The public bus station, red buses, a ride

A bus has just arrived at the bus station and swirled everything into a swift action. Not even when the arriving passengers have gotten down from the bus, the departing ones have already clogged near the door. It seems like an emergency situation. In a minute, the storm of dust has settled down. There is excitement among the people. The standalone hawkers have become active and are selling different products like - mineral water, sweet peanuts, pulses, corn, roasted potatoes, gutkha, and so on. People are pushing each other to find a seat on the bus. Until the time they are settled down, there will be a competition for seats. After that, all will be friends for the rest of the journey.

This is the public bus station. The red color buses are the non-AC buses. Their fare is lower than the AC buses. Also, these red machines would take more time to reach the destination as they are old and would stop at smaller stops in between. While sitting inside these buses, one would feel that every bit and part is singing and dancing with a humming khat khat pat pat sound.

People sit more proudly at the air-conditioned buses. They would tell this to their relatives. There would be curtains to block the sunshine at the windows. The seats could be inclined as per the comfort. Throughout the journey, people would either adjust the opening-closing cap of the AC, or would complain the driver that it is not cooling enough. There would also be differences of opinion as many plead to stop the AC altogether as it is too chilly! Needless, driver remain singly focused to drive while ignoring the diversity of opinions..

The red bus is now full. Everyone has bought a ticket for themselves. The driver would now start the machine and ride it over the street. In a while, it would hit the highway. In the bus station, there would again be a deaf silence, with people waiting for the next bus to arrive. They would sit near the ground. They would ask the fellow passengers, when would the next bus will arrive & that the government guy sitting inside the enquiry cabin is not responsive!

I have taken an AC bus ticket. We have settled down. A hawker has entered the bus while it is still standing in the bus station. He is selling pain-relieving balm. While he is describing the benefits in the local language, the aunty beside me has already taken out the money to buy it. As per her, she took one on the last ride and it helped her! Hawker sold more than 10 of it & got down the bus.

It's already half past the journey. An elder woman is sitting in the seat in front of me. Her seat is permanently inclined & it is already touching my knee! Uff! It's evening time. There is an open grassland before me. The sky is red-blue. A happy sun is melting down before a distant mountain... Away from the darkish aura of the urban skies, this melodious sunset made me feel contented.