The Tricks

Picture this .

You are trying out BMTC. First day you get on the bus and approach the conductor for a ticket. You hand him a 10/- note. He smiles and hands you back 5/-. Taken aback at this civil gesture you happily take the 5/- and alight at your designated stop.

Conductor-1 You-0.

The ticket costs 8/-. He took 5/- from you and did not issue a ticket. High risks result in higher gains. But in this case the risks are yours and the gain is all his.

Next day, wisened by the past experiences, you ask him for a ticket (not caring for the smile). He issues you a ticket but does not give the change of 2/-. That amount is written at the back of the ticket for which you may approach him towards the end of the journey. You accept this as a genuine problem, after all everyone faces the problem of loose change. You later get down at your stop having had forgotten about the pending transaction.

Conductor-2 You-0.

The gain was his, there were no risks, but the loss of 2/- was all yours.

Third day, you remember to collect the change and hand the conductor the ticket with 2/- scrawled at the back. Defeated, he hands you the change. You'd think you won. Right?

No. You did not ask the conductor to return the ticket. He is going to reissue the same and start the game all over.

Conductor-3 You-0.

The loss was BMTC's and the gain entirely his.

Thinking why you fared badly? You are doing this for the first time, but the conductor is probably doing it for the 10th time(on that day).