Three Years Back …
Monday mornings would always be a
terror for me and my fellow bus commuters. I used to leave home at nine o'clock in the morning and wait
for the "BEST" bus leaving for my college. How ironical it always
used to sound ! "BEST" bus. I'm sure the authorities chose such an
acronym just to mock the plight suffered by the passengers in their buses.
The bus stop was adjacent to a tree
with a large canopy, in the middle of nowhere. It almost seemed like an urban
oasis at times where people huddled underneath with just enough room to make
sure not even a single sun beam fell on them. I could nearly recollect each and
every person by face though every Monday though there always used to be one or
two additions or deductions from the group. Nonetheless, this group always
looked anxious to hop onto the bus meant for their destination.
Everyone had a different place to go, a different route and a different dream. But, underneath the oasis, everyone were equal. Many times, the wait grew long and gruelling, with the most eager of the lot peering into the distance, trying to make out the number of the incoming bus.
Everyone had a different place to go, a different route and a different dream. But, underneath the oasis, everyone were equal. Many times, the wait grew long and gruelling, with the most eager of the lot peering into the distance, trying to make out the number of the incoming bus.
The wait would generally come to an unceremonious end with people pushing and shouting at each
other to get inside the bus. Often, I could hear cries of foul play when the push would transform
into a shove. Sometimes (or most of the times), the bus conductor would get a
good scolding from an elderly gentleman, a regular at the stop.
How do
you make sure people do not push each other while they enter the bus ?
This was the burning question in the newspapers during those days. Soon, BEST
came up with an answer. BEST would phase out the old buses with newer buses
having a more spacious entry into the inside. The Seating Capacity remained
nearly the same. This turned out to be their undoing.
Presently ….
As you would expect, the pushing still
continues and the conductor still gets the scolding ! The problem ? BEST missed
out on a crucial point. The commuter's nightmare cannot be only solved by having wider and more spacious doors. The permanent solution can only be an increase
in the number of buses on each route. After all, nobody wants to reach
late.
< While I wait for more buses to arrive at the
bus stop, feel free to carry on with your debate on the entrance exam ! >
