BMTC bus, as one of my friends had aptly described, 'is a piece of junk'. Consider the Bfacts - like the rusted window panes, dull glass windows quivering with the impact of the potholes on Bangalore roads, the deafening rev of the old engine, the hot air emanating from the engine, the smell of the burning oil, the empty box meant to be used as a First Aid kit behind the driver's seat only added to the clutter inside the bus made me realize that her remark was not misplaced after all.

But there are not many options available for the general public. Aboard a bus, the immediate challenge one is confronted with especially during the peak hours is an experience that lasts a life time.

In a city like Bangalore, people do not have the patience to bide their time and wait for the less crowded buses. The buses are jam-packed and the passengers can be seen balancing themselves on the steps of the bus. The crew too has perfected ways ofadding misery to the already burdened commuter. First, the bus will halt at every bus stop to take in more passengers.

And the conductors, like parrots,simply repeat the phrase, 'olagade hogi' meaning 'push back'! It is of little consequence to them that the commuters inside the bus are struggling even to stand. Due to reckless driving, the commuters sway while the bus snakes along the bumpy roads amidst the heavy traffic. But there is more to the BMTC buses than just tales of discomfort and its reckless crew.

Recently, traveling in one of the buses from college, a group of women boarded the bus at one of its scheduled stops. This group had a representative for virtually every age group ranging from an old grandmother to a small baby clinging onto her young mother's shoulder. Looking at the seats available, it was obvious not all of them could be seated. Luckily, a kind soul gave up a seat for the old lady. As she made her self comfortable, the baby was put in her lap and a bunch of plantains was also placed in a packet, the only visible belonging of the group.

Now, to get a seat in a crowded bus requires certain tactics and courage. It is always an advantage if you are endowed physically. There are people who strategically place themselves at such an angle to the seat that they will be the next lucky person to sit (if not comfortably) and travel. As one person wins the seat by luck or ingenuity, the brightness fades on the other faces that have lost their opportunity. I feel that somehow, their actions have a touch of the musical chair competition with every one trying to win a seat and the constant revving and honks freely playing in background.

But this particular lady, despite her old age seemed to be adept at handling such situations. To begin with, she sat quietly with the baby in her laps and the packet in her hand. When the bus stopped and someone got up to leave, the grand mother threw her bunch of plantains on to that vacant seat which fell right on the desired goal.

Another lady who was about to take the seat was froze where she stood. By then one of the women in the group had removed the packet and sat there. She also made the lady sitting next to her move a little so that two small children in her company could also squeeze themselves in. At the next stop, the packet was again smartly placed onto an empty seat and the same repeated across the bus. Each time, the seats were taken up by the women and children.

was still standing and all I could do was to marvel their inborn or acquired knack of catching hold of seats in a crowded bus. What help a bunch of plantains can be! And yes, by then the little children had started eating their snacks which was nothing but those phenomenal plantains!