3330 Walnut

Who is the common man? People like you and me is what
I think. Some of us may agree, others may think otherwise.
The real inquiry is whether we get affected by factors that
affect the common man. The gas prices, the media propaganda,
unknown acts of terror, natural disasters, influence of
religious syndicates, or be it neighborhood crimes, are we
in the picture? In some cases, we are. In many others we are
not. Chances that we may be directly affected
is very low. More specifically, if I were to ask, What
are the chances that on a random day , at some random time
you are involved in a crime? It does not require any
math to figure out that the chances are slim.
On Sunday, 23rd may 2004 at 5:05 PM, this probability
evaluated to one for me.

It was a bright, quiet evening and I was done with my work.
I decided to head homeward and came out towards the bike
rack right in front of my department. Walnut street
was full of life - Joggers on the run, cars headed
homewards, and coffee lovers thronging StarBucks.
On the far end of the rack were a group of five
black youths, eyeing other bikes.

What exactly was going on in my mind is unclear.
Not the one gifted with the greatest precence of mind,
I recollect being concerned for my bike and was driven
by the impluse to run away on my bike. With this
intention, I unlocked it. Sometimes you do the exact
wrong thing and this was one of it. Soon I was surrounded.
and I knew I was done.

"listen, Is this your bike?"
"No this is my friend's"

I imagined that they might spare me if I said it is not
mine. I sure do have some wild imagination.

"Will ya sell it to me?"
"Yes..."
"How much are you going to charge?"

Surprise is a always a very powerful weapon.
Before I could retort, I felt a kick on my knee,
followed by a punch on my back. I fell, breaking my
fall with my hand.  When I managed to get up,
I knew I was not my regular self. I was too
stunned to believe all that was happening.

"This seems a nice bike"
" Uh..Ok,.. you can take it" I managed to stammer.
afraid of dangerous consequences if I resisted.

" Ha haha, I am going to take a test ride"
" Ha ha ha " I hear the others chorus as they
all rode away.

Alone, assualted, robbed, jolted and confused.
Happy for my life and health , I thanked the heavens.
I realised the need for a composed mind for next phase
of action and called my roomate srihari who urged me
to call the police. Police is perhaps the first
thing that should come to the mind but for
someone from India and who does not have much faith
in the law, this is a non - obvious approach.

Within minutes, Officer Peugliese was beside me
taking down my statement, all the while consoling me.
Soon, all the mobile patrols of the UPENN police were on
the prowl looking for a thin light skinned black
youth aged 14-16 in white tees and shorts riding a
red, 26" huffy mountain bike.

We started surveying the area, with the officer.
Something in me told me that this is going to be fine.
And it turned out so. As would befit the climax of
a classic thriller movie, the mobile patrol #3
managed to apphrehend a black youth matching
the description. As we reached the spot,
my heart raced and I was overcome with anxiety.
Would it or wont it? was the question running
in my mind. I was also scared of retaliation
from them. But fortunately, I was asked to
sit inside the van and identify him. This
comforted me and I was able to clearly identify
the assailant, a school boy, all of 16.

Law is blind. It needs a proof, a witness
to see the light. Without it, it can be
of no use to a victim. I gave half a smile
when I realised the folly my attackers had made.
They had forgotten to take the key and
this saved the day for me. They took it
and tried it out, and my kryptonite lock
opened without the slightest hitch.
I had survived to see my bike again.

I was relieved and relaxed after that.
The boy was arrested and I was taken to the
HQ where a detective questioned me and took
down my account of the incident. After a few more
anxious moments in the court, the officer handed me
my bike and wished me luck.

Who is the common man? People like you and me is what
I think.


Madhukar