Red Bus Adventures

Yeah… I have got back to my routine of traveling by Volvo bus, which I call “The Red Bus” :) Unlike an ordinary bus, ‘my red bus’ is more peaceful and entertaining. And believe me, it is the fastest way to get to your destination.

While in the bus, I love to observe people – people of different sizes, different odors, different make up, different quirk and different personalities. If I am not reading a book or newspaper, I gaze at other passengers, listening to their conversation (though I know it is not a good habit ;) and scrutinizing their body language.

Yesterday, it took more than an hour to get to office; but never did I realize that the bus was moving at a snail’s pace! My ears got sharpened by itself and were carefully recording all the whispers around me.

I couldn’t take my eyes off from the pretty girl who sat right in front of me. She wore a lovely blue salwar, whose dupatta was carelessly draped around her neck. It was very cute to see her play with her hair as she spoke on the phone, looking at a distance through the window. She was lost in her own world. Though the conversation was in Kannada, at times she used English words and phrases, which helped me, understand better. Most of the time she blushed, while she only said, “Uhhh…. Na! Na! Naaa…!!” Her mobile phone was almost in her mouth, as her tone and expressions kept changing. Looking at her face, I concluded that the person at the other end is either her fiancee or boy friend. I couldn’t hold back my laughter, when I heard her saying, “Early in the morning, what is wrong with you? I cannot give it now, cos I am in the bus.” Her face became cuter and her cheeks turned red. I figured out, “Hmm... naughty boy is demanding a kiss! But…are kisses usually denied in the morning?!!” ;)

The person who sat beside me was dressed in formals; a suffocating tie also was a part of his clothes. It was however, a comfort for my eyes to see the person who stood next to him in a cotton kurta. “A tie too.. in this scorching summer?”, I thought. “May be he is a medical representative!”, I gave myself a satisfactory answer. Isn't it amusing to watch each of us closely, who are forced to undress self-being and wear a mask of make belief? While taking my thought process to undefined heights, I saw this man take out his laptop. Oh My God… Why does a med-rep need a laptop, that too such a sexy, apple laptop? Though I was very curious to know what he is up to, I did not want to poke my nose into his business!

I heard this little boy ask the same question to his mother, for the nth time, “Mamma.. At what time will we reach Britto Uncle’s house?” His mother, who was immersed in Women’s Era magazine, without even looking at the boy’s face, kept repeating, “In a while betta…!!”  In fact, I wanted to intrupt and correct her, “Darling.. you will take ages to get there!”

I have observed that people speak in controlled volume while they converse in English; but loudly and excitedly in their native language. Does that mean English is meant to be spoken softly? ;) Or among Indians, is that a naturally cultivated habit? It is interesting to listen to Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Oriya, Coorgi, Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam together, though at times, I find it distracting if I am reading a book. 

To me, each face is a story teller, whom I encounter in a bus. There will be expressionless faces staring into air, teenagers smiling at themselves while listening to music on iPod, people cribbing about work, manager, friends, house-maid, children, celebrities, movies, country, traffic, politicians, food, health, and list of endless things goes on.. endlessly!

So, are you motivated to commute by “My Red Bus”?