Those memes and jokes making rounds in the social media about 90's kids is a funny reminder of me ageing and how much times have changed in the past 2 decades.
One memory that I often visit are the bus journies. Many girl kids who rode bicycles to school were given them after or by around 8th grade. I like most others used to travel in public transport buses to school which was around 5 to 6 kms from home. Initially called PALLAVAN TRANSPORT CORPORATION aka PTC Bus, it underwent quite some name and paint color changes over the years. 10 paise, 20 paise and 25 paise were still in use back then.
The buses would most often be crowded and full to the brim. There would be prime locations along most routes where majority of the crowd would disperse off and yes that was not before I got down near school. The drivers and conductors never wanted us school kids on board because we all had free bus passes which meant lesser collection for them. The drivers would often not stop the buses and conductor would give a double whistle to indicate the driver to skip stopping in that particular stop. When we managed to board, our heavy school bags were a matter of annoyance. You'd be pushed on all sides, had to bear with people standing in close quarters to you or worser leaning on you. That was the most irritating part. There were men who'd do that intentionally and all girls and women would identify those guys in no time. As the bus is anyway crowded crazily, we cannot fight much against some intentional harassers. The best unwritten punishment was to stamp their feet with all might and pretend it was accidental. Basically doing the same thing they did 🤣.
When the crowd reaches unmanageable count, the driver pulls over to the side, so that the conductor can give away tickets to everyone. This is called 'Stage'. This adds more delay and everyone should keep a buffer of this delay on top of their travel time. I used to regularly commute in a particular route and with time you get familiar with the ticket conductor. I fondly remember our regular conductor who had a big moustache covering most of his face. A fatherly figure kind of. I used to refer him as 'Meesai' conductor (Meesai means Moustache in Tamil). After the incoming crowd settles a bit, he used to have casual conversations with all those who travel regularly. Mostly with school kids asking about our studies. With every graduating year till I used the buses, I'd mention him about current grade that I am studying and he always used to advise to study well. He had 2 daughters as well. He used to mention that he advises them also the same so that they don't struggle like him in future. Behind that rough face, he always had a soft side.
The entertainment in crowded buses is passing money for tickets. People from one end pass currency and tell how many tickets to which stop they want. When someone gave 100 Rupees note in the morning, the conductor would lose his cool. He'd just give the ticket and writes down the balance amount at the back of it. Another delay that could happen is Ticket checking. Those guys would also look pretty intimidating with big moustaches and all. When they wave the driver to stop, bus pulls over and they come in and check if everyone had a ticket. Those ticketless travelers would face fine and embarrassment as the entire crowd watches them.
Bus breakdowns are worser. One can travel with the same ticket in another bus, but only if you get lucky to squeeze yourself into another one. One interesting/not so nice incident was when I was in 6th grade, I boarded our route as usual. It was a Wednesday and a fully packed bus. I was struggling with my school bag and was attentive that no one stamps upon my white canvas shoe. It was a 'house dress' day. A heavily drunk citizen boarded and promptly came and stood behind me of all the gaps in the bus. The alcohol odor was so bad and he was all blathering with red eyes. Then the driver without notice applied sudden brake and 1 bottle of 'extra' liquor from his loose trousers fell and broke splattering most the alcohol onto my white shoes and yellow skirt. The bus was stopped and this guy was roughed up and thrown out. People pushed the glass pieces out but what about the spilled alcohol. The entire day how much ever I washed it, the stink never went 😕
The 'Ladies Special' bus was a great relief.It was painted in pink and except driver and conductor it was all women. Even when crowded that busride was much more comfortable. But it was a rarity and never had a regular schedule. As I graduated to 8th grade, my parents got me a bicycle and that was the end of my regular bus travel. The sounds of coins when conductor tosses it to find the right change, the poor or worst odometers and seat the drivers had, the heat emanating engine and the fence around it, the broken gear head thats often wrapped with rag clothes, those conductors who had a hard day and still managed to build a conversation with passengers are all the unique experiences you'd get only when you travel in public buses regularly. The days were not smooth but ya I and many other managed through that. There are still scores of people who bank on it everyday and irrespective of how much we complain about the State and its machinery, these workers make it a bearable ride for all the 'common man' in the country🙏🏻 So yeah that's a 90's kid's tribute to those good drivers and conductors 🙂
