The bus was crowded. Shalini had missed her 8.15 bus, by which she travelled regularly, and now considering she even had place to stand in the over-crowded 9 am bus, she was just grateful. People tugged and pushed. She stood uncomfortably in a ½ foot by ½ foot area. Her large bag slung over her shoulder caused people inconvenience whenever they passed her.
There were exactly 12 stops between where Shalini caught the bus and got off it. She had passed 3 stops and still she had no seat. She hoped someone would vacate their seat so she could sit.
The boy who stood to her right saw her inconvenience and chuckled. He had a cool arrogant air about him. Dressed in classic navy blue jeans and a Linkin Park t-shirt, with neatly gelled hair and a light stubble, he seemed like a rock star straight out of the movies. Every time someone passed Shalini, it drove her off-balance and he would stifle a laugh. Shalini rebuffed him with her eyes and tried to ignore him. “How rude and insensitive you can be!” she “spoke”.
As the bus neared the 5th stop , a man in front of him, stood up to leave, and suddenly she was hopeful. The boy was about to sit when he happened to glance her way, and they “spoke”.
“Please can I sit” she furrowed her brow and took on a pitiful look.
“O no way, it’s my seat!” he shook his head
“O please, can’t you see the awkwardness with my big bag!”
“Yea right, nice try.”
“O come on, whatever happened to being a gentleman.”
He shook his head in disbelief at what he was about to do. “O well, fine! You can sit!!” and he moved out of the way, “Stupid girls! Why do you have to carry such a big bag anyway!!”
She rushed passed him and smiled excitedly, “Excellent!”
Once she sat, she sighed, “Thank you,”
He looked away, “O whatever! I can’t believe I did this. The guys would think I am such a fool.”
She looked up at him and rolled her eyes, “It’s called being nice, you goose.”
Meanwhile, the bus continued to fill. The conductor drew nearer to issue them their ticket. He had his bus-pass. He looked down at her and saw her fumbling for her ticket money. What she dug out was a 100 rupee note.
He shook his head from side to side as if saying “Unbelievable! The 9 am crowded bus, an irritable conductor, a 17 rupee ticket and you draw a 100 rupee note. This ought to be good!”
She narrowed her eyes, “What was I to do? I ran out of change!” She looked at the conductor and then at him and smiled, “Watch and learn.”
“One ticket – Nehru nagar please,” she said out loud to the conductor.
“Madam, please tender exact change.”
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “Told you!”
“Ha,” she replied, “Wait, it’s not over.,”
She blinked her twinkling large eyes and told the conductor, “I am really sorry, I don’t have it today. Can’t you do something about it?”
“Oh dear, these students don’t understand what we go through,” said the conductor with irritation as he tore off a ticket. He handed it to her and spoke sternly, “Give me the note, but remember to collect your change as you alight, it won’t be my responsibility.”
“Of course,” she said with mock submission, “Of course I will.” And with that she turned to him with an air of victory that said. “Now that’s what I call a performance!”
He had a look of complete shock, “Girls!” and then suddenly his jaw dropped open with realisation. She had a knowing look on her face and a smile that said “How do you think I got you to give me this seat!”
He looked away feeling completely stupid. “I gave you my seat in this crowded bus, if only I could make you get up!” he fumed.
As if to hear him, the lady next to Shalini got up to leave. It was the 7th stop. Shalini made way to let her pass by and shrugged her shoulders, “See, you got a seat, albeit 7 stops later, now we are even, so stop sulking.”
He let out a low growl.
They both settled down next to each other as the bus moved again. A while later, Shalini felt the hot May sun shine directly on her face, she had to hold her hand up to prevent the harsh rays. He saw what she felt. She looked up at the window and contemplated shutting it. She tugged at the dusty window, struggling. It was futile and she let out an air of frustration. He saw her struggling. He felt the crowd’s eyes peering down at him, “How can you let her struggle like that.” Lazily he lifted himself up, at which she withdrew into her seat and let him draw it shut; He sank back into his seat.
She gave him a genuine look of thanks, “You are a good person.”
“Yea well, now stop embarrassing me.” He looked the other way.
They passed the 9th stop.
