Through the center of Lahore there was the new Indo-Pak train (Samjhauta Express) speeding along that runs between India and Pakistan.
In one compartment of the train there were four people. A beautiful vivacious young woman, an old matronly woman, a Pakistani soldier, and me, Banta Singh. Suddenly the train goes through a tunnel.
It is completely dark. Then there was the sound of a loud kiss and an equally powerful slap.
When the train exits the tunnel, the Pakistani soldier is holding the side of his face, and I was finding it difficult to hold my laughter.
The old matronly woman was thinking : “Now that’s a fine young woman, the Pakistani soldier tried to steal a kiss in the tunnel and the young lady slapped him one!”
The young woman was thinking : “Now that’s a strange Pakistani soldier, he’d rather kiss that old hag than me.”
The Pakistani soldier was thinking : “Now that’s a bloody smart Sardarji, he steals the kiss and I get slapped.”
And You know what me, Banta Singh was thinking : “Gee, Ain’t I smart? We go through the tunnel, I kiss the back of my hand and get away with slapping a Pakistani soldier.”