"How do i get out of the bus when there is an accident...?" When i asked this question to the conductor, neither the conductor nor any of the co-passengers were happy... I could feel the growl in the driver, who happened to be nearby.
This is a TNSTC bus plying from Chennai to Coimbatore. This is jam packed weekend. Weekend after the diwali holidays. As such, this route is always packed up. The question was partly attributable to the movie, 'Engeyum Eppothum' and partly to the accident that happened two days before. The conductors normally dont reply to such questions, must have been a real dull day for him, he took me to my seat, which as usual was the last one, and explained me of the Emergency Break Glass at the rear and also gave me an hammer. Most of the passengers were astonished including me at the response by the conductor.
My friend who had recently joined in the same company in which i was working gave me slight sigh with an expression as 'what are you going to do with the hammer now' type look, but knowing me and my capability for an oration, which i had already started preparing in my mind, he kept quiet.
This weekend break was essential as i had quiet some chores to look into. Had to do some purchase for my sister's marriage. She is getting married to her colleague. After some resistance from our family, i was able to convince them in her favour. The reason for me to support her love is not only that i am also planning such a marriage but somehow i am convinced very strongly that the couple is the one who is going to live the life, so it should be of their plan and wish. Moreover, the person with whom she was in love seemed to be a responsible and a sensible guy. Although he was yet to settle with a good job i am confident of things turning for good.
Today in the evening he had only picked me from my house and dropped in the Koyambedu Bus Stand. He was mentioning about few more companies which he was eyeing for a job. I had also promised to give him some reference in the companies where i had some friends.
I was deeply thinking about the way i can get my things worked out. Her Mom has already started pressurising me for the marriage. She has been doing that for almost two years now, throughout these days my reply has been same. The bus slowly rolled out of the bus stand. As usual, i was travelling light, through with dinner already at in the mess. Had bought a water bottle as usual at the inflated rate equivalent to the cost of milk. Not sure when, who or how these things are going to be checked.
The reply has been same throughout these years. The bus reached the highway and started picking up speed. The night life outside the bus was dying down. The typically crowded bus was sleeping into the night. I wonder how some people get to sleep so fast, even in the bus. The hammer which the conductor had given me was also playing its role in spoiling my sleep from beneath my seat. I have been able to quote my sister's marriage so far, as reason for delaying my marriage. Now that is not going to hold water any more.
Her Mom is fully right from her side for her girl is already 27 yrs old and my family has not yet confirmed regarding our wed-lock. Moreover they have started receiving proposals for the second girl, younger sister of my probable-wife. From the day we had finalised my sister's marriage, they had started pestering. The bus had halted for a tea break, i realised only after hearing the friend's husky voice from behind the sleep clouds. As usual the bus had stopped in the place which is favourite to it. Probably the bus likes that place for it may be getting free air for its tyres to cushion the movement on the harsh road, hope you understand what i am saying....!!!
Her sister is 25 yrs old and is working in a private company after studying Engineering. They are absolutely right from their side, but how am i going to declare my things..it would be viewed by everyone has a continuance of the league started by my sister...!! Being the sole bread-winner of the family after my Dad's demise, i was able to stand and convince people for my sister, but who would do such things for me..?? The bus had started stretching itself again on the highway and to my wonder, the crowd has again fell into sleep just like a flip-flop switch operation.
The bus was alighting a bit, i felt so. Must be that driver is overtaking some snails, i justified myself. One more important problem in my marriage is how am i going to say to the family...?? My mom is afraid to speak to my uncles and i cant shamelessly say to them, 'i like this girl and pl get us married...!!' No i wont be able to say that. God, i really wish that my cousin bro was here. He is the one on whom i can rely on.
We had been close to each other during our school days. But once he started his college life and me picking up my dad's job we couldnt be in touch as much as we like...!! Nevertheless we speak now and then. He has been staying out of home for 13 years now for various reasons like studies, job etc..,. He does get to know the problem and reach the root easily. One more thing which i admire of him is his capability to judge people. Rather than judging he gets to 'know' people very soon. I think i should speak to him to handle my situation.
Yeah thats the right way.....oh this is not some overtaking...it seems to be re-coursing after a strong drifting...!!! Rather than just thinking, let me atleast check with the driver, i thought. I walked on the aisle slowly looking at the sleeping people. Heard somewhere, that King Goutama saw the plight of the sleeping human bodies before he left everything behind to attain enlightenment and become Buddha. I hope that i dont leave everything behind after seeing........TTThhhhhhaaddddd...!!!!
