Never accept things at face value

10 September, 2012

True that sometimes we lose our temper or at least start hating people without knowing why they are at a wrong place. Only after getting to know the reality we pity ourselves for being so selfish and shallow. An experience while travelling on a Delhi bus has taught me that we should avoid taking things at face value.

“KANIKA! IT has been two months and you don’t have any closures, what is wrong with you?” my boss yelled at me. It was just one of those days when my boss felt I lacked concentration in work; who knew how hard I was working and how hardly my system would handle my work; I had lost all my data. I didn't answer him then, and cruel Delhi heat was adding insult to injuries.

I left office at 6:30 pm all tired and discouraged, started walking towards the bus stop; the work pressure drained my body out; my legs begged mercy; everything was just gathering up to increase my irritation. On my way all I managed to do was to throw disgusting looks at people who treated the busy Delhi streets like gardens. I was using the phrases from “hatto uncle” to “get out of my way” every now and then. I so wanted to reach home and crash on my cozy bed.

After a couple of those disgusting looks and insulting phrases I reached the bus stand. The second most difficult thing was to wait for the bus; the bus was late and overcrowded than usual. I held my bag, checked my phone and boarded the bus. My eyes were searching for a place to sit, as I desperately wanted to rest my legs. Avoiding all the people who were barely standing inches from each other I managed to move near the ladies' seats.

To my very bad luck, there was no vacant seat; I looked around in vain and my eyes caught a sight of a man sitting on a ladies' seat. I tried to stand in his vision for him to show me his courtesy; the man looked up to me and carelessly looked at the other side. I was taken aback by his! I had already killed the man thrice in my mind, it was 5 minutes that I boarded the bus from Nehru Place and had been standing in front of him but he still didn't seem be polite enough to offer me that seat, which he had illegally occupied.

My cursing process stopped as I heard the conductor scream “ticket”; I handed him a 10 rupee note and asked for a single ticket! I hated that man for being so rude; I put on my earphones and stared out of the window, some minutes passed, it was Ashok Vihar arriving, I saw the man getting up, a “thank god” literally escaped my mouth, and to my disbelief the man stood up, got his black spectacles out from his shirt pocket, unfolded his walking stick and started to walk out of the crowd.

I felt disheartened and shameful; I hated myself more than I hated him a few minutes back as I realized it was not carelessness but helplessness; I felt disgusted as I saw the selfish ME! Some people helped him down the bus as my eyes got wet. I wanted to run down and apologize. But I just couldn’t; I stood there helpless. I have heard that we go to heaven for being good and hell for being bad. If some day I was sent to hell I would surely remember this day first!