Hop On- Hop Off

I did not realise that I did not have a more than Rs.3.00 in my pocket when I decided to make a short soul searching trip. It was a spur of the moment decision. So packed my haversack with a towel, a top, sanitary pads, lip gloss, a soap and water. I threw my purse in the last minute without checking it for money. I left the house at about 9 A M. Walked till the bus stop close to my house and took a bus to another place close to my house. It was the worst summer in my small life. There was no shelter in the bus stop where I got down. So I had to sweat it out and wait for the Hop On- Hop Off bus that comes by at that time. By then I felt like a half roasted chicken not that I was going on a date but it did ruin my mood a little. I then got in the bus. There were a total of 6 people in the bus. Mostly 40+ women. There was one old guy and one good looking young guy. I did not really have my hopes high with it being a weekday. Anyways, the bus was air-conditioned and felt nice and big. It was a big yellow bus. I kinda liked the colour of the interiors. All yellow seats and terribly bright lights. And the whole bus smelt like a chocolate cake. And I knew instantly that it must be the Axe body spray. My husband used it for a while and he never smelt like a cake. Maybe a chocolate but never cake. So things seemed fine. The bus was going to a place called Mammallapuram. And it made a few other stops and a couple of other women in their early 30s hopped in. I sank into my seat comfortably and hugged my bag hoping it was my last journey to the center of nowhere. Ahem! I really did think it was a free bus. But this chauffeur looking guy dressed up in white, with a broad smile and a very funny
English accent said "Good Morning". He held out something in his hand hoping I would take it.But I declined politely. His reaction changed just a wee bit and he said "ticket". So I raised my eyebrows and took it. Holy%^&! I thought I had money but the ticket amount was far from what I thought I had. I started choking. I took out my purse anyways and tried to check how much money I had. Fuck! Rs.3.00! I was almost in tears. But I sheepishly took out my card and waved it at him. He stared at me like I was showing him the middle finger. He saidsternly "only cash". So I gulped and waited. He gave me a curious look and walked past me to the others. In about 15 minutes he came back and bent down real close to me. I thought he was going to spit on me. But he just came close to my ears and said "last time. dont repeat." He then gave me a receipt. I was nt breating yet. But maintained to keep a lamb face for a while and after he went back to the drivers corner, I let out a big phew. I was overjoyed. I was watching out the window and the weather outside seemed like one of those winter days when you can sit by the fire and sip coffee. It was because of the windows. So I was sitting there trying not to imagine a day like that with my husband. Afterall, we did have a fight. And it seemed very weak of me to be imaging things like that with him. So I shook my head out of the reverie and looked straight. Suddenly somebody sat in the seat adjacent to mine. So I looked. It was one of the ladies who hopped in later during the journey. She looked at me and smiled. She seemed very friendly and asked me where I was studying. So I smiled a little and told her that I was married and that I was a house-wife. She seemed really happy about this and asked me if she could come sit next to me. I did not see any harm and agreed immediately. The other lady who was with her came and sat in her seat now. And they started talking in a very different language. Sounded a little bit like Oriya, not that I knew how Oriya sounds like. But then they started talking to me in Tamil. They asked me what my husband was doing and what I was doing on this bus all alone. So I told them that I was going to see a relative. They giggled like complete idiots and said they were going to meet some friends and have fun. I felt happy for them. One of the ladies then picked up her bag and took out a candy and asked if we needed it. I declined the offer. The other lady took it and was sucking on it. In a while they got very giggly. I felt consious with all the attention we were getting. The lady took out more candies and asked if we needed them again. I took one from her and held it in my hand. The other lady put it in her mouth. They stopped laughing so much and started talking about how women should excercise to be fit. I nodded my head now and then. By now the conversation was getting tedious and I found them a little annoying. Suddenly the lady sitting next to me said she knew this great move that can help tone the tummy. And out of the blue turned around and held my hip. I got up immediately and felt her hand give a little poke in my hip. I started walking out of the seat and told them that I was