The semester was coming to an end and everybody was looking forward to going home for Diwali. I was no exception, except for the fact that I had no ticket. Yet. The train reservation was showing a waiting list in its hundredths, while flight rates were 11k and above. Tatkal agents weren’t of help either. Then Swarnali, my roommate, came up with this brilliant brain wave – lets go via Delhi! I was up for anything that made me reach home within the next two days. Even a 16 hour bus ride. Little did I know what was in store next!
So after a number of phone calls and permissions and confirmations our itinerary stood thus – catching the Delhi bound bus from Chiloda at 5 PM – reaching Delhi at 9 next morning – Indigo flight for Kolkata at 3:30 in the afternoon – and then, finally, home sweet home. Swarnali booked the Kingfisher flight at 6, from a different terminal. She was in a lesser hurry.
The manager of ‘Seema Puja Travels’ told us the bus would be a red one, with Rajyasree written on the sides. On reaching the bus stop and spotting no such matches, we decided to keep our luggage on the sidewalk and have some dabeli (local snacks, equivalent to burger). Suddenly a man appeared out of thin air and barked Seema Puja Travels?? With mouthfuls of dabeli we could only nod in affirmation. Kya khade khade patties kha rahe ho? Bus kab se udhar wait kar rahi hai !! – and with that, took both our suitcases in his two hands and ran. Earnestly hoping his direction would be towards our bus, we ran after him. After 15 minutes, panting, we along with our luggage were shoved inside a grey bus with absolutely nothing written on either side.
Never in my life have I seen a more crowded bus. The seats, the bunks, the isle, even the steps were overflowing. Screaming toddlers with smudged kajal, blushing newlyweds with scarlet vermillion, weathered villagers with handmade bidis, bored businessmen with shining ipods – it was the choicest selection of a medley bunch. Somehow managing to squeeze in, we talked amongst ourselves for some time and gradually dozed off.
It was almost 10 in the night when we woke up. The bus was speeding through congested roads of Udaipur. Hundreds of hotels and restaurants went by – big, small, medium - the driver stopped at none. Finally when we were about to fall asleep for a second time, the bus came to a halt at a shabby roadside dhaba at 12 o clock. Sleepily we got down, had some stiff, cold biscuits – no, make that frisbee, dipped in some brownish liquid, which the shopkeeper claimed to be rumali roti and tadka, respectively. Our next stop would be Jaipur, announced the driver as we climbed back up into our seats inside the once-again speeding bus.
Medamji? O medamji...?? I opened one eye to discover I was the one being addressed. Dawn was breaking outside. The signboards of the roadside shops read Jaipur. Swarnali was fast asleep.
Aap kahatak jaoge? Now that’s certainly none of your business thought I and curtly mumbled Dilli and closed my eyes partly to finish my dream and partly to avoid further nosy questions.
Par yeh bus toh aur nahi jayegi! ....WHAT?!! Both of us were wide awake now. His grin showed an uneven set of rotten yellow teeth. What do you mean nahi jayegi??
Ji, yehi last stoppage hai. Dilli waalo ke liye dusri bus ayegi. Hmm. Seema Puja Travels manager, you should have mentioned this. Our relation ends with this trip. Today.
The pink city at 5:30 in the morning was cool and fresh. The soft rays of the rising sun from behind the old buildings brought out its ‘pinkness’ and made it lovelier - that’s the closest I can describe. We were told it takes about 5 hours to reach Delhi from there. Assuming the new bus starts at 6, we calculated we would reach Delhi by 11 AM, or 12 at the most. A two hour delay from the scheduled arrival time in these routes is condonable we presumed. There would still be enough time to go and have lunch somewhere and then wait at the airport. The plan looked short and sweet.
Only that it remained neither. Short or sweet, I mean. After encircling the same four-point crossing for the third time, ensuring that no passengers, old or new, have been left behind, when our bus finally hit the highway, my wristwatch was showing 8:30 AM. Thereby meaning it’s at least 1:30, or rather 2:00 PM by the time we reach Delhi. Ok, cancel the lunch plan. Grabbing a sandwich from the airport cafeteria can suffice. Domestic terminal gate closes 45 minutes before departure – so I have to be there latest by 2:45 PM. Achievable goal, if the driver cooperates.
But before that, I would give the Seema Puja Travels manager a piece of my mind. Oh wait a minute, somebody already is giving his. Poor voice from somewhere in the front seat – his Kolkata flight was at 1:00. No way he can board that today! Tchh. Ohh he is talking courts? Compensation? I can do that part better baby just you wait! But of course, the bus manager wasn’t available to appreciate my legal prowess and all I got in response was the Vodafone lady announcing that his phone is currently switched off.
After a while judging from the milestone readings, it seemed we were making decent progress and probably would reach the airport just in time. That was until the driver decided to pull up beside this motel at 11:30. I am officially doomed now. To make it to the flight in time, I can either a) ask the driver to drive like Schumacher b) call and explain the Indigo people my current situation and hope for some relaxation of the 45 minutes deadline or c) cancel my ticket and pray to God to fix up the mess.