What IS this place???

Twinkling Diyas… sounds unrecognizable… rivers flowing… song playing somewhere far far away…the heavenly touch added by the fog.. WOW! WAT A PLACE!!

But there is a sudden jolt.. As though law of inertia was desperate to prove itself out!

That’s when your thoughts return to the reality.. trying to open your eyes with all the force necessary..you gaze @ the scene in front of u. Looks similar to your dream… but with a slight modification…

The “diyas” are apparently the lights of vehicles approaching and of those in halt! There is sound of course! People all around you are honking...Shouting (not just talking!) giving it a more profound effect! The songs out from the driver’s favorite radio station are nothing more than meaningless words placed randomly while the RJ’s are trying to make you enjoy the show (which they failed in of course!)The sewage running on the road side.. Gave it a river effect. And the fog?? That was nothing but the smoke from vehicles around which made the scene even more hazier! And U realize… you are still on wheels..!!(Except that it’s not as exciting as most of the TV shows portray)

It’s been more than an hour since you boarded the bus after your office. Quite impressed that you could finish off your works well before the sunset (or before your boss could drop another mail)… and trying to get a life (which is the current objective), you board the bus to reach your usual chill out place and where are you after an hour??? Nowhere! Not even close to your destination!! (The people who give tag lines such as “life is calling.. Where are you” obviously don’t know the answer! We are stuck in traffic for god sakes!)

There seems to be a breakdown of one of the busses in a single lane road…meanwhile a truck is stuck while trying to take a turn (and the other vehicle drivers behind it are screaming!)… the auto rickshaws seem to be anywhere and everywhere squeezing their way to get past everyone…the men trying to tune on to their radios or sometimes asking the fellow passengers to check out the score of cricket match..  the business men are busy browsing and playing in their tabs… gals giving one of their best looks… while a few of the men from their late 30’s interestingly staring at them (never letting the view get disturbed).

Your thoughts return to the filmy world… Ahh.. The films! Our typical bollywood movies that show the climax where lead actors ride/drive towards the airport/railway station to give the movie a happy ending…. It seems pretty much of a hoax coz if it was actually true… the lead actor would have to either have a private jet (which is sometimes possible in spite of his social stature being “poor”) or leave an hour prior to the schedule departure just to make on time!

You chuckle amused at the thought & sight in front of u.. Turn to talk to anyone available about the reason for delay… and the girl beside you gives one of those “wHAtt?” (Annoyed) kind of looks… coz u interrupted her talks that have been going on ever since she boarded the bus along with u!(In hushes of course!).. The college girls sitting in front of you seem to be busy giggling about topics you don’t seem to understand.. The woman standing near the driver is trying her charm so that he gives a stop nearby her residence.. thus making u furious! (The poor fellow has to drive.. and U r inside the bus for gods sake!).. The conductor is in a very awful mood and shouting @ one of the passengers for giving him a 1000rs note for a ticket of 12… while there is couple staring @ each other’s eyes in a way such that they seem to forget what’s happening around them! While you hope to find someone with whom you want to chat about TRAFFIC JAMS??? Who can possibly have time for such things???! That’s when you try to squeeze your eyes again.. Hoping to catch a nap or murmur your favorite tune (and continue the dream if possible) but all you can hear is the same… Honking… giggling… and private talks about your fellow passenger’s life!

It’s a scene that runs in different sequence… different speeds and characters.. but remains the same in its core… coz no matter how much efforts are put up by us to spend time with our families… these red lights always bring it to a halt!