A well-placed elbow into the rib of the person next to her helped Asha get a foothold onto the bus. Well, it also fetched her some choice words that were better left unsaid. Asha pushed aside the fleeting guilt as the woman who bore the brunt of her jab was left behind.
The bus crawled out of the bus stop perilously leaning towards the left but then after waiting close to half-an-hour, Asha wouldn’t want to risk waiting for the next bus.
The powers-to-be in the transportation world of Bangalore, seemed to be working under some peculiar system. For the better part of an hour, she saw what seemed to be four-dozen buses plying on the Vidyaranyapura and Yelahanka route, while a step motherly treatment was meted out to the Kodigehalli-Thindlu route! Multiple letters and complaints apparently fell in between the concrete cracks and lost forever.
It was with little wonder that she raced towards the bus, her youth and yoga helping her overtake a few, jab a few more and stomp on others feet, to come first like the very first Jalebi race that she had apparently won when she as in her first year of school.
Hanging on for her dear life, an arm wrapped around the rod, she managed to get her bus pass out to show to the much-harried conductor. Getting a seat in a bus was like playing musical chairs on a daily basis. When the music stopped aka the bus approached a stop, it would be anybody’s guess who gets off the bus. It was with alacrity and a few more jabs that Asha managed to find herself a seat though for the life of her, she could not stop wondering why anyone would take this over-crowded bus when there were a million buses she could take for she got off a couple of stops away en route! People were indeed funny that way. She was happy that there weren’t any pregnant women or older women in her vicinity for her conscious to smote her and make her give way to them. Despite the jabs, she was a kind girl. Don’t get her wrong. It was just that she spent the better part of the day standing as a part of her punishment for non-completion of her notes. She should have known better being as it is in the dreaded XII grade where teachers and parents had a collective meltdown more than the children who were studying did.
The over-crowded bus groaned its way through the famed Bangalore traffic and just as Asha was about to doze off, Murphy’s law came to play- If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.
Seated next to her, the middle-aged woman was on her mobile phone to someone called Shanti and by the time she disembarked, she knew all about her jobless husband, her mother-in-law who was a dead weight and about finances, recipes and her son who could do no wrong!
Disembarking from the bus, Asha crossed the street only to realize that she was trailing the woman who she had jabbed when she boarded the bus.
Looking at her bag laden with some shopping, she felt herself go green with envy. From the looks of it, the bus that came after hers had somewhere down the line overtook hers and breezed its way to the destination.
She sighed. Life like people were like that only!
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.
The above was published in the very reputed Chai Copy run by Manipal University ( MCH Literary Journal) students for their call for ‘Horn Ok Please’. https://issuu.com/chaicopy/docs/horkokplease_final_2024
Do read their copy.
12 comments
From the elbow nudges to the overheard phone conversations, it reminded me of my own chaotic commutes. I loved how you wove in that moment of envy when Asha spots the woman she jostled earlier, bag in hand, looking all put together. It’s a perfect snapshot of how life often feels like a series of small, unnoticed moments that somehow come full circle.
This brings memories of bus rides back . This is something we do very rarely now because of the private transports available. This astute observation of people and happenings around felt so lively.
I have never ridden a bus to commute, but I am sure it would be just like you described. The elbow jab is common even in any crowd in India. The overhearing of her co-passenger’s life is so well articulated. A simple tale told with a simple tone but is endearing.
Just read your slice-of-life piece, and it’s a delightful whirlwind! From Asha’s elbows to the bus that defies all logic, you’ve captured the chaos of Bangalore’s public transport with such vivid flair. It’s a perfect snapshot of the daily hustle!!
What a delightful read, Chandrika. This slice-of-life piece captures the everyday hustle of Bangalore’s public transport (or any Indian metro city for that matter) with such vivid detail. I found it both relatable and entertaining
Ah, this post brought back memories of packed bus and train rides. Poor Asha, here the law that the other line moves faster than yours stands true for the other bus moves faster than yours too!
This slice-of-life beautifully captures Bangalore’s chaotic charm through Asha’s relatable, witty perspective. The narrative’s humor, vivid imagery, and keen observation of everyday quirks make it engaging, lively, and utterly authentic.
This is such a delightful read. The way the regular commute of Bangalore is described reminded me of the times I used to live there.
If I get time ever in my life and If I get chance too… I can write a whole book based on the experiences of my Bus rides… No not the Volvo ones… the typical sarkari bus. I experienced massively bus rides in Durgapur, Kolkata, Varanasi, Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and even in few cases long distance bus too. I saw many stories developing inside the bus and what we call is bus molestation … experienced that too. I have so many slice of life with Bus Ride. Loved your post… reminded me of my old bus rides.
A slice of life indeed! Your descriptive writing made me feel like I was part of the scene. Joyful read!
The delicate detailing in this blog is described so well. Your blog always stays back with me!
I completed my 6 years of medicine riding on DTC bus, overpacked and crazy. Your story brought back my college memories.