Not for the first time, our bus was halted for a “security check”. The passengers in the packed bus were getting restless as the checks increased- this one being the third within a distance of a hundred kilometers. Metal detectors had looked for absent bombs, tickets checked for truant travelers. The only threat the passengers faced was that of reckless driving and the abysmal condition of the bus!
Armed with a solitary lathi and chewing his cud-like tobacco ambled in a pot-bellied cop to impose the security check upon us. But it wasn’t his unprofessional and callous appearance that stamped this check in our collective memory. Living in India, we are used all sorts of security checks almost throughout our country. So for a routine security check to have cast such an indelible imprint on our mind was indeed an eye-opener.
He scanned around for anything suspicious as he walked the length of the bus. Having finished his stroll, he turned around to make his way back to the exit. Suddenly his eyes lit up. Those of us following his check were alarmed by his sudden discovery. His stroll now had an acquired purposefulness about it.
Walking up to a scruffy looking man he said, “Let’s see your ticket.” Even before he had finished this short sentence, the man not only produced his ticket but also got up for the mandatory body frisking. The most remarkable thing was that this man seemed to have expected this to happen and the only surprise for him could have been that the policeman took as long as he did to pick him out from the crowd!
The body-check revealed nothing suspicious and the ticket too was in order. In a pathetic attempt at sounding officious the cop inquired about the man’s destination, purpose and duration of his visit. He was answered precisely and promptly. Having completed his investigations, the cop triumphantly marched out of the bus allowing us to get on with our journey.
Something though, didn’t make sense about his check and the satisfied look he had upon completing his interrogation of that man. The cop hadn’t unearthed any terrorist; neither had he thwarted any conspiracy to bomb or loot the bus. It was a wonder he hadn’t checked any of the other passengers - there were several in the bus who were as suspicious if not more.
But then, I guess he didn’t need to. There was something about the man that had given the cop his cue.
That man was the only one in the entire bus who wore a white netted Muslim cap.
