This story was in my mind for long time. But the mood and schedule delayed it. So you might find this story a bit patchy and disjointed.
Image Courtesy: Mayur Pathak
Ashi was finding it difficult to pace herself amongst the heavy crowd in front of her. It was 6:20 already and she had to get to the Worli bus stop in the next 5 minutes. On any other day, she would be sitting in the bus by now. But the conversation with Neil took that little extra time. Neil was her ex. colleague and supposedly a good friend. But today he made no attempt in hiding what he felt about Ashi.
“You are a vampire Ashi…” He had said. “You scare people away, do you know that?” … “Come out of that shell or you will never find a boy friend.”…
“But I dont want to find a boy friend!” retaliated Ashi.
“Keep telling that to yourself you gloomy face. You make others sad. And that gives others with no choice but to desert you.” …
“Shut up Neil!” …
“That is true Ashi. You either need to cheer up or get lost.”
“You get lost Neil!”
An average looking, shy and extremely modest girl, Ashi was some one who could go unnoticed even in a sparse crowd. With no fancy family background to back her, she was one of those who were amongst the first ones to hide in the crowd. And the fact was being evidenced by the way the people were shoving and moving in front of her. Not paying any heed to her urgency. She had a bus to catch, number 70Exp from Worli to Mira Road (E)… or from office to home. Most of the people who stayed at far off places preferred to travel by train. But she preferred a bus for the obvious reason… the crowd. And since she was late today, she had lost out on a seat. The bus was already full and ready to leave. Although there was a burly looking man sitting on a ‘ladies’ seat, she neither had the courage or the willingness to ask him to get up. She was just too tired and too much within self to ask him to get up.
“Can you get up? Please allow ladies to sit on the seats reserved for them.” A voice from behind broke her attention. “Basa Madam… have a seat. Aaj late?” The man asked while gesturing her to sit.
“Sorry?” Ashi was a bit baffled both at getting a seat and at the conductor of the bus asking her why she was late today. It was strange for him to ask and to recognise her as well. “Yeah… a bit late. Lot of work in the bank… by the way thanks.”
“Oh dont worry, I just gave you your seat.” He said as the bus chugged from the Nehru Planetarium bus stop.
It was indeed strange for Ashi to get recognised by a stranger. She had been travelling on this route for over an year and by this bus since the day it started. But never did she remember the face of any conductor or even a fellow passenger. It was no surprise since she got a similar treatment from others as well. Had Neil been here, she thought. So what if he was a conductor, some one… at least some one remembered her face.
The conductor got busy managing the passenger tickets and stops as the bus made its way on the approach road of the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Ashi gave a passing look to the guy who just recognised her, a skinny young boy with wheatish complexion and average but cheerful looks. She was surprised by his agility and responsiveness despite the fact that he must have put a hard day’s work, all standing in that bus filled to the brim. She glanced at the setting sun as the bus made its way to the sea link. It was early June and the sun was making its way back to the depot. The whole skyline on the Arabian sea was painted Orange. The shiny, simmering sun was making its presence felt even on the glass of the air conditioned bus… and then on to Ashi’s face. It was twilight, the time she loved most. Since her childhood, she always waited for this time in the rainy season, when the sunlight turned golden. She believed it brought her good luck. She glanced back at the conductor as the bus now pass through the Bandra reclamation area. He was still busy manning the crowd, issuing tickets, politely returning the 100/500 rupee notes and glancing back at her once in a while. She wondered if it was his chivalry or was it the good luck twilight brought to her. Whatever it was, it sure kept her busy during the rest of the one and half hour journey to Dahisar Check Naka.
The bus was now sparsely populated and well lit as the darkness had fallen outside. Its destination was now near. Between the songs on the listless radio channels, innumerable people getting in and out of the bus, thousands of vehicles battling for survival on the western express highways and the occasional glances by a man now recognisable, Ashi had had a good journey tonight. Although the conductor never spoke to her again, Ashi was beginning to get a bit nervous as her stop neared. There have been many men she had thought about and many she dreamt about. She wrote off many on her own and the rest never ever paid any heed to her presence. She was not used to attention by a stranger. And that is what made her nervous. As the golden nest bus stop approached, she wondered if the conductor will say some thing to her. Sadly, he didn’t!
Drizzle had already started as Ashi made her way out of the bus. As the water drops started piercing every part of her body, she watched the bus move away from her. She stood there as the blinking orange light from the bus’s right indicator faded. It reminded of the twilight some time back. Did it not bring her any luck? Oh he was just a conductor… she thought. Why should I be worried about some passing guy who gives away tickets in the bus? And she started her routine walk back to her apartment, completely forgetting the falling rain drops who were trying to remind her of the umbrella in her back pack.
To be continued…
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