THE BUS STAND - Part I

It is one of the hot summer evening in chennai. In the suburb area little outside the city, mild warm breeze from the sea shore with a bit of salty taste trying to make an impression with a mixture of fresh sand smell mooted by the summer rain drops which showed up a while ago just for 10mins. Soft Sun rays trying to vanish by slowly hiding on the back of the big building opposite to the Bus Stand creating a genial evening atmosphere.

"Ennappa innum ooru bus kuda varala. Inda timeku 2 bus varanume..(why there is no bus yet, there should be atleast 2 buses coming at this time)", voice from the locale passengers talking each other while they are waiting for the bus..

Aakash stands in the crowded Bus stand one among 50 or odd people scattered along the sides and over the platform near it. A steel structure supported by 4 poles with no roof stands in th middle for no use. Its the peak rush hour and everyday it gets crowded like this one. Its very rare to see this bus stand empty during the rush hours.

There are people in groups talking about their work day and trying to kill their time while waiting for their right bus. Smell of the fresh frying masal vada and bhonda reaching the standby's, threatening them to buy it. Some couldn't control their taste buds, getting trapped by the taste bug and ended up buying it, giving a taste to their mouth standing next to the vada shop.

"Oil rombha adigama irrukupola, irrunthalum rombha nella irrukupa"(criticising that oil is heavy but it tastes good), locale talking to his friend munching his vada.

Group of school gals murmuring about their teachers and laughing at them. Few people couldn't tolerant the heat and humidity, taking a sip of rosemilk(type of drink made with rose essence and milk) in the Cool drink shop next to the stand. Some others are trying to find a place to sit as they been standing for long time. A little girl in her teared down dress with deserted look carried a plate in her hand, asking for some change from the standing crowd.

Aakash just slowly scans around the people randomly and watching each scene rolling before him, at sametime he is looking for her. He also just want to get back home after a long day of work.. He somehow managed to get a bus from his office to this bus stand. He usually try to hit the direct bus but for the last 2 months he comes to this bus stand to catch the connecting bus to reach home..

Suddenly there is a disturbance. People saw a bus turning left on the roundana junction and coming close to the bus stand. Its already packed with more than 150 people on it. Conductor gave two, three whistle which means "Don't Stop signal for the driver".

Driver also took his command and try to accelerate the speed to not to stop but being a soft hearted person he just couldn't avoid those people standing. So ended up stopping little far from the Stop to avoid a full crowd getting in. Some people who been waiting for the bus ran to get to the Bus.

Aakash ran close to the bus but instead of getting in, he started looking out for her in the ladies side window(which is usually the left side of the bus). He went up and down, couldn't find the person he is looking, so ended up not taking the bus..

Its already quarter past seven(7:15pm) in the watch.

Another 15mins just melts down, another bus shows up little empty and everybody tries to get off jumping on each other to catch a seat for themselves.. Aakash got inside somehow and starts to look again for her and couldn't find. With a little disappointment on his face, he just got down and let this one go too..

"Why is she not at this bus either?! May be she left early or she coming late.. I don't know. Can I wait some more time", Aakash thought to himself.

Its almost 8:15pm and he already missed 4 buses. Another bus just shows up in the bus stand. He did the final search and couldn't find her in the Bus Stand. He is little worried but at same time don't know what to do..

He finally decided to get into the bus making up his mind to go home. He got inside and did look for her in this bus too but couldn't find her. He just stayed and bus started moving in its speed. While he was travelling, he just kept thinking about the way they met and how their friendship grew which refreshes his heart all time.

(To be Continued...)

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