After a month or so I came to know about a job through my sister. And it sounded lucrative......also (just) because of the name. This was going to be my first interview ever, and if I got the job - my first job ever, and quite a few 'firsts'!
Eventually, I did get the job and confidently faced all the 'firsts'. My office is really far from my place. I travelled in an auto for two days which cost me a bomb!! And then I had to figure out how to commute to office in the cheapest way possible. And then came the time when there was no other way but to travel in buses. The city runs on buses! I was happy that the city has daily Volvo buses so that I could travel with comfort. The thing I (and I guess anybody) hate most about buses is that they are dirty! To the core!! And that was the reason I was happy that Volvo buses will be much better. But my happiness was short-lived since there were (and are) no direct Volvo buses to my office.
After all the hunt for buses - direct or not - I finally got used to them, still being a bit hesitant. Being a positive person, I had to find out something good, something that keeps me going to the buses!! Ofcourse I have my book with me to read in the bus....the best way to kill time (45 mins. to 90 mins.!!!). But that's only in the morning. When I am coming home in the evening, I am unable to take out my book. I tend to keep looking out of the window......watching and passing the world go by in such speed and desperation as if every given day everybody has a train to catch!! So desperate that they keep honking horns till the traffic is cleared (thinking that it got cleared because of their honking). Sometimes the horns get on my nerves and I feel like yelling at the person, who is indicating that his vehicle HAS a horn!
Anyways, the point being killing time in the bus.... I come across so many kinds of people..... And it is kind of fun! It's interesting to see what they do to kill their time. Some just chat, those who are alone tend to talk over the phone (better way to get back to your near and dear ones). The amazing part being that some talk over the phone while standing!! How do you do that! And it's funny to see them swing alongwith the bus..... Some read a book, or a paper......some just look out of the window....wondering how the city grew like this.....
I am happy to know that humanity still exists in this world.....yes I observed it in the bus. When I just started to take the buses, I saw a sign in a bus that said "Give preference to Elders and Ladies". And I never saw that sign again! In any bus I took after that! Given the fact that there is a separate section for ladies and gents in the buses......many a times I come across people offering their own seats to elderly people.....and the elderly being kind enough to give a smile.....that's all one needs to feel good all through the day.... I came across such times too, but when I would get ready to offer a seat, that person would get a seat by someone else! And I would be happy that atleast someone did that....
Very few days I am cranky or just feel low.....and the crowd in the buses just adds to it! At the end of the day.....I am a witness to such incidents.....and I smile thinking there are so many reasons to smile.....as trivial as these......and now my rides have become something very interesting, funny and charming (yes, in their own way).......
