The rides

As a kid, I used to go to school in our school bus. For years I used to get ready in the morning, wait at the bus stop with other kids, pick flowers(there was a jhadu wala phool ka paed that I loved and still love. I visited it this time I was in Ahmedabad. It hasnt changed much.. Just looked not as big as I remembered it as a kid. (Wierdly the same thing also happened with a tall uncle. I saw him after about 15 years and he didnt seem that tall at all)), play seven up etc. etc while waiting for the bus. With time we even discovered a magic trick to make the bus arrive if it was late. We wrote "bus aa ja" on sand with our shoes (the fact that the shoes got soiled didnt bother us at all. I love childhood). And magically the bus would arrive. I still believe in the power of wanting something to happen collectively. And it still works.

Yeah so when the bus came, there was usually a scramble for "window seats". I remember the winning feeling when we(from the younger lot) managed to get a window seat. (However, we never actually remained on our seats ever. As soon as the bus started, the kids lined up along the aisle of the bus to experience the "superjump" on the numerous road bumpers all the way till the school.)

I have pretty much forgotten the thoughts with which I started this post. But it had something to do with the bus rides.

I took the company bus to work in Pune. It was a very very boring affair. Half asleep colleagues. Nobody shouted or counted red maruti cars. I usually immersed myself in crossword puzzles or sudoku. But there was one sight for which I waited. There was a small cottage on the way. Quite old and shabby. It was built in the wonderful old fashioned design (Pune is full of such beautiful old pieces. Most of them near the camp area.. one near an abattoir with grass on its slanting roof. Most of them in ruins now.) And it had sunflowers growing all around it. Bright yellow pretty sunflowers. A mere sight of them would make my day.

In NCR, there is no scope for such eye treats. I thought my daily bus journeys would be drab and boring. But haha.. I was proven wrong. On my way, I come across some very innovative furniture shops. And there is a street with shops selling old pieces of furniture. In first glance anyone would dismiss them for "kabaad". But on closer look you would discover that with a little work those pieces would be priceless..

So everyday, I chose one piece that I am able to have a good look at, and spend the rest of the journey thinking about what I would do with it.

I love day dreaming.

And I really want to settle down. In a house with our own furniture.

(So much about bus rides.)