Riding home

Two months back when I entered the bus for the first time there was no familiar face. It was actually a smaller vehicle than a bus, to be precise - a 20 seater swaraj mazda. But all 20 faces were new to me. I might have seen a few of the faces at the work place but didnt know anyone in person.

Its exactly 2 months since that first day. Today I know who everyone is, I know a bit about their families, I know everything that I would know about any normal acquaintance, and we talk as if we had known each other for ages. We share jokes, share gossip, share anecdotes, share food, pull each others leg, have fun and try to get closer all the time. Its been long forgotten that we have known each other only for 2 months now.

I find this as a classic example of how Indians socialise. We like to talk and never hesitate to make acquaintances. People always say that in a long train journey you will always make friends. And that is very true. Put a bunch of Indians together for sometime and everyone will know about each other in no time. Soon each will get introduced to each others family and then there will be dinner plans and outings!!

That is exactly what is happening in my cab too. I always used to tell them that I have two vada for breakfast everyday and today I was actually asked to get 20 packets of vada in the morning to have as breakfast in the cab!! And there is a plan to have a "cab dinner" (with family) tonight!!