I have to reach office by 9:30. It takes me better part of an hour from my home. I left home just now. Its aleady 9:00. As I reach the main road, I see a Bus zip by. Its the bus I wish to catch. And its almost empty. What choice do I have? I begin to run.
WHY? Everyone in this world has their own version of what Heaven means to them. Ask any true Mumbaikar. Our version of Heaven is a ride on an almost empty train with no delays, or an almost empty bus through comparatively less traffic.
So I am running... But the bust stop is far. And the bus is faster than me. Make no mistake, I can run pretty fast (relatively speaking. Relatively speaking - to a snail, even the turtle is fast) - and that too for a whopping long distance of 1 to 2 mtrs... But the bus stop is a bit farther than that distance-limit.
The bus has stopped.
I am still running.
Some passengers have got on to the bus.
I am still running.
The bus has started.
I stop running.
Huffing and wheezing, I stare helplessly at my version of ideal heaven leave me behind.
But wait... There is a Tata Sumo, blocking the road, as it tries to cross over to the other side. The bus has stopped. I start running again!
The Tata Sumo is moving ahead.
I am running.
The Sumo has crossed the road.
I am still running.
The Bus begins to move.
I stop running again... :(
I have reached the bus stop. But I have missed the bus...
"You wanna catch the bus?" I hear the voice. I turn. The voice belongs to a man sitting on a scooter. I never noticed when he stopped by my side. "Sorry?" I cant believe what I am hearing. For the implications of what he has said are profound. He is promising me my Heaven.
"You wanna catch that bus?" he repeats.
Who am I to turn down such an alluring invitation?
"Is that ok with you?" I ask. Its a rhetoric, asked as a mere formality. I am already getting ready to sit behind him on the scooter.
"Yeah no problem", says he, then waits for me to settle down behind him, and suddenly guns the motor...
The scooter lungs ahead at break-neck speed, wind lashing my face, cars zipping by, as my unknown benefactor hurls the bike ahead to help me catch my bus.
I hold on for dear life, as I fearfully contemplate what are the chances of me meeting my ideal heaven alive and in one piece.
With the scooter now talking to the winds, we quickly cover the gap between us and the bus, when! Disaster!
We are forced to wait at the next traffic signal, while the bus slips away. I stare forlornly at the fast receding backside of the bus.
But soon, we pick up the break neck speed and rush towards the next stop. By the time, we are nearing the next stop, the bus has already moved on...
But fortunately there is another traffic signal right ahead. And this traffic signal, so well-known for its habit of making people wait and gain curses from them, makes the bus wait and gains a blessing from me.
My unknown benefactor stops right besides the bus. I get down. I have not asked his name. Neither has he asked mine. I simply thank this helpful stranger and get onto the bus... Heaven at last!
The bus has started to move. I stare out, but find no sign of the guy who helped me out...
I look around, with an urgent longing to rest my tush... There is no seat available... So I stand along the aisle waiting for a seat to vacate.
While I stand there, I suddenly happen to look at the back of the bus, where this guy sitting on the last seat is smiling and beckoning to me. He is pointing out a vacant place on the last seat, the one that occupies the entire width of the bus. I gladly oblige
As I leave my standing position and make my way to the back of the bus, the thought suddenly hits me - "Whats going on? Out of the blue, two complete strangers offer to help me out... In a span of few minutes?" Must be my lucky stars!!! :)
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