra amount. Since I was also in a hurry to get down and enter the railway station, I too forgot. But I remembered when I went home, and called to that cab driver, since his number was in my call register and reminded him about not having paid the thirty rupees. He asked me to put a top-up a top up to his number. I religiously went to a nearby kiosk and recharged him, as I do not want to worker to get stiffed.
Another day I was travelling in train with Family. A middle aged man, strongly built, was in the berth opposite to me. When the TTE came, he showed an SMS for ticket. It was 1.5 years back and the system of showing SMS or softcopy of the ticket didnt exist at that time. The TTE refused to accept it for a ticket and demanded a hard-copy of the ticket or a penalty of Rs. 50 for ticketless travel.
He checked his shirt pocket, pant pocket, bag's pouches, purse, etc. but couldnt get any money. He showed his empty purse to TTE and said that he has only card, and didnt take money from ATM, since he was late to train and was hoping to get money from ATM on getting down.
TTE refused to accept any explanation and said that he has to either pay Rs. 50 or get down in the next station. Also he brought a RPF to monitor that he gets down in the next station. The RPF asked him to check again his bags for Rs. 50. He tried to help him in non-monitory ways. I was in a mixed mind whether to help him or just ignore the situation as if nothing has happened. Finally I decided that, if he asks for help, I will give the Rs. 50.
When the train neared the next station, he came to me and tried to say something. I immediately took my purse, pulled out a 50 rupee note and gave it to him. He said thanks and confirmed that he will give me back on getting down. We both have to get down in the same station.
In the morning, at 5:30 AM when the train reached our station, I was thinking how he will be giving my Rs. 50 back. I cant leave my family and go with him upto ATM, being the early morning hours, we all wish to reach home as soon as possible. I immediately took out a sheet of paper, wrote my number on it and gave it him and asked him to put a top-up of Rs. 50 to that Airtel number.
Reached home and relaxed and almost forgot about it. At around 10:30 AM, I got a message that my number has been topped-up for Rs. 50.
- Pavala.
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