The Journey

There is nothing special about this short journey. i.e. nothing that may interest you as a reader. To experience it, you have to take this journey one day, at the set time, or you may miss all the fun. I undertake this journey everyday, i.e. except Saturdays and Sundays, and so do lots of other people. It is the bus route that takes me from Madivala to my destination every evening. I board the bus at around 17:45 hrs I.S.T. and reach around half an hour later. The reason that I am writing this blog is to tell everyone interested, the types of people I encounter en route.
Like I told before, it always is an evening bus, and hence, generally overcrowded. Lots of people board at every stop, and so few get down. So, it becomes even more crowded. Since it is a crowd of workers returning home after a hard day at work, the bus smells of all kinds of things. There is someone, taking home a gajra for his beloved wife, and there is someone dead drunk after spending his minimum wage, buying local liquor at maximum retail price, and paying even more than that sometimes, if he goes for high quality. Then, there is the pervasive smell of sweat. And, if by chance I encounter a mechanic, getting back from the city, with some essential piece of equipment, being carried in a polythene, I get the sweet smell of grease and diesel. I really love that smell. There are always people eyeballing that seat which may get empty at the next stop, and I am a part of this group, whenever I dont get a seat at the beginning itself as I usually am tired by the time I end this journey and reach home. But then I think of all those people who travel with me, Of their hard work, and back breaking schedule, and happily walk towards home from my bus stop..