Peace. Meaningless and endless peace. Slowly i woke up to a burning sensation. My right leg was bleeding. Not an issue. My right hand was almost senseless...ahh should not bother me much..!!! Small burns throughout my body is not of major concern..there is something more, causing this much annoyance..!! What is it..??? Slowly i realised that my head was bleeding. My right ear seems to be hurt..but why the heck should it pain so much..i tried touching it. Failed to find it. Tried again and failed again.
Slowly i recollected what happened. As i was moving on the aisle, there has been an accident. Accident. 'Accident....!!!' Oh i have the hammer, and the emergency glass. When i started moving towards the rear, i realised that i had almost reached the front of the bus. What i saw as i was intending to move behind was the horrible sights i have ever seen..!!! Most of the people have been jammed in between the seats...i started remembering my school day Zoology lab...every possible part of the human body taken out of their location and freshly displayed to me...!!! Corner of my mind was saying 'thank god, they are dead, dead while they are asleep'..!!! What is this..why is this particular piece of flesh seems familiar....no no i must be dreaming...!! I moved confidently to the rear to break the glass and save the people...but whom am i going save....?? I reached my seat, took the hammer and started hitting it with my left hand and after three, four blows i realised i was not hitting anything...i dropped the hammer only to find that there was no glass at all...!!
I didnt know what else to do..!! Never thought how fast the mind can think of various things. Although people think that the mind migrates between very random things, the truth is the mind 'jumps' from one thought to another from a connecting word or thought. This happens so very rapidly, one generally thinks the thoughts are random. Thats the reason why we are generally not able to co-relate the duration of dream and the actual time factor. Everyone fantasise themselves as a kind of hero sometimes, while at times of insanity as some unwanted element of the society who can do anything and everything at will. I was imagining myself as both hero as well a dacoit and with less thoughts, these were so rapidly occurring that i was worried what i would finally become. Why in the hell am i thinking about my girl now...??? Dont worry, everything will be fine. Oh shoot, i was supposed to meet her in the morning, because of this accident, it may not happen......i was mentally cursing the driver. The nearby-seat on my right side was seemingly vibrating so vigorously towards me...is it possible....oh no, its me who is shivering out of pain, fear and shock..!! I dont know what am i going to do....how would i tell my family about my marriage...imposing figure of my uncle was pushing me down. Only soothing effect is by my cousin's hand which is gripping my shoulders and helping me to face the wind gushing through the broken rear glass. My cousin was showing me my girl friend standing in the middle of the road in full bridal dress and i can see people coming towards me with their hands held out to wish me....but why are they coming in such casual dress..?? It seems they are shouting out of some pain....I realise without seeing there were some people behind me also, shouting. But everything is garbled. Is my marriage so painful for these people....who in the name of hell are they to decide what is good or bad for me...??? I should shoo these people out of my life. I will lift, hold and drag these people out of my life. Some may be gluing themselves to the floor with some extra support but i will lift them by their hands and even if they resist i will drag them out of my life...oh how gutsy this man is...he has reached me and saying something to me...???
I really dont recollect how long i have been standing near the rear glass. When i slowly regained my senses, i saw people, faceless and nameless, shaking me back to reality. I turn back and see the jammed bus. Few hands were up in the air and they were trying to show that they are alive. Now i can clearly hear what that man was saying to me. 'What happened ? Are you hurt..you come out, we will look after them'. I slowly walk back into the bus.
..
When i woke up, i found some familiar faces around me. My mom had been probably crying for a long time. Her face shows. I realised i was on an hospital bed. There were few magazines lying near the bed, something told me to pick up the evening magazine. It had my photograph. Something is amiss. It was saying that i saved 16 people. The Home Minister had sent special congratulatory message. It had a photograph of the District Collector doing a press conference. It said that the Collector who had reached the spot had taken me to the nearby hospital in his own vehicle. Oh my right ear. It is still paining. I slowly reached for the ear to give a touch therapy so as to convince not to pain so much. It was eluding. Everything came back in a flash. That familiar piece of flesh was my ear...!! My girl friend was sitting near me holding my right hand and crying so profusely. My uncle was standing at a distance. Everything happens for good. This accident has saved me from facing my family for now, everything is understood.
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Everything in this blog is true, not essentially concerning any single person. There is something for every friend of mine to connect with them-self. This blog should give an uneasiness to the reader, if i have done my job right.