Advantages of a Crowded Kolkata Bus

While going for office or going home, we all invariably prefer a vacant bus to travel. On a wishful Saturday, I got out of my office and caught a bus, which to my surprise, was vacant! On my 20 minutes ride, I realized some facts that became the name of this topic. Here are some of the advantages of a crowded Kolkata bus or rather disadvantages of a vacant bus-

1. The Kolkata state buses are famous to be very rash. The crowded buses always give you ‘buffer’ so that you don’t fall due to rash driving. Why? Because, you are always sandwiched and stuffed by your co-passengers. Otherwise, you have to be expert gymnast to avoid falling.

2. In a vacant bus, as there are very little people in, no one to ogle. (Who said girls don’t ogle?)

3. There is no one to make fun of, make story of or make laugh of.

4. If you are regular in the route, you are very likely to bump on some old friend, colleague or relative. This may help you in two ways.

(i) If the person is some-one like uncle/aunty stature, you may be sure that he/she will get the ticket for you.

(ii) A free social meet.

5. There is no chance to escape the ticket in a vacant bus. Conductor is very sure who is having the ticket and who is not. (if you are running short of money, make sure to get in a crowded bus!)

6. No drama. This is the biggest disappointment in a vacant bus. The dramas play a vital part in the Kolkata bus journeys. Like-

(i) Suddenly an uncle screams that the driver delayed and signal fell. Then there
starts discussions, debate, arguments and at last howling that may lead even to the recent nuclear deal of India with America! And the verdict? Buddha babu must resign!

(ii) Suddenly a scream of an aunty comes as she is very angry that the bus fare is 50
paisa higher than her last ride!

(iii) Yet another scream of an aunty! Asking the nearest male passenger ‘ektu sare daran to!’(‘please move aside!’) And there starts another round of discussions, debate……etc.etc.


With so much spice, entertainment, comedy and errors, who would like to avoid the crowded bus? At least not me!

Gandhi Jayanti Message

On the days of New Year, Valentine's Day, Friendship Day, Christmas Day and even on Halloween's Days our mobile phone gets flooded with sms-es. But what about the Independence Day, Republic Day, Janmashtami, Gandhi Jayanti? We never get any sms-es on those days! Why? Is that because these days are not very 'important' in our lives with respect to our globalized (or rather, Americanized) mentality?

Well, probably I'm a little lucky that there is one friend of mine who never forgets to wish me on those 'not-so-important' days.

On Gandhi Jayanti she sent me this message:

'Satisfaction lies in effort, not (in) attainment. Full effort is full victory' - M K Gandhi

Thanks Vidhi.

Buddhist Monks Harassed in Myanmar

Buddhist monks are being beaten and killed by military! Is it the end of the world? Are we heading towards the Doomsday or the Judgment day? I feel sad :(

For more, click here

In the Blue Sky Line...

Since the morning there must be something wrong with the 1ft by 1ft sky that is visible from my work station. An array of planes, one after another, at every 10-15 minutes are coming flying from the south-east corner and disappearing behind the building just next to us. My office is no way close to Dumdum airport, nor does it fall on the air-traffic route, as I have not seen them before. I have even identified some of our domestic fly chaps. There must be some diversion in the air-route due to, god knows what, some reason.

This reminds me of the traffic hazard that the Saltlake-Garia passengers are suffering for last three weeks and is reportedly to tolerate for next three months! Simple reason, the Patuli Bridge at the Peerless bus stop had a brake-down (resulting all the drivers’ and commuters’ nervous-break-down!) just one week before the Hyderabad mess-up and promptly, the eye-opened local government decided to close the route for another three months! Now the entire traffic is diverting from Ajainagar crossing towards Santoshpur making the place a hornifying (when thousands of horns provoke horror) treat.

I was just wondering what would have been the mishap in the clear blue sky, still the abode of God, that all the planes are diverting their route. Whatever be the reason, who cares as I am having a good time while writing and counting the planes like god ol’ days. And till now I’ve counted 15 planes! Yea……..

At 6:30 PM

It’s 6:30 PM and people are rushing towards their homes, but not the houses, like anything. The scene visible in every crossing is almost the same carrying no incongruity with the previous crossing or the previous day. With the chaotic ambience, both inside and outside bus, one cord is finely tuned with every one present here; everybody wants to be ahead of others- in catching the bus, in grabbing the seat or rather the window seat, in crossing the road, and like others.

In some self-absent moments we forget that we are also a part of this messy, frowzy, sweaty and tired crowd. Just like the woman standing on the other side of the road, my dress has also lost the touch of hot iron, my hair is also undone with some traces of morning combing, my kajal is also smudged, my lipstick is also vanished leaving no trace behind, my forehead is also shining with perspiration and just like her, I am also longing for my home, my corner of kitchen, my piece of bed and my privy bit of room.

Then why we constantly try to separate ourselves away from the rest of the world? How am I special at this very moment? Then why should I crave for special treatment from others? How far it is justified?

Yupppeee…….

Yupppeee…….Puja has arrived again!!!!!! This time in Kolkata….. so another bigger Yuuupppeeee…….Shopping…shopping and more shopping…….unlimited shopping…..Waiting eeeagaerly for those magical dayzzzzzzz……………… But….but….but……..this time I’m away from home…………………how will I spend my Puja without Maa??????????

Style Statement!!!!

It’s Monday morning…..!!! Oh No! I got late again! Rush…rush…So much work to do…got to have breakfast…Oh! My god…baai hasn’t come today…got to make it too…to hell with it…I’ll rather have it in canteen….get ready…get ready…soon….oops…forgot to press the white shirt…….where are my socks gone….this baai really sux….I better talk to aunty to replace her….I’m sure she steals food from the kitchen too….oh….almost got ready…….comb baby comb….here it is….a little cologne…I’m almost done…..oh….I almost forgot my patta yaar……..otherwise how people on the road will know that I work in IBM?


Some (imaginary) random thoughts of an imaginary MNC employee.