Today, Chennai was treated to another one of those welcome but short lived showers which help cool this giant microwave-of-a-city a wee bit. Unfortunately though, the rain that seems to cool everything ended up heating up my temper. Here's what happened...
As those who have read this post of mine will know, I take a two leg journey back home from the office.
The sudden rain had almost drenched every body at the bus stop and everyone was eager to get into a bus to get away from the rain. Just as I boarded the bus home from the bus stop, a guy with a salt 'n pepper beard jostled for entry into the already crowded bus ahead of me. Polite guy that Scipio is know to be , I let him enter the bus before me.
So here is the situation...
Me - Step 1 of the bus foot-board
Mr. PepperBeard - Step 2 of the foot-board.
Needless to say, I was getting further drenched in the rain, so I requested him to move further up the bus so that I could do the same too. He grumbles that he has to get down at the next stop and so does not want to move in. So I ask him to move aside so that at least I could get into the bus, something that he tries to do grudgingly. I had a laptop with me which was making it rather it cumbersome for me to move around, so I obviously find it a little difficult to get past him... which in turn makes him grumble further. I was starting to get pissed off a bit myself. Alright buddy! Let me get the facts right here...
1. You rudely jostled past me.
2. You refuse to move in so that you could get down at the next stop.
3. You don't care about buying a ticket either.
In spite of all this it is me who ended up irritating you???
He left the bus (and hopefully my life too) at the next stop, but there was further more to come...
It would be an understatement to say that the bus was crowded. Tightly packed would be a better description of the situation. I had entered the front end of the bus and there was no way I could have moved all the way down the bus to get the ticket. So as is the unwritten rule of the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation, I decided to pass the money out through the people in the bus to the conductor. This should not be much of an issue to anybody (I have done it a zillion times myself), but I believe that it was as hazardous a task to the purdah clad ladies standing next to me as moving nuclear waste bare handed. They did not just refuse the help point blank but started murmuring something about men being this-and-that.
I wanted to say, "Err... Who the hell do you think you are anyway?", but decide against my own will to shut up.
I turn towards another man standing next to me hoping he would pass on the money towards the bus conductor but he all that he does is say, "Erangi poi vaangu!" (Get down from the bus and enter via the other entrance and buy the ticket).
Hmm...
Now why didn't I think of that delightfully brilliant idea?
Oh, I know! Coz the bus is moving and there are heavy showers outside!
All this while the conductor was calling out for everyone to buy their tickets from his cosy corner in the bus. Pray tell how I do it? I should maybe wire the gross amount of Rs.2 to your account via the internet?
As I was contemplating what to do, the stop at which I had to alight arrived and needless to say I had to get down and ended up not buying a ticket. I wonder what I did to deserve this kind of treatment today. Or maybe its not me. Maybe Chennaiites are pissed off with Mumbai being awarded the title of "Rudest City". Something that we wanted for ourselves.
I don't completely blame the people in the bus for my inability to buy a ticket but I have to say that they did play a part in it. So should I not feel guilty about not buying the ticket? After all, Mr. PepperBeard didn't right? I can never come to terms with arguments that some people make in the lines of "He did it, right? So why shouldn't I?". I think this logic is just crap.
They say, "Be a Roman in Rome" but I would rather that, "Be a Christian in Rome" if being Christian is the right thing to do. What say you???
7 comments:
Since your intention was honest, it is ok once in a while .But do not make this a habit.:) :0)
Seems Chennai buses always give you a hard time. And it indeed was a bad evening for you.
I don't see anything wrong in not being able to buy the ticket in those circumstances.
The onus of the bus conductor is not only to sell the tickets but also to make it comfortable for them. In Delhi as well, the conductor sits at one place. But in Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and also in Trivandrum they move about, making it easier.
Mr PepperBeard is 'so' typical.
Machi - time u got ur vehicle da. Or atleast take an auto. Travelling in the bus is itself a close-to-impossible task and u do that with that lappie around. Never in my short life of 24 yrs have i ever got out of a bus with a good mood.
@Sharda - Thanks! Ok. I promise not to make this a habit. Sachchi :)
@GS - Me and Chennai buses are definitely not made for each other. :)
Yes, this issue is not present in some of the other cities. Let me add Coimbatore to that list. Over there, each bus has two conductors so that people don't have to strain themselves to buy a ticket
@Iday - Yeah dude... waiting for the Pulsar DTS-fi to release so that I could do a 1-Up on ya. :D
Looks like you have the best luck with PTC buses. I have never much travelled in a PTC bus, so wouldn't be right to comment. But I think time is ripe for you to purchase a bike or car! :)
Major issues with Buses,eh ?:) .. Chill .. All in the game ..
Very nice site!
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