![\"\"](\"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/PAGE-FICTION-RAO-AmicableCustomsOfficer-02.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe officer pulled the different things from Mrs. Krishnamurthy\u2019s suitcase. He looked suspiciously at a few nasogastric tubes that she was carrying to her friend\u2019s father who was paralyzed and had to be fed through such a device. He picked up another small item, looked through its lens and asked, \u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAn otoscope head, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAuto Scope? To check cars? How do you use this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo sir, this is an otoscope head. Otoscope is for checking the ears.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see. You need to pay tax on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy doctor friend here had lost this part and I\u2019m taking it as a gift for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see, Mrs. Krishnamurthy, you may sell and make a profit on it. So you have to pay tax.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho will buy a head? That too, it\u2019s an old piece. I don\u2019t want it. You can throw it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer scrutinized the piece and dropped it in the suitcase.<\/p>\n
He picked up a camera, thought for a moment and said, \u201cYou have to pay the duty on this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, I\u2019m going to take it back. You may enter that in the passport.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. I need the serial number.\u201d He looked at the front, back, top and bottom of the camera.\u00a0 \u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Krishnamurthy also searched for the number. She even detached the lens and looked on the rim but couldn\u2019t find it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMadam, did you buy it in a reputed store?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you asking me this, sir?<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u201cSome smuggled items won\u2019t have serial numbers.\u201d He lowered his voice and said, \u201cIt looks like a cheap camera. I won\u2019t enter this in the passport.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, since you stopped in Singapore, did you buy any biscuits?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir. I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, ha! Let me see. You may have to pay a lot of tax.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, No.\u201d Mrs. Krishnamurthy put her daughter down and searched her purse. She picked up her passport, toothpaste, brush, makeup creams, comb, powders and gum packets and placed them on the table. She looked in the child\u2019s bag and after some searching fished out a half-empty Parle Biscuit packet. She placed it on the table as well and stood straight.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere it is. I can\u2019t believe you\u2019re levying tax on these biscuits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Immediately, the officer guffawed, his fat belly moving up and down. Mrs. Krishnamurthy was flabbergasted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry madam, for laughing. Excuse me. I meant whether you bought Gold biscuits, but not Parle biscuits. You can go now.\u201d He helped her to pack. \u201cEnjoy your stay in Chennai.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mrs. Radha Krishnamurthy landed in Chennai with her one-year-old daughter, Seema. She sucked a binky, comfortably resting on her mother\u2019s left shoulder. Mrs. Krishnamurthy had already picked up her two suitcases and stood in line for Customs clearance. A Customs officer, an elderly gentleman, clad in khaki uniform, felt sorry for her with the child…<\/p>\n