Stories

What do you know?

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What do you know?

Shashank Purandare

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and any similarity with events, places or characters is purely coincidental.

Rashmi got into the 9.06 pm Thane fast AC local at the last possible moment just as the doors were closing, even though she was standing on the platform for the last ten minutes at the CSMT station. At this time the train was relatively empty, that is, by Mumbai standards the train is empty when you find couple of vacant seats in the compartment.

The moment she entered the compartment, everyone stared at her. Having lived in Mumbai since birth, she was used to the stares. At 32, five feet six in her flats, nice oval face with dark black hair cascading over her shoulders, she had an attractive figure. Her beautifully shaped brown eyes had a rather penetrating gaze which was disconcerting to many. She was wearing a knee lenght three piece business suit today, even though she was more acustomed to wearing sarees. She barely acknowledged the all round stares with half a smile on her lips. She ignored the vacant seats and stood near the doorway with her back to the partition. This door was at the end of the compartment so that she had the view of the entire bogey from her position. She was keenly observing one particular person sitting down near the window. His back was towards him, so he could not have been aware that he was under observation. This guy has boarded the train as soon as it arrived at the station. But to avoid any undue attention, Rashmi had boarded the train at the last moment.

The traim started moving. Rasmi opened her phone and sent a text message. Then she settled against the partition. Being a fast train, it stopped only at Dadar and Kurla. The crowd incresed a little bit, but not enough to block Rashmi's vision. The man was dozing, clutching onto the hand bag that he was holding. He woke up as if by alarm, as train passed Mulund station. Rashmi relayed another text message. When the train stopped at Thane, the man got up. Rashmi was right behind him as he neared the exit. He got down with Rashmi at his heels. The moment he exited the platform, two men suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path. Rashmi was blocking him from behind.

"Take him." Rashmi ordered. Within no time he was in handcuffs. He was relieved of his handbag. Rashmi opened the chain and looked inside. "Great, we got him! Take him to the HQ.", said Rashmi.

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As you exit Waghbil junction to the right on Ghodbundar Road, the road winds itself through pockets of residential areas and commercial complexes. This area is also replete with eataries, restaurants and confectionary shops. About a kilometer from the GB junction, nestling between two hi-rise complexes is a five acre plot of land barred by wrought iron gates manned by secrity. There is a huge playground. The C.M. High School building stands about six stories tall at the end of the playground. It is one of the highly rated public school, run by a trust. It caters to CBSE syllabus and has classes from fifth to twelth standard. Almost two thousand students paying a fee of upto one lakh rupees per annum, study here. The pass rate of the school is almost hundred percent with most students scoring more than 90% marks. The success ratio attracts more and more studennts to the school every year.

The school has about sixty teaching staff members with equal number of non-teaching staff members. The school is also renowned for its extra-curricular achievments in the field of sports, dancing and singing. It has its own swimming pool. In short, it has everything a student and parents would wish for. The school works in two shifts. Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 are conducted in the morning shift and 5 to 8 are run in the afternoon shift. Students from all over the city arrive and depart in school busses, which are owned by the school itself. Thes busses are run by the drivers employed by the school. Each bus also has an attendant to look after the students. C.M.High School is one of the richest school in the district.

The day after the train arrest, Rashmi called Mr. Mani Shankar Iyer, the Principal of C.M.High School and took his appointment for 9 am, next day. She arrived at 8.50 and was taken to the cabin of Mr. Iyer. Rashmi produced her ID and handed it over to Mr. Iyer. Mr. Iyer was looking worried. Rashmi briefly explained the situation to him. Now Mr. Iyer was positively sweating. Rashmi outlined what she wanted from him and left, saying that she would be back by 12 noon with her team.

Mr Iyer convened a meeting of all the students from 9th to 12th class at 12.30 pm in the meeting hall. When all the students arrived in the hall, the huge double doors of the hall were closed from outside. All the teaching and non-teaching staff was locked inside their rooms. Rashmi's team started going from classroom to classroom, searching the backpcks of the students, provided by the school. This took about an hour. Inside the hall, Mr. Iyer was still addressing the students, who were now becoming restless. By now, the students of the afternoon shift had arrived at the gate. The backpacks of the students from class 7th and 8th were examined. A few students were detained. The drivers and the attendants of the school bus were also taken to a room, and searched.

Finally, the meeting in the hall ended. About 25 students were held inside the hall. Others were allowed to go. They were told to pickup their backpacks and leave. They got into the busses.Few busses did not have the attendants as they were being held by Rashmi's team. Another 13 students from class 7 and 8 were detained by Rashmi's team. A total of 38 students and seven bus attendants were being held.

A harrassed looking Mr. Iyer finally trooped back into his cabin followed by Rashmi.
"Mr. Iyer, a total of 38 students were carrying e-cigaretts in their back pack. I have videos of them smoking behind your canteen. As you know, vaping as it is known, is a cognizable offens if you are underage. I will need to send them to juvenile courts. We have caught bus attendants distrbuting these cigarettes to the students. Further, a case of criminal negligence will be initiated against the school. You better consult your legal department in a hurry."
Mr. Iyer had no resposnse to this. He was busy mopping his forehead. Disgusted, Rashmi walked out of his cabin.

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As it transpired, Mahesh Jadhav was caught with one thousand e-cigarettes in his bag on the train. He spilled the names of bus attendants, who were regular suppliers to various schools in Thane. Three schools were raided in Thane simultaneously. One hundred and thirty students were caught with twentyone bus attendants. Rashmi had acquired warrants to install hidden video cams in schools and busses. The narcotics bureau, where Rashmi works, was aware of Jadhav's involvement for some time now. Hence a trap was set. While Jadhav was allowed to get his supplies, the remaining stock of e-cigarettes was caught off a trawller at Cuff Parade. Twenty five thousand e-ciagarettes with three crew members were caught red-handed. Raids are still being conducted in various schools in Mumbai as this story is unfolding.

PS. Vaping is becoming a serious issue with many school and college going students. Please refer to an article on e-cigarettes on wkipidia for details.