A day’s ride on the City Bus.

Travelling by bus is a great feeling, it gives me time to think and gives you a peaceful travel to work without having to pay attention to the crazy drivers and notorious traffic. This also reminds me of the days I used to go to School taking the bus. It was an hour long ride. I used to spend that time observing things around me. That’s what I do all the time.

The conductor who always shout ‘ticket ticket’ and scribble the change on back of the ticket.  He seldom offer you the change, unless you pester him every other minute.

A daily wage worker with his tools including a spade, boards. He places the tools under the seats. Takes out his cellphone and checks something.

The young lad with earphone squeezed into his ear blasting ‘94.3 Radio One’ on his cell phone. Everyone including the pedestrians on the road can hear the music.

The IT guy armed with his tool (read laptop) board the bus. The white earphones clearly says that he has an ipod. He nods his head at each beat.

The 60+ year old shows his id card to prove that he is a senior citizen. Quietly sits at an empty seat and pays the fare. He open the day’s edition of Times of India and starts reading.

Three college goers board the bus, laughter. Discussions in Kannada, english..laughter again.

A man in his late 20’s board the bus. He is wearing  a tie and neatly pressed clothes. Might be a salesman. Asks the conductor for a day pass.

“Change illa ” says conductor seeing the 100 Rs note that he extended. “iradu rupaiya kodey”. The salesman checks his shirt pocket for change.

The 40 year something old lady boards. She opens her purse, takes out a bunch of cash. She counts through the five hundreds, hundreds, fifties and finally hands a ten Rupee note to the conductor. “Majestic” She said.

She kept the rest of  the money ‘safe’ in her purse.

A shabbily dressed man walks in. He looks drunk. His breath angers the conductor. “At this time of the day?” The conductor might be thinking.

A young mother along with her kid board the bus, she scans the bus for a seat, finally found one at the centre. Made her talkative kid comfortable. Answered the kid’s curious questions every 5 mins.

A young female talking on her phone. She got down from the bus, crossed the street and boarded an auto. She talked on her cell all the way.

And then there is a silent guy sitting at the back, looking all around. That would be me.

I guess you would have seen one of these characters on any city bus.

Tags: City life, Life