sitting behind. They laughed a little and let me go. I stayed wide awake for the next 2 hours. We got down at Mammallapuram, which I later realised was Mahabalipuram. Ahem! I really did feel extremely stupid about the whole thing and wanted to get back immediately. I thought about my husband and almost choked. This was the first fight during which I had not shed a drop of tear. I still couldnt cry so I left it at that and looked around. I knew this place so well. I had come here with my parents a long time back when I was still seeing my husband. I remembered all the shops. I remembered all the small things I had bought for him. My parents did not know I was seeing him then. I had bought small pendants made of stone for him and he was really happy when I gave it to him. He even wore it around his neck for a while. Sheessh! All these memories were killing me when suddenly the conductor came around and announced a tour of the place. We were supposed to spend 2 hours there. But I really couldnt wait. So I grabbed my bag and ran to the bus that was waiting to leave to Chennai. I sat inside and realised that I did not have money again. So I got down again and followed the crowd. We walked all over the place like it was a trekking expedition. My legs ached so much that I felt very weak. The sun was overhead. it burnt every cell in our bodies. I held the bag over my head and walked like a slave. We had to stop at a hotel for lunch. It was the most shady restaurant I had ever seen in my whole life. I was feeling extremely thirsty so I took out my bottle and drank some really hot water. So while others started eating I sat down in one of the chairs and thought about why people eat. One of the ladies asked me if I wanted to join her. I refused politely though I wanted to accept immediately. After lunch we walked again for another terrible hour. The beach was the last place I wanted to be at at the most horrible time of my life. And yet I sat there and enjoyed the blazing sun that could give me skin cancer. The waves made the most scariest of noises in this part of the world. So I took it all in. Every part of the torture that the trip was. It was time for us to go back. And just like all the time, I had to go to the loo. I told the conductor about this and he showed me this place that was nothing like a toilet and where men and women did not seem shy of each other. It really is funny that I thought about my husband at that moment the most. I cried like a baby then. He would never let me use a place like that. He would probably take me to a star hotel just for this sake, but never in a 1000 years let me use a toilet like that. Alright, I know it sounds cheesy but that is the truth. Infact I had a background song playing in my head. A very old and depressing romantic song. It doesnt matter. Then I decided to hold as long as I can and got into the bus. The minute I got into the bus the good looking guy I was taking about came and sat in the adjacent seat. I prayed that he doesnt start talking like those women. But the guy did. he moved in a little close to say something and I could smell alcohol. That was the last straw. So I got up and moved to a seat behind. The next 2 hours was again such a pain. We reached Chennai in a while. I did not have the money to take a bus or rick so I started walking towards my house. I must have walked about 2 Kms burning like Ghost-Rider when somebody started honking really loud right behind me. When I turned to look, the suns rays hit my eyes directly and I felt blinded for a minute and thought I was going to pass out. But I heard someone say 'Aye' in a familiar voice. It startled me for a minute but when i squinted my eyes to look, it was my husband. It felt like anti-climax. Like a moment in cinema when I had to run into his arms. Only his arms werent open he wasnt in tears. I realised that was because he had to hold on to the bike and he was shocked to see me walking at a very awkward time with a haversack. So I did not mind too much. He then yelled at me to hop on the bike quickly. No softness there. So I did. I was relief like I had never known before. I still had to take a leak, so that was a little uncomfortable. But it was enough for me to feel safe. We reached home and I ran to the loo first. He then stared me for a while and asked me to explain. I said "Okie" and went and hugged him tight. He seemed extremely rigid but he wasnt pushing me away. So I held on and cried. he seemed to soften a bit and kept asking me why I was acting silly. I knew he was angry from last nights fight. But I did not answer and held on. I needed this and it did not matter if he was angry. He then stopped talking and slowly held me. Slowly he hugged me a little tighter. Then it was a complete hug. He kissed the top of my head and held me for a while and said "it doesnt matter. stop crying. See you are in my arms." It was more tears for me.