Bus – Page 2 – Before You Travel.

Life is a big holiday. It is such a prolonging version of vacations that we miss out the fun that the big guys nearly and always have. They are always in their mojo and whatsoever may come nothing can poke and change them. So, simply to get a change and to be in good fresh air (which doesn’t exist anymore), we have decided to go on a trip.
The bags are ready, tiffins have been packed in air tight tiffin boxes and our tickets to holidays are ready. We are going to a place, where there is fresh air, the hotels are modest, not too extravagant and the prices are not steep. Food is moderately priced and the best thing is you can play any outdoor game whenever you want, be it football, cricket, badminton, etc.
The destination for which the tickets have been booked is nearly a half a day journey by bus or an eight hour journey by train.
Simply imagining the fun that I would have, my sports shoes are doing Zumba by themselves and my storybooks are super excited themselves. Ma has made three sorts of tiffins to be had on our way to that place and everything which exists is humming –“hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,holiday,holiday,holidays.”
It feels as if with us, our things too would enjoy the holidays.
The bus is a luxury bus. But there is nothing “ooh-aah” about it. Only, you can stretch your legs a bit if you want and the bus looks grand.
I have taken two apples in my pocket in case I get extra hungry on the way and we are now simply waiting for the journey to start. Once the bus starts it will make a stop only after two hours and you can’t attend nature’s call in between a bus journey.B y the way, who wants to even have nature calling, while you are in a bus? Once you have settled down nicely in your hotel room, then nature can call as much as it wants (limited edition only).
The big engine of the bus has started doing-“grrr,grrr and grrr”, signalling that it is hungry for a road trip and the trip begins.
We have just crossed the first hundred miles of our journey and that means nearly half of our journey. The bus did stop twice in between and no, we didn’t attend nature’s call as the nature didn’t come calling. Ma bought me a gems chocolate packet and a pack of salted peanuts and buttered croissants from a vendor who was selling his wares on the bus (when the bus had stopped).

Now the last leg of the journey is coming to an end and within five minutes we would reach our destination and the hotel people would have sent a cab over at the bus station for us and soon we would be taking a hot water bath and a medium sized nap to break all the tiredness of our journey.
Next day, when the Sun was looking baby sized, we went for a trek on the nearby hills and it was fun. The trek guide himself was trembling and seizing anything to which he could hold himself too. He had a big trouble keeping his feet steady on the hills and often would request us that if we would like to go for an enclosed bus tour in a nearby jungle.
We came back to the hotel at around two o’clock in the afternoon and went straight for lunch.
The food which we had the day before in the bus was excellent.The bus ride was so bumpy, but the food which Ma had prepared was so beautiful, that it helped me keep myself in me during the whole journey.

She had prepared three items, which were-Hakka noodles, buttered sandwiches with mind blowing stuffing and vegetable fried rice with pakodas. It felt as if the long journey was simply created so that I ( we) could enjoy the food prepared by her, thoroughly and throughout the time which the bus took to reach its goal.

The lunch which we had was good, but not superb. The dal tadka was excellent and the buttered naan was done nicely. The rest of the food was good.
In the evening we had tea and samosa. After that we went for a little walk and before sunset we had visited a beautiful garden and the smell of the flowers over there made my mind hum and belt out a few evergreen melodies. In times like these, one needs to sit down on a bench and simply take the scenery in. The more you take it in, the more you can sustain yourself.

The dusk had spread its wings all over the sky and our friend the Sun had already gone and it was time for us to go back to our hotel room. The walk back to our hotel room was a bit slow as the garden had a beautiful effect on us and we strolled at a slow pace, leisurely.
Such are the beautiful things which are like small pebbles in God’s collection of pebbles.
The rest of the journey, I would narrate tomorrow.
Adios!

Uncategorized

Music On a Bus Part-2

November 23, 2018June 11, 2025 aveekoiqbalneep

The Band got down from the bus and the bus went on ahead.The people who were singing and clapping, were now resting and enjoying the cool breeze and the sparrows were nibbling on the titbits of food which they found on the bus.

As the bus turned towards the road from where the seaside was visible, much cooler breeze started coming and the warmth of the sunlight was so glorious and healthy, that it felt as if they were standing near the hearth in their home. As the rays of sunlight touched the body, all tiredness, sluggishness and sleep vamoosed. Now it was time for the bus to take rest. The bus stopped near an air conditioned restaurant and the driver reminded everyone that the bus would leave exactly after forty-five minutes.

They all went inside the restaurant.As it was afternoon, the tables were mostly empty and the waiters were feeling too lazy to take down any orders.Slowly, slowly at snail’s space, the waiters came and took the orders. Most of the bus passengers ordered for tea and snacks.

After having tea and snacks, everyone was waiting to go back to the bus, when the bus conductor came and told that they would have to wait for another half an hour as the bus driver was still sleeping.Hearing this, everyone grumbled.Now the time started passing slowly and some even dozzed off.It was five o’clock in the evening, when a band who were going to a particular function, entered the restaurant. They had ordered for some light food and were waiting for it to come, when two men from the band absent mindedly, began playing their instruments simply for sheer fun. Everyone woke with a jolt hearing –“para paap paap paap poon and dhi tiri riri riri” and they were stunned.It was a full on jazz performance of drums and saxophone.

