Cops and Tinted Windows.

          Read in the papers that police will now charge a fine for tinted glasses. Where they get these ideas from I don’t know. Solid 2000 rupees, men, all money-making business. It was ok when it was 100 bucks, like, we didn’t mind so much. In fact, if we were 3-4 friends in the car, we used to share the fine, 30-40 bucks each. Then we would pool in some more money and buy a new dark film to put on the window. Can’t stand the sun otherwise, re.

But now, 2000 bucks I will have to pay. I just put new-new glass windows on my car, nice dark brown colour and all.

What to tell you, I’ve also fitted a new number plate which I got written in Devnagri. It reads ‘dada’ from a distance. Actual number is 5151. Real fancy, borey poishe dilley tya manshaak, got it done from a graphic-artist. For that also they’re saying fine will be 2000 rupees. Which means I’ll have to have a new number plate. Someone said it’s not a new rule. Am I supposed to know all the rules?

Goa’s going to the dogs, I tell you.

First how it was, rules were there, but when the policebaab found out who you were, from his wife’s sister-in-law’s village, that you knew his cousins, he’d slap you on the back (not hard, haanh, just small tap) and laugh and say, “Potte kor naakaa” and we could move on. There was no trouble. Everybody was nice. No one really worried whether you wore a helmet, had a licence, drank alcohol. Accidents happened anyway… people die when their time comes, no? What can a helmet do against God’s will, tell me? Now there’s too much of… don’t do this, don’t do that.

Newspapers say less people are driving fast on Miramar stretch; now people are fast-riding on Siolim Bridge, papers say. How you can stop people from driving fast? Why should people not drive fast? If you are a walker and you feel it’s dangerous, you don’t walk near the road, go somewhere else. You feel it’s dangerous for me? What goes of your father if something happens to me? Is this a democracy or not? We drivers have our rights, no? What’s the connection between driving fast, tinted windows and fancy number-plates?

Don’t teach me what happens abroad. We’re in Goa, ok? We have our own culture here.  It’s because of the outsiders that things are changing.

Nowadays, people have become complaining types. In our village, some young boys stole someone’s pineapples and mangoes. That was bhurgem-ponnachee mastee. We knew who did it. In fact, they did this year after year to many people. But we never complained. Little bit bad things everybody does, what is there to complain? All these new people, some are Goans only, who have stayed outside the state, they go and make bowaall of small-small things. “Somebody scratched my car.” “Somebody took away my gold bangles.” First, the police used to say: “Why make fuss, you only find out from the village who did it and sort it out amongst yourselves.” Now they take everything seriously, men, write FIR and all.

Also, I don’t like it when papers give credit to bhailey ghaatis for everything. Our own village boys do smart robbery and some people say outsiders did it. I say, give credit where it’s due.

Coming back to the fines for tinted windows: I’ve heard they aren’t going to allow VIPs to put red lights on top of their cars. Then how will we know who’s a VIP? Tomorrow they’ll say, you can’t paint your car with spots, stars or stripes.

I want special status for Goa. The rules that apply to the rest of the country should not be forced on us. We’re different. I say first try the rules on the bhailley, then on the Goans. But who’s listening?

Things are really not like before. First we were told “don’t throw garbage here”, “don’t park there” and now this “don’t have tinted glass windows”, “don’t have fancy number plates”.

When I mentioned this to a friend, he said something about res-pawn-civility. He tried to explain that word to me (correct spelling res-pon-sibility). He is no longer my friend.

I went back to the shop to change the tinted glass and number-plate on my car. Guess what, the guy charged me double!! Any excuse to make a quick buck. We Goans are like that only.

At least it will save me the fines.

(feedback: sheelajaywant@yahoo.co.in)