Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Bus Ride

I jump on into the bus. The conductor impatiently strikes the ‘double-bell’, signaling the take-off. The bus is already filled and there is standing room only.

An old man had also got in with me. He seems visibly tired. He tells the conductor in low voice.

‘I am physically challenged’.

There are two seats reserved for the ‘challenged’. There are two unchallenged already in the seat. The two remains seated..... unmoved.

The conductor requests one of them to move out for the old man. The two looks here and there to see if anyone else is kind enough for the gesture. The old man asks again, this time in a loud voice.

The imploring goes on and on. Still no one in the bus is ready to forsake their comforts.

Is corruption exclusive for the political class? Don’t we see corruption in every sphere of life.

17 comments:

S. Susan Deborah said...

John, this has been witnessed by me many number of times. But this can never happen in countries like UK or US where people are always kind and ready to help. The things you have mentioned always trouble me. I guess it happens only here in India. But can we call this 'corruption?' This is being inhumane and senseless.

Your last line is not quite clear to me. Care to explain.

Joy always,
Susan

Sam Liu said...

A very poignant and thought provoking post indeed, your writing is very transporting.

Rachna said...

I agree with Susan. This is not corruption but insensitivity. Whenever I have taken buses, I have seen the conductors make people get up to make way for the ladies or the senior citizens. Along with the two men, I would blame the conductor as well as the co-passengers. They should have taken up for the old man.

Jon said...

@Liu...
Thank U..I mostly dwell in this blog on the issues I see around me.

It's very encouraging that you relate to that

Jon said...

@Rachna and Susan
I wonder why we tend to seclude corruption to just the financial matters.

Our society is seeing rapid corruption in family, values, love...

insensitivity, rape, divorce, break-ups alll are different forms of corruption

BK Chowla, said...

Of course we see corruption every where.We have been graded as one of the most corrupt nations in the world.We have corruption in our intestines.

Destiny's child... said...

Why do people behave like this? I am totally clueless!

in search of ...... said...

well most of the times i dun have a solution but over here....i just give my seat if i see an old men or a female standing next to me whether its a bus or a train or waitin at sme place whr we r in a queue n we can offer our seats....n trust me after givin my seat i have seen many ppl offering thr seats too....but here even u didnt have a seat so still have to figure out wht shd be donee.....

Mingled Minds said...

in one word SICK....people r becoming so damn selish and self centered that none of us chose to c beyond our comfot zones....

And if i had been in that bus i would have definitely kicked those fools down the bus.... firstly,they have occupied the wrong seat. secondly, they have no respect for the grown up, the age of their father.... :s :S :s.....

Jon said...

@BKC
Sir you are being very cruel :D

Jon said...

@MM and in search of
Dealing with problems in its individuality will not solve it.
I think we have to take a look @ the bigger picture on why it is happening

Tys on Ice said...

what did you do?

Jon said...

I too was standing there...I could have lectured them
but i chose to come home and blog

Tys on Ice said...

:) ...well, at least u did something.

do u think u wud have done it differently, if u cud go back? wht if theres a next time? wud u know wht to do?

introspection is only useful, if it helps u into action in a similar setting later on....its kinda like a delayed high. :)

i kinda pity the next guy who occupies a disabled persons seat when u r arnd.

Jon said...

I donno man...my only problem is i introspect a lot.
I dont pretend that what I did was right. I know the right thing to do but have no courage to do it

indi said...

Hello. This is the first time I'm stepping by and I love this one. A country where the supposedly cultured, traditional people come from. Ha.

Praveen said...

most of ur are not corrupted only cos we dont have the opportunity for the same !