 |
| Add caption |
Since it was a long weekend, I was so lazy to get up and to get ready for my college. Apparently, I have no other go other than getting ready, because I had important classes and works to be done in the campus. As usual, I have finished my works and started up for my college very late.
It is a well aware fact about Chennai, how punctual are our MTC buses and how good is our traffic. Since, I was late; I got an auto from my bus stop since I stay about 3 kms. away from the main bus stop where I will get my bus frequently. So, I managed to get an auto between the huge crowd, cursing myself for being late and spending 10 rs. in the place of 3rs. Once again, it is a herculean task to get my concern bus from the bus stop amidst of the huge crowd of people waiting for the same bus to arrive. It wasn’t a new thing for me, to see such a big crowd standing in that stop and to wait for the bus. I’ve always find it’s fascinating to observe people around me. Day by day, we see new people coming in and taking the bus and also the old people like me who are accustomed to the bus stop. Although, we don’t know each other well but a smiling at them as a note of recognition makes a big difference.
Amidst the tension, I didn’t fail to observe the people around me. Looking at the familiar faces and nodding and inspecting the new faces, I stood there like a person who seeks some mystical truth of life. People were too busy with their handy –the innovation of the 21st Century!! A visible pavement to the “torture”!! I was wondering, how these people could talk for hours in the mobile. I was standing there for more than 20 minutes, a woman standing beside was there talking in her mobile since I have come, wondering to whom she is talking so seriously and so curious when she would put down her phone. Because, as far, all I could see was the strangest expressions on her face. I was utterly irritated and lost patience. And almost I spent my 30minutes standing there, observing the ridiculous and weird expressions and faces of the people around me.
At the verge of my frustration, finally, my bus was arrived. But this time, I was wondering about different thing, yes! How am I going to get inside the bus??!! Thinking, I wish I’d be a Jumper, and I managed to get in to the bus. Among the pool of men, I swimmed and reach so-called “ladies side” in the bus. The conductor was yelling at the people to get inside and to get the tickets in his very famous “Madras Language”. I passed on my money and bought the mangled, crumbled ticket for my destination. The bus was very crammy to stand; I was cursing myself for being late once again and miffing me for skipping a class and swearing that I’d never be late from tomorrow. (Though, I know that is never going to happen: P) at the same time, I was elated that somehow I reach my college in another 20 minutes time. The bus stopped at the next stop, where 1/3rd of people gushed out of the bus, I was happy to see the picture but next moment more than 1/3rd of people got in and filled the bus in a moment. Woof!!
As I was standing, noticing the people getting in and out, I saw a man helped a visually-challenged guy to get in to my bus. I couldn’t control my smile at the man who helped the guy, thinking there are few good people lives in the country middle of this corrupted, fake politicians and people. The guy was so young, pitying for his disability and thanking god for creating me as a full human, I saw the guy struggling to get to the middle of the bus. The bus was too crowded, no space to move an inch too. The guy was very much struggling to reach the inside, the moment I saw this scene, the honour I had for the guy who helped him to board the bus has vaporized. I started to curse the man who helped him to land up in this worst situation. Between, the crowded pushed him inside in the name of helping. The guy managed himself and got a position to stand amongst the crowd. Yet another awful hour was waiting for me to spend—the peak hour traffic!! The drivers must undergo special training to drive in the Chennai traffic!! The bus was literally crawling between the pools of other vehicles. Inside the bus everyone was growing restless, passengers started to hush, curse, and scold the authorities and the traffic. Some of the brilliant minds started giving suggestion for the conductor and the Transportation Authority to run more buses and how to control the traffic and so on. Looking at the funny talks and weird ideas I smiled myself, thinking, “this why India is still a developing country”!!
In this due moment, I heard a hiss and strange noise. I turned up and looked at the direction of the sound; it was a girl of my same age who was standing behind—almost in a jagged manner where I can see her easily. I noticed her face, which showed multiple reactions and expression in single moment, next instant I found out the reason for her craziest expression. Yes, it was the “blind guy”, because of frequent brakes, the guy happened to hit the girl many times. That’s the reason for the twist on her face. I got irritated with the girl’s reactions, standing helpless to react for her reactions. If that guy knows, if he is standing close to a girl he wouldn’t have hit her or if he had eyes, he wouldn’t have subjected to this unwanted and awkward hisses and hushes. As a moment’s solution, I told the girl to stand in my place so that I can tolerate with the guy. I was totally annoyed and felt very bad for the guy, at the same time I was in the peak of anger with everyone on the bus including myself. Almost all in the bus who saw him while getting in knew that he is blind, but none cared to offer him seat to sit; none cared even to treat him well though they are good with all features. I was angry on me, because of my disability that I couldn’t help the guy who is standing beside me innocently without knowing what is happening around him. He had a constant smile on his face, the people around him treats and thinks him as an annoying object. But the guy, who cannot see the expression of the people who hates him and shows face on him, whatever they do; in return he is giving a smile as a gift. That moment I started adoring his disability and it gave me strength, zest and a confidence. If I was sitting, I would have offered him to sit; neither I can ask anyone to offer seat for him. I was very sad and scolding my incapability, suddenly a voice told him to sit in the chair. Finally, there is a good heart alive, I was happy that he got the seat but I couldn’t see the person who offered the seat to him. Then this person emerged from the crowd majestically, a man about 80 years old!! When I saw him it was like someone slapped me on my face. An old man, irrespective of his fragility he offered seat, but we?? Who are we??? Humans?? Yes, Humans with Heartless, Merciless, Pitiless and Disgraceful souls!! I was ashamed of myself that I couldn’t help the guy. But I could thank the elderly person for his greatness. I said thanks to him, he just said, “idhula enna ma irrukku? (A way of modest reply in Tamil) and he gave me a graceful smile. I was regretting for my incapability but his graceful smile and modest reply melted my repentance and gave me a peace for saying him thanks.
Oh my God! I totally forgot my tension in this mess. Finally, the traffic was cleared up and I reached my college. I was late again for the next class as well. I missed my second hour class and lost my attendance. But, this didn’t bother me much for the rest of my day, since my mind was pondering over the incident which happened few hours ago!!
P.S. This incident happened some one month ago. But, I just got right moment to share this with u all!! J
