Bus Tales

       How often have you travelled in a bus.. how has your journey been ? Ever wondered what happens when Murphy’s law works in full force when you want a peaceful bus journey ? Continue reading..

August 2010 :

       We were due to release our project for UAT and as would be expected, we were lagging behind schedule. My PL messaged me that evening and asked me to come early the next day, by 10 AM. That was the biggest favour he has ever asked. I took it as a personal challenge and decided to battle out the early morning blues to reach office at ten.

       I woke up at 8 Am, got ready, had breakfast and reached Thiruvanmayur bus stand at 9.20 Am. (My Office is at Royapettah -WCB and it takes half an hour to reach there by bus). After roaming in the bus stand for ten minutes, I found two buses (No.A1) waiting. As I am right handed, I got into the bus waiting in the right hand side.

9.40 AM:

         The driver got in and started the bus. I gave a sigh of relief and a sarcastic look at the passengers in the next bus. He drove it for a meter’s distance, parked it, got down and left.

9.45 AM:

           The bus next to mine started. Some of the passengers from my bus got down and boarded the other bus. I smiled at their act and waited patiently.

9.50 Am:

            I was staring at my mobile, when there was a sudden fuss in the bus. Before I could realize what was happening, some of the passengers got down and boarded another ‘A1’, which apparently came from nowhere. I wanted to get down, but then changed my mind as that bus was fully occupied.

10:00 Am

            I was still sitting in the same bus, when another ‘A1’, parked near my bus, started. Since I didn’t own the bus I was sitting in, I got down immediately, ran to that bus and got in to see all seats being occupied, except the last one. Having no other go, I sat in that seat.

10.05:

            The bus reached Adyar, when a lady got in and asked me to get up.

            “What ?” I asked as if I didn’t hear her clearly.

            “Ladies seat man, get up!”

            “But I.. no seat.. I cant.. I”

            “Get up!”

            “Okay!” I gave a sheepish smile and got up. She sat there.

            “Ladies seat!”I always wonder why this happens to men. I haven’t seen any man asking a lady sitting in the gents’ side to get up. Now wait a minute! Do gents have a seat (side) for them in the bus?

I looked at the left hand side of the bus it was written as, “Magalir” (Women)

Then I saw above the last seat, “Magalir” again !!

I eagerly looked at the right side wanting to see “Aangal”(Men) written. I searched for long and found only… “Thirudargal Jaakirathai” (Beware Of Thieves)

What the hell ?

I began to curse whoever made this partition.

Every bus tends to move at its slowest speed only when you are being crushed in the crowd. It was like a ride in a bullock cart. I was pushed and squeezed within whatever small space was available in the bus.

Again, its an unwritten law that, when you are standing, everyone seated will be getting down at your stop or after your stop. Just as I was thinking of all these, one savior sitting near me, got up from his seat.

Much relieved, I pushed myself hard to squeeze and get through and sat in his place. I took a breath of relief and looked outside the window… to see my stop.

I wanted to cry, wanted to sit in that seat and travel as far as the bus goes.

But then consoling myself, I got down in my stop. After two minutes I got an auto and reached office by eleven.

“Hi Dani, guess you came early today.. even by 11.40 AM” my PL quipped.

I gave a sheepish smile.