All the bus passengers and the remaining band members were shouting-“Stop, stop, stop.Please our heads are aching.” Those men stopped playing their instruments and all heaved a sigh of relief.

Barely five minutes or so had passed, when the bus conductor came and said-“The driver has woken up, freshened himself up and the bus is ready to go.”

Immediately, everyone started walking towards the restaurant door, when a voice asked –“where is the bus going?”

The conductor replied-“to so and so place.” Immediately the band members’ faces lightened up. It felt as if they had received early bonuses.

Their leader spoke-“We, too would like to ride on your bus, as our destination is the same.”

After all the musicians had got on the bus, the conductor was trying to decide whether to charge for the musical instruments or not. The big trumpet had nearly blocked the exit and the bus driver wondered whether more such quirky individuals would get on the bus. Two bands in a single day, was something that he had never seen in his job.

Before the bus started doing –“Grr-grr-grr-grr”, the starting sound which all buses make before picking up speed, an ice cream seller got on to the bu. Instantly he began mongering his ice products of love, cups, bowls and cones.

“Mango-vanilla – lollipop ice cream, two plus one free.” There were two children on the bus.Spontaneously they asked their mothers for ice creams. Reluctantly the mothers had to buy them the ice creams. The ice cream seller said-“two plus one free. Buy four and I will give you three free.” The mothers’ simply brushed off his offer and bought single quantity of ice cream for their kids. Before giving her kid the ice cream, one of the ladies who had bought the ice cream had taken a bite and felt that the mango-vanilla-lollipop was heaven sent. She told all the passengers nearby that the ice cream was simply superb to eat and in a speed faster than superfast train, the whole bus was sumptuously eating the ice cream (including the driver and the conductor). By this time the dusk had fallen and sun was on the verge of going down the horizon, when the flute player of the band, played a tune so melodious that it toughed everyone’s heart’s core. It was a befitting salute and tribute to the Sun God who nourishes us all and keeps guard for us.The mouth organ player joined his friend and the harmonium player too rendered a soft piece of an unknown raga.

The evening stars were now shining all across the sky and the band began practising their songs for the function. Unknown to them, it was causing a bit of chaos to people below on the streets, as they kept on looking here and there for the source of sound and music, but couldn’t find it.

The band members became bored by playing the same songs again and again, so they began playing the latest party and hip and hop songs and instantaneously the whole bus was swaying, singing and dancing to those songs. The driver was having a hard time controlling his desire to get up from his seat and belt out a few dance moves, but it was years of experience of monotonous driving that he kept his buttocks firmly on his seat. Before the band alighted from the bus, they played out a famous songs so beautifully, that people passing by had gathered themselves around the band and like free birds, they forgot themselves for a few priceless and extraordinary moments.

Music is priceless, music is eternal and it is both boon and grace from the all loving father in heaven. The best music created on earth are the songs which a mother sings to her baby or child when trying to make them go to sleep. There is nothing more beautiful and natural than it. A mother’s song is an unlimited mine or ocean of love.

Such bus journeys make music felt and interwoven in hearts. Heart is nothing but a ball of love. If you feed it with happiness, love and music, it will grow stronger by the day and nothing can fell it.

Hope you have enjoyed this bus journey and again and again and thousands and million times, may you all have more such rides on such a wonderful bus trip (including ma, baba, me and God).

Adios!

Uncategorized

Music on a Bus.

November 22, 2018June 11, 2025 aveekoiqbalneep

Have you ever travelled in an open double decker bus? Many of you surely have.

The wind ruffling your hair, the beautiful and exotic scenery making you feel as a part of the city, and a part of you wishing that you were a bonafide member of that place. Such wonderful feelings do come and dwindle your heart. The fresh air compared to the exhaust pipes which give out wonderful fragrances out of the cars below that fill one’s lungs with carbon monoxide and dust particles. So sitting in the open bus is definitely a better option than riding a bike or any open top vehicle.

In the open bus, a music band were travelling to a certain part of the city and they had booked seats grouped together at the corner. As the wind was flowing continuously bringing pleasure and happiness to all, the guitarist of the band, played the chord E on his guitar. Then he played out a melodious tune. On hearing his tune, the bongo player adjusted his instrument and brought out a nice beat. Soon enough the whole band were syncing together and playing something out which suited the surrounding environment.

The people started clapping their hands and like baby birds coming out of their shells, soon they began crooning and sometimes they sang out loud enough to get stares from people who were walking down the streets. On hearing the sweet tunes of the flute, the sparrows came and sat on the railings of the bus. When the bus reached at the band’s destination, the band took a bow and all the people gave them a hearty clap.

Music is spontaneous, music is love and it is what bridges the gap between all and makes everyone more inclined towards their own self.

Hope your journey has been as beautiful as this one.

Adios!

Tag: Bus

Holidays Begin and Going for a Bus Ride.

Music On a Bus Part-2

Music on a Bus.