It is always puzzling: the services start with some facilities promptly offered in the beginning. With passage of time, the facilities are quitely withdrawn.
A few days back, I travelled in (Tamilnadu) State Express Transport bus from Rajapalayam. (There is another blog entry on the same). It was an AC bus and every passenger is supposed to be given a blanket. But, not in this bus. And you know the human nature: if you think that there is no scope of water, you will suddenly become thirsty. (My son always proves this: suddenly he will ask his mother – hello, it is my wife only – if she has some water. If she has, he would say: “OK, thanks”. If she does not have, he will report very thirsty – with relevant emotion in his face!)
Where did I leave? M…OK…this bus conductor did not give me a blanket. While we were adding to the ground water supply on the way, I was asking the driver if we would get a blanket. The driver said that they were short of supply and hence might not be able to supply blanket. But, I do not know why he took pity on me (my father used to call it ‘kitten trust’) and said that I should ‘quite’ly request the conductor.
The conductor was surprised by my request and passed the buck saying that I should talk to the driver. I answered in confirmation. He nodded his head. But the blanket was not forthcoming.
But, surprise…surprise…After the lights were off and there was absolute darkness, a shadow came near me and dumped a blanket on my table.
Thank you, Conductor Sir!
While I was lucky, my wife’s nephews (there is another blog entry too) traveled to Bangalore from Chennai. This time it was a private bus operator – KPN. But they decided not to be different from the Government bus. They told the passengers that there were no blankets in that AC bus, since it was a spare bus! The poor boys started hiding behind the curtains.
I think Karnataka Government buses (KSRTC) are very sincere. They promptly give water, blanket and a scented tissue too. So, let us all hail KSRTC.
ps: Bagun is a Tamil King, believed to be a part of the last set of seven philanthropist, like Pari. He is supposed to have given his blanket to a peacock which was shivering in cold.
