the school bus

The feeling of nostalgia is taking over me this sunny mid-week morning. I recently heard from a classmate of mine, from what seems like ages ago. Things start to seem surreal when you dive into your past. The moments, the things, the people you remember after that time has passed you by are often what you took for granted.

I was surfing my school's web site & saw a link to the bus routes. Ah! The blissful morning ride to school, infused with energy from the excited teenagers 'n the tender tots who believed they could achieve anything. The atmosphere in each society is unique, but there is something about the adolescent experiences that makes the memories special. I am sitting amongst my colleagues today & thinking about something that was so routine a decade ago that I didn't give it a second thought.

Most people in our colony (yes, it's a colony not neighbourhood not community but colony) were in the same age-group. Our parents were almost same age, and us - the kids were also in the same age-group going to the same school. No effort was required to "fit into" a crowd, we were just born into it. The bus picked up 60+ students from 4 school bus stops, and more than half of them were in my class. That's a special bond!

The morning ride was an event in itself. Everyone gathers at the bus stop, we line our bags on the street to preserve our position in the queue. Often times, it's so hot that we leave our bags on the street 'n find ourselves a sheltered area to huddle under. We see each other, we see each other's parents...it was a social event, a chance for parents to interact with their kids' friends & their families.

Not to mention all those times when I was late & missed the bus. I'd go running after the bus 'n most times someone in the bus would spot me running towards it & tell the conductor to stop. Aha, I had celebrity status....the bus pulled over, just for me!

Once inside the bus, most people had their favourite seats where they always sat. The teachers were special. Their seats were never marked, but you always knew they're reserved for them. Not everyone got a seat, of course. The aisles in the bus would be packed with students, mostly older ones as they always ensured the little kids got their seats first. The back of the bus was reserved for the coolest bunch....the senior-most students who were the unelected leaders of the bus, the ones you respected 'n always wanted to be.

You yapped your way to school, waving at your friends in other school buses and rickshaws. Picking up your friends day-after-day, getting to school 'n meeting more friends. The world was my school and it was a happy place.

You repeated this on your way back, of course. Waving good-byes to friends as another day has passed 'n promised them to see them again the next day.....until the day comes when you must bid farewell 'n enter a different world.