Eight-thirty! …. still no sign of the bus –
The driver must be sipping his coffee
By some roadside dhaba, why should he care
If the passengers suffer? …… if I suffer?
A quarter-to-nine! Gosh… I wonder whether
That driver is still having his coffee there
Or is gossiping somewhere, maybe chewing paan –
Or is that dhaba owner a breasty woman?
Nine-fifteen! When shall now I reach office?
Have those drivers all called a sudden strike?
Lo! Gandhi taught them hartal and now
They are striking everyday – bless Democracy!
They will pilfer the diesel, then sell the tyres
And will strike now for more salaries!
Nine-thirty now! ….. Bless me Lord!
Is that bloody driver debauching somewhere?
Oh I know these drivers and those dhaba women –
Go debauch whole night, who stops you rascal? –
But you will debauch n-o-w at nine thirty! !
A quarter-to-ten! …..Oh my Lord!
Has that driver met with a crash or what!
Must be drunk with hooch, and dead asleep
Or maybe the helper was driving, who knows now
Anybody can get a license these days
By bribing the R.T.O. – the cursed lot!
It’s ten! … Oh no, I’ll take a taxi –
Taxi! …oye, ahoy! Taxi! Taxi! Taxi!
Hah…no, why should he listen
Cursed lot!
I’ll walk to office ….!
Arrey, what! The bus has arrived!
Ah, at last! Oh, thank you dear driver –
Thanks Lord! I won’t have to walk to office
Slow down, slow down! Do not hurry now, dear driver!
I think there must’ve been a traffic-jam somewhere –
The bloody city traffic these days! !
Leave a Reply