Not once, not twice, at least 5 times when travelling, if my memory serves me right, as I'm writing this post!
Here's how the testing times unraveled...
(In the order of occurence of events: Please read AP as Anonymous Person and so on, so forth.)
Scene 1:
I was travelling in KSRTC Rajahamsa Bus from Koppal to Bangalore - approx 8 hrs' journey....
AP: Please allow me to sit in your seat since I've back-ache problem. My seat number is 17.
Me: Alright. Your seat...Above the tyre of the wheel?
AP: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Me: You're welcome. I can sense your pain.
I moved to seat number 17. I found that the knob mounted to left arm of the seat, that causes the to-and-fro movement of the seat, was broken. Sadly, the handle of the knob itself was too rigid to move by a centimeter! As a result, it behaved like a firm wooden chair!!!
Scene 2:
I was travelling in VRL bus from Koppal to Bangalore.....
AP1: Your seat?...
Me: (Failing to notice her intentions...was in a hurry as well) Yes, my seat number is 1(equivalent to sleeper class in the train). I quickly move to my mom's seat to chat with her.
AP2: Sanjeev...
Me: Hey, how're you doing?
AP2: I'm doing good....BTW, my sister has a *kid* baby and so, could you please allow her to take your seat?
Me: Hmmm... (Thinking for a while)...Alright. What's her seat number?
AP2: Seat number 6. Thanks, buddy.
It turned out that AP2 was my school friend and the young lady for whom he had asked me to do a favor, had a healthy kid and not a baby, mind you. Moreover, she was too healthy to be in need of 'sleeper class' seat!
Scene 3:
I was travelling in Shatabdi Express from Bangalore to Chennai for my US B1 VISA interview. Window seat was reserved for me. That would be my first ever experience travelling in the Shatabdi Express.....
AP1: Could you please sit in the seat closest to the aisle in the next row?
Me: Why?
AP1: We're a family of three and we can all sit together.
Me: (Arisen by the impact of such previous incidents and also by the fact that sitting in the aisle seat with so many tea/coffee/snacks' vendors taking turns by your side, every now and then, throughout the next 5 hours, would be such a terrible experience) Sorry. I need proper rest - I've my interview tomorrow.
It turned out that AP1 was a middle-aged lady and there was no genuine reason behind her asking for the window seat except *in her opinion* for the so-called family-sitting-together experience, which, I later thought , would be a disaster anyways, since the woman was not a talkative type and neither were her daughter and her brother!
How can you deny somebody his deserved comfort when you don't have any genuine reason behind your asking him for the compromise?
Should all young men always sacrifice their comfort? At least, me?
Scene 4:
This time on my way back from Chennai to Bangalore. I was travelling in Lalbagh Express from Chennai to Bangalore. Although, Window seat was reserved for me, it turned out that seat numbers were swapped in reality.....
AP1: My seat number is 3 and I'm sorry it's not my mistake.
Me: (Grinning at the Railways Administration in mind) Let me ask the Ticket Collector regarding this.
AP1: Alright.
Me: (Going to Ticket Collector(TC)) Sir, mine is a window seat and it was reserved long before AP1 reserved his seat.
I should be sitting in that seat.
TC: Look Sir, it happens(holding the Reservation Guys guilty, perhaps) sometimes. It's all a matter of adjustment.
It's like Kannadigas asking for more share of Kaveri water than Tamil Nadu, since that took birth in Karnataka (laughs sarcastically)
Me: AP1, (Narrating TC's story) I guess, I should be sitting there.
AP2: (Jumping in her brother's defence) This has happened with us several times and we're sorry.
Me: (Although sure, I could win an argument over her) Alright. Have a nice journey :-) ... :-(
AP3: Could you please let me sit here in the aisle since our whole family could be sitting in the same row and you can get back to the window seat number 45 (in the behind rows)?
Me: Sure. Thanks. :-)
Me: (Closing in on to Window seat) Hmmm... Aisle again. This time aisle in 3-seater row :-( .
It turned out that some seat adjustment had happened again, amidst all the hustle-bustle in the process. As Lalbagh Express doesn't have better logistics facilities compared to Shatabdi, it was a terrible experience journeying in the train on my return.
And, God, why me again?
Scene 5:
I was travelling in Volvo bus for work. I was seriously reading architecture document of our project....
AP1: Excuse me, I want to sit here (Gutsy).
Me: (Caught by surprise), Hmmm...alright... (Leaving my seat..)
AP1: Thank you.
Me: You're welcome!!!
It turned out that AP1 was a healthy young woman who was quite aware that there was no reservation-for-women kind of thing in Volvo buses.
...And, God, why me, again and again?
To be continued... :-)
