18.35 IST

18.35 IST

6.35, my foot!

I knew exactly how these private buses operate and this man certainly can't fool me. The guy while pretending to be a pilot should have realised that though he too was flying, he better stay grounded.

It was my son's birthday and I decided to take a day off to be with him at Pala. The first phase of the journey was on rail, my favourite mode, but alas it got interrupted a bit too early. I had to alight at Thiruvalla instead of Kottayam as there was some work going on and I had to hurry to reach him before his evening prep start at 6. I took an auto from Thiruvalla to Changanechery with the generous driver himself buying me a prepaid ticket from the indifferent (to me) lady at the counter who wrote 20 on it. Did he wink at her? Anyway I was happy and bit astonished too. I didn't know you could travel in an auto from Thiruvalla to Changanechery at Rs 20 until we reached there when the polite and friendly driver demanded 200. He said 20 was for one km and we'd traversed 10. He certainly winked, I was convinced. I had little choice but to pay, yet was impressed by his smartness. Though he reiterated my doubt on my common sense, the price wasn't too high.

Actually he was the one who suggested me to board a private bus to Pala and brought me to Changanechery stand. My mood wasn't great and obviously wasn't impressed too much when the bus driver told that it would take off at 4 40 and land at Pala at 6 35. 6.35!! I'd have believed 6 30 or 6 45 but not 6 35, that too in India, coming from a private bus driver. Yet another attempt to mock at me. Believing him would have been too much for my vanity. 

Still there was a surprise. The bus took off at 440 and I was sure my misery was starting. I managed a comfy window seat with good access to railings as I was very much aware that one may be thrown out anytime from a private bus as it negotiates the curves and blatantly overtake fellow buses and the crew would bother the least. People started pouring in and the crowd gradually swelled. Though many ladies were standing, none bothered to share my seat probably to keep the Mallu tradition intact. But soon a harsh laborer asked me to remove my bag and squeezed me to a side. I was prepared for the worst. I knew this journey would be sheer misery.

With the bus moving there was a gush of wind across my face and I did enjoy the refreshing air. Splendid churches with beautiful domes started appearing and I started glancing at the sights from the window. Was I begining to enjoy the ride, I wondered.

"Karukachal", screamed the conductor as the bus came to a screeching halt about 15 minutes after we started. I was begining to grow optimistic as we'd covered quite a distance in the short time and genuinely felt we might reach before time in this 47km drive. But alas, these guys had their delaying tactics. The bus stopped and the conductor announced a ten minute break. Of course, it had to be, how can we work for more than 15 minutes at a stretch! The humidity and temperature inside did make the break horrible. I was getting late too. But then, there was hardly any choice. I'd already committed to the agony. Army had taught me to make the best in any adversity. It suddenly happened to me that I'll use the opportunity to connect with friends. Many of them while living abroad had a heart of Indian steel and was missing the nation each minute. What else could be more exciting than tempting them further on homeland. Believe me, there was 3G uninterrupted (I'm yet to get a 4G phone) as I merrily switched on whataspp and updated status as 'Elated- the green and serene Kerala. Sheer bliss'. Some curious friends joined. Hey, what's it? I'm in a bus through the green heavens in Kottayam, I responded.

The bus had started from Karukachal, and I was excited responding to the curious mates abroad, clicking the best scenes from the window and careful to avoid the misery around. They were growing jealous which made me more ecstatic. The guy sitting next was staring at my phone but probably all he could gather was that the phone was laughing, smiling and even hugging at times. I was confident that if he had to understand the conversations I had to teach him English first and so kept narrating incidents true and otherwise to my friends on whataspp. I was clicking pictures frequently and posting them. The huts, the mansions, traditional houses, landscape, hills, trees, streams...well there was almost everything to send. 

Small yet beautiful temples, sparsely crowded suburbs, a village gathering around a kolaambi (horn) mike playing old songs all added to the vivid scenes on the way. One junction gave out a splendid aroma of beef fry and I would have forgotten my diet vow had I not been in a hurry. There was also a kallu (toddy) shop, against an inviting backdrop of the country side with dipping Sun, which would have been tempting to those who relished it, but certainly that's not my cup of drink. The drive was really smooth. I had expected bad roads and huge potholes but not only was there few of these most of the roads were infact too good. That's little wonder given that there was three ministers in close neighbourhood not long time back. There was a drizzle and the wind was really cool.

I was by now enjoying every bit of the trip and naturally got lost in time and space. Hey, what brings you here, asked a friend and I suddenly realised I had a purpose. I looked into my watch. It showed 6.33. We were probably traversing some town. I looked around. There were hardly few people now. 

Oh, how far is Pala, I asked the conductor. I knew that we wouldn't be anywhere near and frankly by now I may have relished drive for another half hour or so. 

"Two more minutes sir", he replied. 

My goodness! is this true? 

6.35pm and we entered Pala bus stand. My annoyance at the crew became appreciation as I watched with reverence, the pious driver switch off the engine and alight for a well deserving rest.

Did anyone think that IST was Indian stretchable time? Well, not any more. 

The nation is on fast track and punctuality do matter. Rural India too, I'm convinced after the enchanting trip, would never be found wanting.