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.
0 Comments