Bus Number 235 going to Behala

Bus Number 235 going to Behala

Having read about Behala and having been there more than 7 years ago, the next destination was this one. Learning that metro does not go anywhere near that, i waited at the stop for the bus going in that direction.
The bus number 235 took me to Behala from Esplanade. From the moment i boarded the bus, the vacant seat was all that i was looking for. Moved to the rear side in the hope of getting one. But one after another seat became vacant in the front side. And once having moved to the front, the rear sections showing up as vacant ones. This form of a riddle i found it difficult to wriggle out. Here there were different set of commuters who seemed quite upbeat on getting to their destination. The two boys who boarded much before Diamond Harbour Road came were seen exchanging notes on the AC accommodation the different centres comply with. Here one was prodding the other to go for a movie in Ajanta Cinema but other seem to be least interested in. Mind you the DH Road is equally taxing but the air is not thick with pollutants.
It was a journey that lasted over 40 minutes and it was at the fag end that i secured a seat. Once in Behala, the search for Pujo for which a newspaper had carried a report on a previous day. Since the actual Pujo name i could not recall, the efforts to locate it proved futile. In came the information on Nutan Da Pujo. Quite breathtaking and mesmerising. Splendid view of Goddess was enough to cheer me up. And i made an observation about the same at comment counter. This outing was followed by two cups of tea at a shop opposite the chemist counter which has Saridon (one is enough tag ) gave me the requisite energy to carry on with my onward journey. The tea was as strong as the tea vendor could prepare and his spiel that this one is stronger than the beer showed he was speaking from his heart.
Before writing about the return journey, it is better to elaborate on the structured crowd in all pujos including College square , Mohammad Ali Park, Behala, Central Avenue and in and around Kalighat. Inside Kalighat Temple it is a different matter altogether given the rush round the year.
The return journey from a bus stop adjacent to Behala Dristhi Silpa Niketan was not the one to remember. Not for the fault of the driver or conductor. There were few commuters standing next to my seat. Most of them were not sure of their orientation. One of them kept falling on me repeatedly. Despite reminding him he kept doing that . Later another person replaced and he too appeared to be failing in his steps. I deboarded the bus much before and saved myself from these troublemakers who are a nuisance and an aberration.
Aberration or a string of that i have encountered little. What i have come across faces with big heart.
My best wishes to Saronjeet Haldar for giving me the seat in metro; best wishes to Kashinath Auddy, staying in College Street, and having stayed since childhood in the city. Eighty plus he got down from a tram and bared all about the city and its vibrancy. Best wishes to A Das at the teller counter of HDFC bank in Girish Chandra Avenue who was clinical in his verification drive before clearing the cheque. Best wishes to the the Net Cafe guy with whom i got argumentative the other day. Hope he swells and has a smooth sail. Best wishes to all those who see its simplicity and vibrancy in equal measure.