As i took the bus for Science City from Lenin Sarani

As i took the bus for Science City from Lenin Sarani

As i decided to take the bus for Science City the other day, it was the search lasting for over half an hour that finally led me to Lenin Sarani. The need to visit Lenin Sarani was accentuated by the fact that a Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had refused point blank entry to me; perhaps not even bothered by the fact that close to two hours had been spent the previous day. The logical explanation proferred by them was none of the seats were vacant; it is true that all seats had computers open but few men/women could be seen visibly trying their hands. With terminals open and seats vacant, it was hard to digest how could they refuse point blank. Still acceptable.

The approach to the Cyber Cafe in Dum Dum had tell tale signs of something fishy. Because before i reached there on the second consecutive day, there were fair number of men and women milling around. The congregation i could not understand and the chorus for which band. It all looked strange and this was something reminiscent of Triambakeshwar in the month of November where the information that filtered out was the cyber cafe had downed its shutters for the time being as the manager had gone for the meal break. When the manager returned, he showed his helplessness to up the shutters that were down as it looked appropriate for him to get it opened the next day count. So Dum Dum experience was nothing new; only one could make out the irrational logic by which they open and shut the terminals for some at their convenience. Given the inconvenient nature the cyberwallahs displayed, it was more than convenient for me to scout for another cyber cafe and the odds seem to be stacked against me. (That does not discount my visiting the Dum Dum Cyber Cafe in future as it houses some who are devotees of Lord Venkateshwara; it was the picture of the Lord hanging on the wall that drew me to this cafe).

Returned to Esplanade and made enquiries about going to Science City (Mega Trade Fair). String of enquiries saw me head towards Maidan Stand; return back and finally settle at Lenin Sarani bus stand. It was bus number 24A/1 coming from Mukandapur and heading towards EM bypass that i took. Unimaginable was the rush in the bus and unimaginable was the scenario that no sooner i boarded the bus i secured the seat. The seat that at least gave me the comfort that i won't end up travelling standing till my destination. There was still a fair amount of pushing and shoving and the man seated next to me was fair enough to guide me that the commute would last over half an hour. Before some of us were to deboard came this piece of news that one set of mobile had disappeared and this led to the adjacent man to remove his wallet from back and place it in the bag. I could sense the apprehensions he was swelling with. As Science City came, perhaps not in the heart of the city is its plus point, some of us deboarded including the tail which follows everywhere.

Once inside the Science City, the entry fees was Rs 10 and i could sense there won't be maddening number of stalls. The limited number of stalls at least gave the breathing space which one desires following visits to such mega empire. Unimaginable was the entry given the unimaginable rush inside. The entry ticket came with the coupon to be filled and post filling and felling in the box, the lady opposite the collection box seem to be the one relishing the job and belonged to an inspiring lot. The way she spoke and handled the crowd showed the cheerful cheerleader she could be. As i went inside to come out that very evening, the one to be cheerfully cheered was the West Bengal pavilion. The rush in other pavilions was unimaginable and the unimaginable way the crowd was filing past. Buy one get one free saw me take one soft drink and finish the round in under 30 minutes. Outside the pavilion and next to the gates the first sighting was of Georgia coffee. With a price tag of Rs 15, the poster behind said it all.
Post coffee intake, tail of vehicles different from tail of men women and babies could be spotted; more to do with some metro construction/road upgradation. Buses could be spotted to a point where it was better to leave them and walk. Finally it was the connectivity by bus for Rabindra Sadan i could get hold of and in no time i was in Central by metro.
Unimaginable was the day for the unimaginable surging crowd i came across and in no time the unimaginable rush was cleared. Unimaginable was the day for the umpteen time i came across men women and babies with same degree/application of mind.