Blue bus

The other day, I was reminiscing about old times, really old times when I was a little school girl of about 6 - 7. We used to take the school bus(thoughtfully provided by ONGC) to get to school. Now that I think about it, we were surprisingly independent even at that tender age. 

Our school was far, about 16 kms or so. Sometimes, in the evening, some of us sued to miss the bus and then had to get home by taking the municipal buses all by ourselves. I don't remember it being difficult. Cumbersome, yes.We saw it as an adventure. I distinctly remember the ber tree we crossed while getting to the bus stand. Some days we used to collect the leaves and small thorns to craft small plates out of the leaves. Just for fun. In those days, municipality bus conductors were kind to little school kids, and rarely ever charged us. 

Our own school bus conductor, was an old, kind and a little fat person. The school bus and the regulars had developed a separate ecosystem of sorts. We, the littlest kids, didnt count. There was an unwritten rule that we were supposed to occupy the first four rows only, the back rows were for the "bade bacche", who must have been 12-14 years of age at that time. Oh, but to us they seemed so big and old. We were careful not to step on their toes. Some older girls took us under their wing(so to say). Sounds dramatic, doesnt it. It was, trust me. They used to let us read their library books while on the bus. I remember some of the names, but none of the faces. 

I guess that is what happens.