It is 8:00 in the morning and a Q of people waiting for their dear 127 which now has become a *once in a while service* become audience suddenly to a group of students running for a bus like it is the only one on the planet right now . Well it certainly reminded me of watching Jallikattu on TV. Students manage to catch a piece of the bus, force them in and run towards the empty seats to catch a seat for them and their pals . Books,Bags,Newspapers and all kinds of accessories become tokens to reserve a seat.
the line
and the frenzy
Shift the scene to any place in Hyderabad it is the same. If it is students at some place there are construction workers, office goers and every one running for a bus just to have a seat so that they can sit through their journey . Well why do they risk their bodies (no one is stupid enough to risk lives) just for a seat cant they just get in and stand ? One of the reasons for this desperation may be the increasing travelling times. Who does want to stand through a 45 - 90 minute ride , that too in a poor bus which forces its way through heavy traffic with 100+ people in it . It is extremely uncomfortable for one to stand in a moving box with such congestion leave alone enjoying the ride, you will pray god to just make sure you don't loose your *valuables* while you are constantly massaged from all the sides. Soon you gain the confidence of standing with out catching any support and if you decide to be a pro, you will learn dozing off while standing. All this discomfort becomes the new comfort for many unlucky who missed the chance to catch a seat.
While the people standing keep their eyes on potential humans to get off the bus so that they can occupy their seats, the sitting athletes who have won their seats just a while back jump in to discussions which mostly are political , conductor pushes though the heavy rush to ask for a ticket only to be disappointed by the fact that most of these athletes hold a pass. A pass which most of them think is a key to yell anything on the poor conductor who struggles to give tickets and update the sr. While all of this is happening it is better to indulge your self in to the pumping music being played out through china phones by our very own brothers from north.
Well getting back to the discussions, the most popular and the ones I love are the ones when the conductors decide enough is enough and try getting people on the foot board in to the the bus , The heroes on the foot board just love being there enjoying the fresh air, quickly this converts in to a beautiful exchange of words between the conductor and people standing. It is obvious that the conductor gets the support of the sitting lot and most of the times he may be left alone too . Some of them remain adamant and do not let the bus move until their word is accepted most of them concede. So as the fight has now ended our beloved athletes get back to the discussion on why public transport is worse and start day dreaming of ending traffic woes once the metro is functional.
If all of the above happenings are not enough to spice up your journey, the buses cease to move at epic locations. They seem to say " dude, enough! I cant move any more, will you just find any other way out . thank you (with a smiley) " . Of the most epic locations I have ever seen were half way through U turn at rajeev chowk . with the broken wind shield and cruel smile on the grill, the shitty marcopolo says "yeah ! i have blocked the road just find a way out " . The poor drivers make their own attempts to re start and move it to a safe place before the traffic police comes and tows away the bus and all of them who have just taken a ticket jump on the conductor to get a sign and wave at every other coming bus cursing their fate. The sitting lot look as if they have been stripped off an Olympic medal.
post being drafted. please be patient and do come back for the completed post in a few days !
thank you
