No Parking

It was the 1st of Nov, a declared state holiday as Haryana Day when my children got a day off. I was busy with some household and office work as I had to leave the next day early morning. My wife took all the children for an outing-cum-medical check-up for over an hour ride by Metro to North Delhi at a Tibetan hospital.

I drove my family and dropped them at the metro station. On my way back, I decided to purchase meat for the family during my absence. As usual I parked my car on the roadside adjacent to the meat shop. I have been doing it for decade now as there never has been a designated parking place nearby. I had done all the purchasing and came back. To my surprise, my car disappeared! I recollected if I had forgotten where I parked. My memory did not fail me. I was quite sure where I parked my car. Without any panic nor anxiety, I guessed it must have been towed away. Then I approached a police stationed nearby to inquire if he knew about my car. He told me that he didn't see any car parked nearby, but he suggested that it must have been towed. He gave me a direction to reach the parking lot of towed cars.

My mind was wondering why it was towed for the first time and also wondered, if it had not been towed, it must have been stolen. The former would be much more bearable than the latter. With a little gasp I reached the towed parking. There, I found my car parked.

After all the inquiry and vehicle document checking, I was required to pay a fine. The person in charge quoted two different ways of paying the towed charge. One, Rs. 400 without any proof of payment. The other, Rs. 600 with police record. I insisted that whichever amount I paid it must have a legal proof of receipt. The person asked me, he rather bargained with me, to pay the lesser amount of Rs. 400 without any receipt and any police notification. My conscience would not be bribed and without any hesitation I asked for a receipt for which I paid Rs. 500 as towing and parking charges, and was further asked to meet the traffic police posted nearby with the receipt to pay another Rs. 100 for parking. I chose to pay the right amount at the right price than unrighteously meddle with my God given conscience. It was so cheap a price of Rs. 200 difference for a pure and clean conscience. I gladly acknowledged my mistake in parking on the roadside though for a reasonable cause, and would gladly pay for it for breaking the unwritten law if I had violated it. The peace within me is much more precious than the price I paid for, for the penalty of parking at a public parking place with no "No Parking" sign. 

I was, indeed, very peaceful and at rest by paying the right higher amount with a proper receipt. Otherwise, the Rs. 400 would merely be a bribe money for the towing agency. But my question was, why was my car towed when many other cars on the same lane were not towed? There never was a "No Parking" sign as that is the usual lane for parking for meat buyers. Had their been a "No Parking" sign I would have avoided parking there as there are many such signs now. Whatever my rational mind have reasoned, there definitely is a lesson for me to learn. Both in discerning where to park and how to handle corrupt people on public duty. I am glad that I could learn this lesson. Hope I learn it thoroughly well. 

No "No Parking" and no bribing.

Much grace from the Lord is needed to enjoy uninterrupted fellowship with the Lord in perfect peace. Grace me, Lord! Ever.