Some days back i was traveling to Bombay for work. Over the weekend had not been able to check mails so just browsed though them on my notebook, followed up with people i was to meet on cell. My co-passenger sitting right next to me looked like a curious nut. It seemed he was traveling alone and had no belongings was quite intrusive and wanted to have a look at most of the gadgets i used and how they worked.
The Bus Stopped halfway at he food joint, i was stomach crunching hungry, had to get down. Not sure about him i asked him if he was getting down. And he said you go ahead and i will go later. TING TRING, i though either he was out of his mind and was conversing as if we are together or had some fishy ideas in mind. As i went to one of the food joints to buy my breakfast, the stories of laptops been stolen flashed in my mind.
Worried enough, I rush packed my breakfast instead of savoring it over the open space admiring the mist covered mountains, i am back to the bus. I place my packed food on the seat and first thing, i check for the laptop, its all there. As i was sitting there i had already imagined him not to return to the seat, if he had got into the bus with a 'motive'.
After a while done with the breakfast the bus guys gave call and most return back to their seats. This curious old women siting in front of me request to wait for someone. Later i discover that the two people seating in front of me and my co-passenger are all traveling together.
Done with few extra naps and refreshed with coffee, i look forward to out journey through the mountains. One of the most beautiful times in Western Ghats. and then the conversation starts ... with where are you form , where are you going, ....
He tells me that this is his first time to Bombay, he looks like a 30ish man from outskirts of Pune villages, yet to be included in the corporation limit. To stop him from getting too personal we talk about the politics around extension of corporation boundaries. I still keep it short. I am with my hands folded due to the chill in the bus.
He keeps looking at my hand, making me wonder, slowly his curiosity makes him literally bend down to have a look at my wrist and i realize he is curious about my watch. He asks, is it real :).I ask him his reason for curiosity and he says the name of the make 'fastrack' keeps shifting. Quite a Joker i think, i explain him how it works and why it moves.
I am by now smiling to myself thinking that someone who i imagained as a thief, is actually just a curious joker with the child still alive in him. Till he surprises me again.
After inquiring about my purpose of visit he mentions that he is taking mother of his friend to Bomaby to a trust to request for financial cover of operation for her son. He explains me in his most innosent manner the disfunctioning of heart valve and how did his friend discover it. How he feels responsible in a way and what he has done to bring some relief in the stressed sitution. How he really wishes things work out in bombay. Till our conversation is interupted by a phone call.
It is someone from his village wanting to know his wareabouts. The caller does not believe that this fellow is on his way to bombay. Shy enough of what he want to say - he tell the caller- hey its expected in a FRIENDSHIP to do so much.
With a few more conversation we end the journey and i wish him the best, i thik what a soul, and this is my wish for him, hope his visit to bombay helped him and his friend.
I guess travelling by public transport has not yet lost all its charm, i look forward to my next journey....
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