ON A TRAIN AGAIN

Sheikh had been on a train when he was four years old but he did not remember the journey. After that he had never been on a train.

Once he had to go to another city and he thought that he would go by train. In those days, trains had three types of ticket fares-the first class, the second class and the cheapest was the third class.

Sheikh reached the station but did not know what to do. He asked a man who told him that he should buy a ticket first.

Sheikh asked, "What does the train look like?"

The man said, "It is big and black in colour and smoke comes out from it."

Sheikh went to buy a ticket for Delhi. He asked for a ticket and the man replied, "Give me five rupees."

Sheikh shouted, "That is too much. Take less money."

"Does this train belong to your father-in-law that you can pay less than the ticket fare?" replied the man angrily.

Just as Sheikh bought the ticket, he saw a big and tall ticket checker wearing a black coat and smoke was coming out from his cigarette. Sheikh ran and climbed onto his back.

"What are you doing?" shouted the ticket checker.

"Come on, train. Take me to Delhi station," yelled Sheikh jumped up and down on his back.

The ticket checker got very angry and made Sheikh get off his back with the help of other people. Then Sheikh was led to his train.

After that Sheikh sat in the train and as the train started moving, he began to enjoy himself watching the beautiful scenery outside.

But then another ticket checker came. He asked for his train ticket.

Sheikh gave him his ticket and the checker said, "You will have to pay more money."

"Why?" asked Sheikh.

"You are sitting in the first class but your ticket is for the third class," explained the ticket checker.

"What is the difference between them that you are charging so much extra money?" asked Sheikh.

"The first class seats have cushions but the third class bogie seats are wooden benches," said the ticket checker.

Sheikh stood up and declared. "I don't need cushions."

Then he tore away the cushions from the seat.

Sheikh said," I have taken out the cushions. Now I can sit here in the first class with the same third class ticket."

But the ticket checker would not agree. He told Sheikh that he would either have to go to the third class compartment of the train or pay more to sit in the first class.

Sheikh said loudly, "I will not pay any more money."

The ticket checker shouted, "You have damaged the seat. You will also have to pay damages."

"What cheats you all are! First you take so much money for the ticket and then you don't let us sir where we want. I will not give a single paisa," yelled Sheikh,

As soon as the train slowed down, a passenger informed them, "I think the next station is coming,"

The ticket checker waited for the train to stop. Then he called the railway police and told them about Sheikh.

The policemen took Sheikh out of the first class and made him sit in the third class.