A Torn Ten Rupee Note

I was blessed with a torn ten rupee note. It came into my worldly possession after a long booze session when one saw poorly.  So, as we say here - I wanted to chalav it - literal translation - wanted to walk it - but meaning - pass onto someone and get rid of it. 

Next morning with a clear head I thought of a bakra / popat ( someone I can dump this torn ten rupee note on ). Rickshaw wallah.  Perfect poor guy who can be bullied,  not always though. I had some errands to run so, after a careful selection of what looked like a poor rickshaw wallah and also who seemed could be bullied, I hired him and rode with him. I hid the torn ten rupee note among the good notes. I chatted with him about everything and nothing but all the while thinking about how to present the torn note to him so as not to arouse any suspicion. So I folded it, re folded it, made it into a tiny paper, then again unrolled it, pressed it and finally prayed that it would go unnoticed. Wow! What drama just to get rid of one ten rupee note.  But then, someone had fooled me in my inebriated state  and I wanted to fool someone else.  Ego issue. Ergo - rickshaw wallah. 

I restarted my conversation with him - politics, cricket, whatever he liked hoping for a diversion, and then his diluted attention span. 

Midway to my destination I started feeling bad. My conscience at last woke up. What was I doing? So I thought of giving him the torn note only after telling him that it was torn. What honesty! Then I thought what the heck! Will give him a charity / tip whatever you call it. If it worked - fine - else it was not a financial loss to him. I stopped the rickshaw just a few meters from my destination. I handed him the torn note and told him it was torn and it was not part of the fare.  It was just extra. And if he could “chalav” - it was his else he was not losing anything. He just smiled and said - let it be part of the fare. It’s fine. I will somehow manage the torn note. Need not pay me extra-

I was dumbstruck.  And before I could say anything he said - I have noticed that  you still need to go a few meters farther up. Hop on and I will drive you there. No need to pay me since I’m already heading there. 

Well! I thought myself. If he has noticed this then he has obviously noticed my shuffling and reshuffling of the torn ten rupee note. 

I didn’t know what to say, what to do.  Since no words could come out, out flashed my silly smile which said thanks. I would walk the remaining distance. Before I could tell him or rather acknowledge him further, he smiled and bid me good day.