He took out his phone and plugged in his headphones to listen to some music. Almost as a complimentary gesture she drew out a book from her big bag - Pride and prejudice. He shook his head as if to say “So predictable!”
She drew in her breath, “Don’t judge me, atleast I am not the wanna-be rock star.”
“Whatever!” he looked the other way and continued to shake his head to the music. She started to read.
As the bus crossed the 10th stop, she heard the click click of the ticket punchers from either side of the bus doors. It was the ticket checkers. Shalini placed her bookmark and closed her book. He could see the commotion; he took off his headphones to hear what the matter was. By the time he realised, Shalini was ready with her ticket in hand. He on the other hand started the treasure hunt for his pass. He searched his jacket pockets, left and right, and the ones on the inside. Nothing. He took out his wallet and fumbled through it. Nothing. The checker was just a seat away. He checked his pant pockets at the front. Nothing. He put his hands into his left back pocket. Still nothing. Shalini looked at him with a raised eyebrow as the checker came to her. He looked back as if to say, “No I swear I have it, I just can’t remember where!”
Then he put his hands into the right back pocket and he pulled out his pink colour pass and showed it to the checker. When the checker was satisfied he moved on.
Shalini shook her head, “How irresponsible! Such a boy!”
“I found it, didn’t I? Now let it go, would you.”
She opened her book and he plugged his ears once again.
They crossed the 11th stop. The next stop was Shalini’s and she readied herself. She took a sip of water and packed in her book. She held her bag and sat up straight as if to say, “Well, I had fun and thank you for the seat.”
“O, don’t mention it.” He looked around for the conductor, “Don’t forget your change.”
“I did not, infact, I was just going to him.” And with that she got up.
He looked up at her passing figure, “Will I see you in the bus tomorrow?” his eyes said.
“Umm... I don’t know. This isn’t my regular bus anyway, but you never know.” She grinned.
And then she navigated her way to the conductor; he saw her make conversation with him and smile a sweet smile; he noticed the dimple on her cheek he saw her laugh a polite laugh as she collected her change. Then she turned her head to look at him, and he looked down immediately, to avoid being caught staring; then just as casually, he looked up to see her still looking at him; she nodded to say thank you, and then jumped up off when the bus stopped. And that was the end of their silent conversation.
There were exactly 12 stops between where Shalini caught the bus and got off it. She had passed 3 stops and still she had no seat. She hoped someone would vacate their seat so she could sit.
The boy who stood to her right saw her inconvenience and chuckled. He had a cool arrogant air about him. Dressed in classic navy blue jeans and a Linkin Park t-shirt, with neatly gelled hair and a light stubble, he seemed like a rock star straight out of the movies. Every time someone passed Shalini, it drove her off-balance and he would stifle a laugh. Shalini rebuffed him with her eyes and tried to ignore him. “How rude and insensitive you can be!” she “spoke”.
As the bus neared the 5th stop , a man in front of him, stood up to leave, and suddenly she was hopeful. The boy was about to sit when he happened to glance her way, and they “spoke”.
“Please can I sit” she furrowed her brow and took on a pitiful look.
“O no way, it’s my seat!” he shook his head
“O please, can’t you see the awkwardness with my big bag!”
“Yea right, nice try.”
“O come on, whatever happened to being a gentleman.”
He shook his head in disbelief at what he was about to do. “O well, fine! You can sit!!” and he moved out of the way, “Stupid girls! Why do you have to carry such a big bag anyway!!”
She rushed passed him and smiled excitedly, “Excellent!”
Once she sat, she sighed, “Thank you,”
He looked away, “O whatever! I can’t believe I did this. The guys would think I am such a fool.”
She looked up at him and rolled her eyes, “It’s called being nice, you goose.”
Meanwhile, the bus continued to fill. The conductor drew nearer to issue them their ticket. He had his bus-pass. He looked down at her and saw her fumbling for her ticket money. What she dug out was a 100 rupee note.
He shook his head from side to side as if saying “Unbelievable! The 9 am crowded bus, an irritable conductor, a 17 rupee ticket and you draw a 100 rupee note. This ought to be good!”
She narrowed her eyes, “What was I to do? I ran out of change!” She looked at the conductor and then at him and smiled, “Watch and learn.”
