Three to four days in a work week, i commute to my workplace in the infamous BMTC bus. If all of India took to blogging, complaints about the public transport system in any Indian city can easily translate to a billion blogs.
I dont want to add to that number. Besides, bus rides in the city can be fun. There is so much happening: noise, justling, pushing, pick-pocketing [yes :)], verbal duels. it's non-stop action.
Last friday evening i was returning home from work in the bus. The bus was mostly empty, and at the stop i got in another (very) old man boarded the same bus. I noticed he swayed like a see-saw while climbing the into the bus. Must be because of his age i thought to myself. Or maybe he was drunk. A little later i realized it was both.
As the harried conductor came by, the oldie thrust a one ruppe coin into his palm and calmly said 'Next Stop'. (any fool who has travelled by bus before knows what this means. Simple, take the money and i dont need a ticket) . Probably the conductor had a bad work day. "Ondu rupai? nin mava karkondhogothara ondu rupaige?" [My best effort at translation - For one rupee, do you think your bro-in-law will ferry you?]
Pat came the reply from the oldie. "illa, nan thaatha karkonduhoguthare"
Boy! the oldie just said - no, my grandpa will ferry me! that should be an interesting sight. Taken aback the conductor beat a hasty retreat.
The oldie did get down the next stop. But after holding up the bus for full 5mins (this man could barely stagger out). The really pissed conductor hurled a few mild 'dialects' at the old man.
A second later a barrage of the choiciest words. All from the oldie. I cant write them here, most of them reffered to the conductor's anatomy. (the oldie must have been a keen biology student at school!)
The rest of us in the bus caould not stop laughing for another 10mins.
