A general post. For someone who feels following a set protocol in public is the right thing to do. But can't do anything about it when it isn't followed by others.
This is something I've observed and been part of several times. Something a long-time Mumbaikar and BEST bus user would probably relate to. Not being too much of an extensive traveler, I haven't seen too much of other cities. Though I wonder if such situations ever arise in smaller places.
I was awaiting a bus to Powai at the Andheri (E) bus depot, from where 2 different buses have their starting point. There was a common line though. Which was sort of, the root of the problem.
The 'starting point', was marked by a ~7-8 m long railing on the footpath surrounded by shoe-shops. Given the time we'd been waiting since, and being the source of 2 buses, the line obviously extended till way outside the railing, over ~30 meters or so, and off the footpath (thanks to 'em shoe shops). Roughly 20 m of that line was behind me, maybe more.
After half-an-hour of waiting, one of them finally turned up. As expected, those in the 'railing section' waiting strictly for the other bus (lets call it B) backed off a step or two. This created a little lag as those awaiting our bus A tried to move past, struggling a bit in the restricted space between the railing and the B junta.
This lag was enough. Angrily I watched as a couple of A-liners ahead of me, outside the railing, 'free' to move, conveniently broke the line and began making their way shamelessly to the bus entrance.
An old couple, still stuck behind the railing, were dismayed. "What the hell is the point of forming a line?" Couldn't help feeling bad for them.
I thought I should do the right thing, and follow the line through the railing, as it should be.
Then I looked at the 20 m of similar, unscrupulous people behind me, who had conveniently not heard the couple, gearing up to rush in towards the bus. I realized I'd probably not even get a place to stand, in that case.
I thought of shouting out to them, to notice the line, the old couple, and the ideal blah. But I couldn't. They'd'nt have listened anyway.
So I joined the 2 idiots in front of me who'd broken the line, jabbed and pushed hard at the guys behind me, using the full force of my elbows, in my effort to get into the bus. I noticed the old couple, successfully out of the trapper of a railing by now, struggling to get in, alongside me and infinite other people. I was pushed in, looking behind to see if they made it next (or ever).
Loads of place to sit inside, that I probably didn't deserve, I thought. May be I'll get up if the old couple don't find a place to sit. Was I wrong in breaking the line? I'd to look out for myself too, I guess. So its justified now.
I was thankful that they did find a place. Didn't bother to notice though, what happened of the other deserving commuters. What am I, Mother Teresa?
So such is life in Mumbai. Does it take a bomb blast for people to show some goodness?
Vishwa.
PS: Lukkhaness. Made a Top view of it in Paint.
