Gave them the index and got back the middle!

I am 19 years old. From, this election onwards my opinion counted, so i decided to vote. My own clock, which my parents thought ran a few hours late, prevented me from getting up in the morning and going to the booth. People hate getting out of their houses during the afternoon .So, to avoid the long queue i decided i go in the afternoon.
I dressed up casually. Mobile, wallet, watch and house keys; everything that was required. I got out of my house and locked the door. Suddenly, i reached for my wallet, opened it and checked whether my Voter ID was there, even thougth i was sure it was there. I strolled to the booth, feeling proud to be a citizen of this country. I beamed a smile at every uncle, aunt and babe who passed by. I was going to give them my finger and that is my duty.

As soon as i reached the booth the cop frisked me. I keep asking myself, why can't these guys grow up. There were other places where i could hide things and smuggle them in.I won't conceal a gun in my pocket. The queue wasn't all that long.There were 8 people ahead in the line. I was proud of my timing, my parents told me they had 16 in their line. One by one they voted.I hadn't made up my mind. There was Lp, then Captain , whose manifesto i liked. But Amma didn't do all that bad, infact, she did pretty well with Tsunami and floods. DMK wasn't on my mind. I kept beaming my smile at all those who had voted and were coming out. Then my chance came, i walked in. I was about to vote for the first time in my life. I was running out of time, i had to make up my mind. 'Lp' i finally made up my mind. When i was done, i came out and the queue had become longer.

Somewhere in the middle of the queue, a face of a boy caught my attention. I had seen him before.Infact, i had seen him only a few minutes before. Then it struck me, that it was someone who had already voted. I remember his face well, because he had beamed me a bigger smile at me in return. For a moment i considered walking upto him. Then i considered again, for he might belong to some youth wing. I walked up slowly to the lady who checked out cards and showed her this guy's face. Even she remembered that this boy had already voted. We both walked up to the police and told him the situation. He made some enquiries of his own. He walked up to me and asked me whether i'll be ready to give a statement in the station.Without the slightest of hesitation, i told yes. The Inspector told us that we can catch the culprit only when he is about to vote.We were waiting to pounce.

As he walked up to the counter, the inspector stepped forward. I was expecting dialogue's like 'You are under arrest', 'You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be produced against you in the court of law'. The inspector went on like 'Enna pa panrae?' (What are you doing?). The boy was a great actor, i thought. He gave a sarcastic smile and told that he was voting. The inspector then reminded him that he had already voted. The smile and the sarcasm increased a bit more. 'Which acting school is he from?' i thought. Inspector asked him to step aside as he tried to tke control of the situation. The news had already spread, i guessed. Fingers were being pointed at me. I was going to be their hero, i thought.

The inspector took him aside for questioning. The boy then pulled something out of his pocket and gave it to the inspector. The inspector started laughing.I should've expected this. The boy had bribed the inspector.I decided that i won't let this happen.As i walked up to inspector, the boy walked up to the booth. He voted and walked away towards the gate. I started shouting at the inspector. Corruption, India, Honesty.. .. i was rambling on and on. The inspector was smiling. Hypocrites, i hate them. Bastards! He was calling me forward, simultaneoulsy reaching for his wallet. Was he trying to bribe me? He was still smiling and grinning. He lifted something out of his pocket and was trying to show it to me. I backed myself against the wall and decided to kick him or hit him or whatever i can.

I saw then, that his hands didn't have money.He was about to show me a photo. It was a family photo of two boys and their parents. Behind the shoulders of the inspector, i saw two boys walking towards me. They walked past me and then walked up to the centre of the booth.Everyone started pointing fingers at me and laughing. So far, for the hero.

The inspector and the twins beamed their biggest smile at me.