Imagine this: you’re at a railway station, and you have finally got your hands on the samosas you were craving. You are all set to pay for the samosa using your UPI but just as you reach for your phone to use your digital payment app, disaster strikes. The payment doesn’t go through. The train starts to move. Panic follows.
In real life, this exact scenario played out on October 17 at Jabalpur railway station when a passenger’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction failed as his train was leaving. The samosa vendor, clearly not interested in a ‘let’s sort this out later’ attitude, grabbed the passenger by his collar and demanded payment. With no time for apps to refresh, the passenger took off his smartwatch and handed it over – yes, you read that right. A smartwatch traded for samosas. The vendor finally let him sprint onto his train, watch surrendered.
Now, you might think this is the setup for a joke about the barter system making a comeback. And you’re not wrong. But there’s a serious undercurrent here. One, it shows how even micro-transactions can turn into mini-crises when technology misbehaves. Two, it’s a reminder: when a train schedule and a snack craving are both in motion, payment glitches aren’t an option, they’re a countdown. And if you want to avoid a scuffle and keep your smartwatch on your wrist, make sure you keep some cash in your pocket.
The incident has sparked conversation. Social media reacted with a mix of amusement and dismay, calling it both ‘a symbol of our digital vulnerabilities’ and ‘modern India’s oddest exchange rate: one smartwatch equals two samosas.’ Railway authorities stepped in, identifying the vendor and filed a case against him for disorderly conduct. The vendor has also been warned against repeating this misbehaviour.