How Decoding Facial Expression can save you! A personal experience.
Kanan Tandi
Psychotherapist & Behavioral Consultant for C-Suite | Body Language & Trauma Healing Expert | Founder, Body Speaks Better & Cognicue | Speaker & Media Contributor
This is a personal experience. I am invited for a guest lecture to SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai. For that, I had to take the train yesterday, i.e 29th May 2017 from Goa. The ticket was booked by an agent and had a spelling mistake in my name . Instead of KANAN TANDI, it was KANAK TANDI.
Like a typical Indian, my only hope was Google, from where I got know that this is a minor spelling mistake and it would be alright. Soon after I boarded the train, I went to the TTE to clarify the same. His expression told me that it was okay, but he chose to say, that I had to pay fine and I should wait. After checking the tickets of all of the passengers in the coach, he came to me and asked the problem again. He checked my ID proof and marked my name with a tick like they usually do, but he told me, I have to pay him extra.
His Body Language & Expressions were not genuine at all and he said he would come back later to talk more about it, which he did, when I was fast asleep. I had a hunch that his intention was not good, so I kept the passage light on. He came at 11, when every other passenger was sleeping. He tried waking me up with low voice. I was awake by then, but then pretended to be in sound sleep. Then he knocked at the berth, near my head and I reacted by shouting as if I am shocked by some sudden event. I shouted, " who is this, who are you" The TTE was not in his uniform, he tried calming me down by saying, "ID proof leke baahar aao ( come out with your ID proof)", I shouted more by saying," who are you, what are you saying? with that noise, people started switching on their lights, and the TTE was embarrassed and left by saying, "I came to tell you, You can sleep here". Well, duh!!
It was really a horrifying experience, but the knowledge of decoding the facial expression and Body Language and a little presence of mind saved me from a more horrifying event. Requesting all the girls and ladies, who face an event like this, don't be embarrassed to make some noise.