“One ticket – Nehru nagar please,” she said out loud to the conductor.
“Madam, please tender exact change.”
He looked at her and raised an eyebrow, “Told you!”
“Ha,” she replied, “Wait, it’s not over.,”
She blinked her twinkling large eyes and told the conductor, “I am really sorry, I don’t have it today. Can’t you do something about it?”
“Oh dear, these students don’t understand what we go through,” said the conductor with irritation as he tore off a ticket. He handed it to her and spoke sternly, “Give me the note, but remember to collect your change as you alight, it won’t be my responsibility.”
“Of course,” she said with mock submission, “Of course I will.” And with that she turned to him with an air of victory that said. “Now that’s what I call a performance!”
He had a look of complete shock, “Girls!” and then suddenly his jaw dropped open with realisation. She had a knowing look on her face and a smile that said “How do you think I got you to give me this seat!”
He looked away feeling completely stupid. “I gave you my seat in this crowded bus, if only I could make you get up!” he fumed.
As if to hear him, the lady next to Shalini got up to leave. It was the 7th stop. Shalini made way to let her pass by and shrugged her shoulders, “See, you got a seat, albeit 7 stops later, now we are even, so stop sulking.”
He let out a low growl.
They both settled down next to each other as the bus moved again. A while later, Shalini felt the hot May sun shine directly on her face, she had to hold her hand up to prevent the harsh rays. He saw what she felt. She looked up at the window and contemplated shutting it. She tugged at the dusty window, struggling. It was futile and she let out an air of frustration. He saw her struggling. He felt the crowd’s eyes peering down at him, “How can you let her struggle like that.” Lazily he lifted himself up, at which she withdrew into her seat and let him draw it shut; He sank back into his seat.
She gave him a genuine look of thanks, “You are a good person.”
“Yea well, now stop embarrassing me.” He looked the other way.
They passed the 9th stop.
He took out his phone and plugged in his headphones to listen to some music. Almost as a complimentary gesture she drew out a book from her big bag - Pride and prejudice. He shook his head as if to say “So predictable!”
She drew in her breath, “Don’t judge me, atleast I am not the wanna-be rock star.”
“Whatever!” he looked the other way and continued to shake his head to the music. She started to read.
As the bus crossed the 10th stop, she heard the click click of the ticket punchers from either side of the bus doors. It was the ticket checkers. Shalini placed her bookmark and closed her book. He could see the commotion; he took off his headphones to hear what the matter was. By the time he realised, Shalini was ready with her ticket in hand. He on the other hand started the treasure hunt for his pass. He searched his jacket pockets, left and right, and the ones on the inside. Nothing. He took out his wallet and fumbled through it. Nothing. The checker was just a seat away. He checked his pant pockets at the front. Nothing. He put his hands into his left back pocket. Still nothing. Shalini looked at him with a raised eyebrow as the checker came to her. He looked back as if to say, “No I swear I have it, I just can’t remember where!”
Then he put his hands into the right back pocket and he pulled out his pink colour pass and showed it to the checker. When the checker was satisfied he moved on.
Shalini shook her head, “How irresponsible! Such a boy!”
“I found it, didn’t I? Now let it go, would you.”
She opened her book and he plugged his ears once again.
They crossed the 11th stop. The next stop was Shalini’s and she readied herself. She took a sip of water and packed in her book. She held her bag and sat up straight as if to say, “Well, I had fun and thank you for the seat.”
“O, don’t mention it.” He looked around for the conductor, “Don’t forget your change.”
“I did not, infact, I was just going to him.” And with that she got up.
He looked up at her passing figure, “Will I see you in the bus tomorrow?” his eyes said.
“Umm... I don’t know. This isn’t my regular bus anyway, but you never know.” She grinned.
And then she navigated her way to the conductor; he saw her make conversation with him and smile a sweet smile; he noticed the dimple on her cheek he saw her laugh a polite laugh as she collected her change. Then she turned her head to look at him, and he looked down immediately, to avoid being caught staring; then just as casually, he looked up to see her still looking at him; she nodded to say thank you, and then jumped up off when the bus stopped. And that was the end of their silent conversation.
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