A Scene at a Bus Stand

Essay No. 01
A bus stand presents a cross-section of humanity at large. Especially at a bus stand in a metropolitan city, one can see people belonging to different states and even different nationalities. They wear different dresses and speak different languages, but all are parts of the great human race.

A bus stand is a very busy place. There is a continuous inflow and outflow of buses. Most of the buses are overcrowded. Some of them are packed to capacity. People are stuffed in these buses like lifeless commodities. The condition of the old, the infirm, the ladies and the children is delightful. In many buses, seats are reserved for passengers of such categories. But most often this rule is not observed in letter and spirit by the selfish passengers.

Buses begin to ply very early in the morning. The early office-goers rush to catch them. As the day advances, rush also in-creases. There are long queues at the booking windows. When there is a delay in the arrival of a bus, the passengers get bored They begin to look at their watches every now and then. Some people in the queue spend their time in reading newspapers or magazines. Others discuss some political matters or 'scams'. Still others just indulge in gossips. Those who feel hungry or thirsty, regale themselves with some refreshment or cold drink at the nearest tuck-shop. Beggars also avail themselves of such opportunities. They just beg or sing to beg.

As the bus arrives, the passengers rush to board it. The queue is often broken. There is scramble between those who want to alight from the bus and those who want to board it. In this struggle, some passengers get their pockets picked. Other lose their luggage. Some of them, especially children, get crushed under the feet of rash and reckless passengers. If any suspicious object is found at the bus stand or in the bus, the matter must be reported to the police or the roadways authorities.

Some bus stands become pools of muddy water during the rainy season. Some of them do not have proper sheds to protect the passengers from heat and rain. Others do not have proper arrangement for drinking water or neat and clean eatables. More attention should be given to the comfort of passengers. The beggars should not be allowed to enter the bus stand premises. The vendors' wares should be surprise checked by health authorities.

Essay No. 02

The Scene At A Bus Stand

The scene at a bus stand is full of excitement. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to catch the bus and confusion also prevails. The porters carry the luggage and the rickshaw pullers carry passengers up to the parting place.

Once I went to see my brother off at the bus-stand. The bus-stand was humming with life. All sorts of people were to be seen there. The bus-conductors were shouting to see their tickets and the coolies were shouting for fares. Some passengers were sitting on benches in the waiting-rooms. Some were queuing up before the booking office. A few were seating in the buses, while many were standing outside. Many more passengers were pouring in. Some were in a great hurry. Quite a number were anxiously waiting for the arrival of some other buses. There was a lot of hustle and bustle. Just outside the stand many rickshaws and scooters and cars were standing.

Fruit vendors were selling fruit. The hawkers were selling cold drinks to the thirsty passengers. Some passengers were eating kulchas and gram and some were taking tea at the tea-stall. A newsman was selling newspapers and magazines. An old, poor, blind beggar was asking for alms.

My brother bought a ticket. He occupied a comfortable seat in the bus. The coolie placed his luggage on the roof of the bus. The conductor blew the whistle. All the passengers took their seats. The bus was packed to the full.

The driver sounded the horn and the bus started. Soon it was out of sight. I came back home in a rickshaw. A bus stand is really an interesting sight.