What kind of a bus person are you?

What kind of a bus person are you?

Commuting by buses can be quite eventful in the city. Here are some of varied travellers you may encounter

    Athough railways are considered a lifeline in Mumbai, many people prefer taking the bus — BEST or city AC — to work everyday. If you are one of those who travels to and fro this way, you must have found the journey mundane, at times. But you can add some fun to the commute. People-watching or observing the crowd guarantees an interesting, if not fun, ride to your destination. There are quite a varied bunch of commuters found on the bus. We’ve categorised a few for you...
THE PHILANTHROPIST This kind will mostly be spotted at the door of the bus and often facilitate the smooth movement of crowd that enters and exits the vehicle. He believes he is rendering service to humanity by doing so. Usually, a beefy, macho character, sporting a cheerful and bindaas attitude, can be found under this section.
THE HI-BYE FRIEND This person will befriend strangers with a heart-warming smile and keep his interaction restricted to a daily ‘hi-bye’. Daily commuters on the same bus with the same people fall under this category.
THE NEWS LOVERS Think you’re missing out on news? Don’t worry! There will be that one person who likes to think of himself as a prime-time news host. He often finds a way of initiating a political debate and commenting on the government policies among middle-aged men. Once the debate has been instigated, he then takes on the role of a spectator as the debaters continue arguing their heart out, in a desperate attempt to hog imaginary glory. Under the category of debaters also fall the self-proclaimed critics, who think it is their responsibility to criticise anything and everything to restore the balance of power to the chaotic order of the world.
    Persons uninterested in debates but with a keen interest in news will be seen deeply engrossed in reading the newspaper. However, if you manage to disturb him, brace yourself for receiving the dirtiest look that he can — and will — throw at you.
THE PHILOSOPHER He usually occupies the window seat and is lost in thoughts throughout the journey, trying to find the answer to seemingly impossible-to-answer questions. Try to interrupt his chain of thought, and see the ‘look’ you get. Shiva Kumar, a regular commuter, tells us, “I tried talking to a person seated at the window, but he gave me the ultimate look, which said a lot, and I knew it was time to back out.”
MUSIC LOVERS People playing loud songs from cheap China phones is not uncommon in our city buses. While you are most commonly greeted with the latest filmi numbers, a young boy who cares a lot about being ‘cool’ will be heard listening to the hottest songs from B-town. Others not so blatant about their love for music, listen to the radio or a playlist using headphones or earphones.
THE GADGET FREAK This kind will be so engrossed in his latest state-of-the-art tech device, like a smartphone, tablet or laptop, all the time, that some people start thinking of him as a showoff. A few think he is ultracool, while others think he is a snob. Fellow travellers like to think of him as a computer salesman and pour out their list of questions and ask him for advice on which laptop or mobile to purchase.
ZZzzz... Then there are some people who waste absolutely no time in catching up on their sleep while commuting. In all probability, they’re so tired of working that sleep forces itself on them. Not just people who sit, some people doze off even while standing!
THE SILENT CREEP He is the person who steps in like a robust personality and stands right in the middle of the bus. Sashi Goud, a commuter, observes, “I see a man everyday on the bus, who occupies the middle section. When there is a huge crowd, he takes advantage of the situation and falls on the women standing in front. These women can’t even complain because the bus is overcrowded.”
THE ARTIST This is the guy who either occupies the window seat or accompanies the ‘philanthropist’. He has the uncontrollable urge to chew pan/gutka or zarda. Consequently, he spits out a jet of maroon fluid from the door/window, often aiming for corners of the road or objects along the way, leaving behind interesting patterns of red. He often has a self-issued restraining order, requiring people to stay at least 2-3 feet away from him (owing to the foul stink of what he is chewing).