Salute to Life

Salute to Conductor

It was yet another day, and it was yet another Friday evening(it was around 4:00 P.M as I remember) and like every Friday of last two years I was on my way back home from hostel (just to give some context: I stayed in girls hostel YMCA, Faridabad, during engineering years and my home was in Sonepat). On my way back I had to change bus at I.S.B.T.. I reached I.S.B.T. as usual boarded on bus for Sonepat. Bus was crowded but as it happens with some adjustments I happened to get a corner to cling on as seat and on that also I must say I was lucky for simple reason that after a little while there was no space to stand.
It is much of a normal thing tat happens but few small things that can act as big learning happened after that. If I say that was good enough a learning; than I must also add that I am almost bankrupt as far as word bank is concerned because the thing was this good that after 3 year of scene I still remember it and appreciate it.
I thing this has been a long background to start the scene which wont take much of words but most of your thoughts.
I have often seen people complaining about rude conductors, no proper social environment in bus and blab la bla; butt is it always this way. I mean is it not that we take it as such that conductor will be rude and we want to answer him in his words and in turn we end up being rude in first place and then as perceived we get rude reply to our rude words and we jump out saying “See I am never wrong. These rude people understand only harsh words. Look at the way he was talking” and so on; but pleas spare a moment to rethink when you read ahead.
The bus in which I was traveling there were children of al shapes and sizes and were shouting at there best and in such a situation, don’t mind my saying; we educated working class gets irritated and its reasonable, we have been working, we are tired , and traveling… please we need some rest. Consider a conductor who has been traveling amidst harsh words, traffic and cries he might be in same state as you are. Look what he is doing he is gently placing shouting cubs on seats here and there playing with them while giving tickets and in a miraculous way all kids are under his charm. Smiling faces all around and but is already getting better. Next way turn of a strong guy to shout at conductor for something or other (I am sorry but I am not able to recall those harsh words; but I assure you we can go ahead without them). To this conductor replied with a smile “bhai tu thaka hai aur tujhe bhid may khada hona pad raha hai aur tujhe acha nahin lag raha. Par may bhi toh insaan hoon. Hanske bol le toh pyar se na sara kaam ho gaega. Aur sach maan tub hi khush ghar jaega”. That splendid smile at his face when he was saying these words, I suppose everyone was looking and every one was moved. I heard no harsh words from anyone after that and trust me it was really good, not having to listen to that kind of stuff.
Last thing to add to beauty of this already great day; an old gentleman (I guess late 70’s or early 80’s but not quite strong person by stature) boarded the bus. As bus was crowded so he had nowhere to sit. Conductor gave him a ticket, looked around for some seat; there wasn’t any; gave him his seat as a respect for his age (by the way did I mention that our conductor was also old; mid 50’s I guess) saying “Baba aap meri seat pe baith jao. Aaj kal ke jawanon ke toh ghutne dukhte hain” and all this he said with smile. He was looking tired, stressed but extremely refreshed to see all people comfortable in his bus.
That was day and I learned a lot. I learned that best way do make world a better place I by spreading smiles. I learned that if you want to hear nice, say nice and word will be a far better place if we learn to respect needs of others.
Don’t know if you will find it something to think about or will it be yet another text you read the other day, but it was something I learned from and I thing spreading what I learned from him that day will be a salute to Conductor.

P.S. Just a thought to think about or a life to live in special style.