Minor luxuries

Kishore was in a hurry. He was getting late and his lunch was not ready. He works in a small pharma contract manufacturing company near Peenya. His job was to supervise the production line and though the job was in two shifts, due to his seniority, he was always in the general shift and would take over some line when the line supervisors needed breaks for tea, snacks, toilet or lunch. The practice of not stopping the line came about because of Kishore's idea to the MD, wherein he suggested a small crew of people who would rotate among various lines to give breaks to workmen and supervisors and ensure the line ran for the full shift. He liked giving ideas; but was averse to being late for work. Now Smitha was not punctual in preparing his lunch and he was getting agitated.

"Where is the lunch box? Should I eat in the staff canteen today?"

"Just two minutes. The 'subzi' is about to be ready and I have to make one more roti for you. Can't you wait?"

"My regular bus will leave, and I will have to take the next bus, which will be crowded. I won't get a seat. How many times have I to tell you this. Can't you wake up just 10 minutes before to keep my lunch ready?"

"Don't forget, I too work in a factory."

"Yeah, but your time is 10 am. My work starts at 8.30."

"But I have to leave Suresh at his school, you know. And here is your lunch box. Now get going."

Kishore hurried out. Generally his bus would be late by about 5-10 minutes at the bus stop. It was only 3 minutes beyond his regular time. Hopefully, he wouldn't miss the bus. On the other hand, today being a festival day, the traffic was also light. He needed to know if the bus had already left his stop. Should he call his friend Shyam, who too travelled to Peenya by the same bus?

Yes, he had missed the bus today. Now the next bus would be here after 10 minutes. He not only had to wait, but would also have to push into a crowded bus. Smitha! All because of her.

Hmm. Entered the bus. Deep breath. Both feet firmly on the floor of the bus. Good. Hand on the rail above. Great. Minor luxuries. Now he needed to move towards the centre of the bus to be able to get a seat, if some passenger alighted from the bus.

Slow movement past school kids with their inflated bag and lunch box; ladies with their oversized bags (what items do these ladies carry? We are able to accommodate everything in our pockets, aren't we? Need to ask Smitha about it tonight. But only if she is in a good mood), old men going to the post-office or the bank to collect their pension. No! Bank holiday today. Then where do these old guys go during peak hour? There should be a law preventing people who are not commuting for work from crowding the bus during peak hours. These oldies and retired guys can travel around 10 or 11 when there is less crowd, no! Having difficulty themselves, and creating problems for the commuters also. Maybe BMTC should run a senior-citizen special. He laughed at his own ideas.

Standing in the middle of the bus now, but somehow need to move near one of the seats or the vertical rod to be able to rest my back, he thought. That is also accomplished. What about the handle above? All are already taken. Kishore is 5'3" and if he stretches his hand and holds the horizontal rod, he feels uncomfortable. Yes, that handle is now released. Grab it. Done. Both feet on the floor. No one is pushing. Back resting on one of the seats, hand on the handle grip. Everything is fine. Life is back to normal and the world looks good.

Minor luxuries!