>>Travel Woes

When I originally wrote this I was feeling EXTREMELY frustrated about it. I’ve tweaked it around a bit though now and therefore there may not be consistency in tone! For those who know me well, you know that traveling and myself don’t really go too well with each other. Been like that for a long time! So my latest ‘adventure’ happened on my trip home from college on Friday.

I decided to head home because there was hardly anyone left in hostel this weekend and my usual weekend getaway at Trichy wasn’t available. Add to it, it was a pretty long day for me with plenty of bursts of emotions and irritation. My planning for a trip also sucks big time so this I decided to book my return tickets first – I still hadn’t decided when/how to go home in the first place. Got those set properly and finally made plans to catch a night bus home. Headed to CBS with a friend and as usual we were thronged by agents who promised a good journey. Since we reached only at 21:30 and needed to have something to munch on the 22:00 state bus would be too much of a gamble. So, we gave in to one of these agents. He promised us an A/C bus, seats 5 and 6 for Rs200. I actually thought it was a pretty good deal. But then – we saw what was in store for us. A random bus. And seats in the middle. And no A/C. But oh well, it was getting late and we decided to take it on the promise that it would leave only after we ate at around 22:15. Had a quick bite and returned. It was then that we noticed 2 more of my friends on the same bus and they claimed that the bus was supposed to leave at 21:30! Quite a shock. Well.. it finally started at 23:30. It went straight to the petrol bunk where it stalled. I sensed a dead battery as the lights blew, the TV (which was playing some of the crappiest crap ever) shut off. We waited and waited. People started pushing it from the back (it was like sitting in this huge rocking cradle) for around 15 minutes. Finally – it started. We were off by 12. The guy who was driving was a maniac. Middle of the night sometime (I was awake, couldn’t sleep) there was a halt in the side of the road. Some guy came and started quarreling with this driver. Never before have I heard such horrible language, my ears would’ve literally bled. I don’t understand why people need to say such things in order to come to an agreement. That too grown ups. Personally I never swear. The maximum you may catch me at would be ‘crap’ or rarely ’sh**’. Just saddens me that such crazy things happen.

Think it’s over? Nope! Around 70km from home sweet home, we stopped. Again. This time it was either a fuel loss, puncture, God knows what! Our patience was tested enough, we got off as soon as we saw another bus halt in front of us. Spent the next 45 minutes standing, sleepy, tired, wasted. Thankfully, we were able to sit down for the last 10 minutes. I reached home at around 10am. Whew, what a mess. I guess ya’ll must’ve had similar experiences sometime, and this is just one of my many. Far too many perhaps.

Now comes the important part. For all those of you guys reading this, NEVER, EVER alight on a bus which says SSCM Travels. You’ll regret it. Be sure to pass this message onto everyone you know! This may seem a bit funny but in seriousness it really wasn’t. However looking back, I just take it as another experience. Have had far worse but that will be saved for another day.

Peace.