Majestic Bus stand was buzzing around with people wanting to leave for the Dussehra festival, as I waited for my special bus plying to accommodate the festive traffic. I could see my bus from afar, slowly making its way to the designated platform. With great difficulty I got into it and settled into my seat. The bus looked very old and the drivers were too old and weak; did seem like a “special bus”. A thought crept into my mind; by what time would I reach Hyd even if the bus started at the right time? As the passengers slowly boarded, mostly youngsters working in IT companies, the bus started half an hour late. As it moved out of the majestic bus stand, entered right onto the fly over near Anand Rao circle, I could notice the engines struggling hard to go over the steep fly over. By now, I was very sure that it would take an additional 2.5 hours to the usual 12 hours of total trip time. By my calculation, I would reach HYD not before 10:30AM!
As the bus stopped for a dinner break at CKBLR after traveling for 2hrs through the grueling BNGLR traffic, I started cursing myself for not booking a Volvo. I did notice a few Volvos that had arrived earlier and stopped for dinner next to my bus. I was wondering if I could get a seat on one of those buses but was not sure since the festival traffic was very high. Had a fruit and biscuits for my dinner and then came back to my seat before my bus started. Thinking about the journey I slowly went to sleep. Cold wind from the window sides woke me up in the night. For the rest of the night, I had to keep adjusting the window glass (of this old bus) now and then.
As I opened my eyes early in the morning, I did notice some buildings and for sure it was not a country side. Opened my eyes wider and clearer, to see the outskirts of Hyd! I looked at my watch and it showed me 5.45AM; in another 15 minutes the bus stopped at the bus stand. Shocker for me as all my predictions had gone wrong. Out of curiosity I asked the conductor on how we made it so early. He replied “thanks to the two drivers who made up for the lost time and also reached earlier than the scheduled time.”
A lesson for me! Just by looking at the things around, we cannot conclude. At times we are proven right, at times wrong. But, we need to be optimistic and let things happen once a decision is made. Brooding over the past about whether I made a wrong choice or anxiety over the future that I may not be reaching on time, will not help me in any way. I got down from the bus and brushing aside the taxi-wallahs, moved onto next platform where I was to catch my next bus. All the while thinking about what new learning was in store for me ….
Picture from the trip:
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