I got my first desktop computer around 2001 when I was in my
engineering days. Since then at the end of every semester I used to carry my
desktop computer back home(Haridwar) at the end of semester and then back to
college (Dehradun) at the start of semester, in roadways bus yes you read it correct.
I mean it, the complete desktop setup, 15 inch Samsung CRT monitor (a very
heavy object), the big CPU cabinet (made up of steel); inverter cum battery (a
very heavy item), keyboard, mouse, anti glare screen, everything perfectly
packed in cartons , wadded up old newspapers for cushioning, and finally tied
strongly with nylon strings. Just imagine the silly life without laptops and
tablets in those days. And that’s just 10 years back. That was a reasonable
thinking, semester break used to be a month and a half long, so no point in
leaving my computer back in my room, unused, when I am going home. If I carry
it with me, at home I can watch movies, play games and do some turbo C++
programming to convince myself.
As an entry in KFC Fiery Grilled ,"Sets You On Fire” blogging contest I am sharing one of such fiery interesting incident happened during my travel.
In reality, traveling in a roadways bus with your complete desktop
setup along with your luggage even to a shorter distance of 50 kms is not easy.
Other than your luggage you got to consciously watch every computer piece floating
here and there in the bus. I must have repeated this at least 10 times in the last
two years of my engineering, and successful I was every time. Please think
about the negotiations with the bus conductor for luggage’s fare, place and
then appreciate my agreements on taking half ticket for the extra luggage. Honestly
the monstrous CRT monitor’s box never looked less than a big TV. Half ticket
worth around 15 Rs in those days but any money is good in college life. I seriously
can’t do this again, I’m imagining, walking with so many items I must have
looked like Arnold in his movie, backpack on my back, one big CRT monitor
carton in one hand, in other hand CPU, battery cum inverter. Not an easy task, not
even easy to lift such boxes together but I guess I tested the pains and human
limits of travelling with max amount of luggage in roadways buses and proudly
I touched the extreme paying a very less price. In every such travel you got to
be extremely smart, careful and polite with co-passengers and bus conductor
specially. Gradually, with experience from such travels, you attain a level when
people help you in loading and unloading your luggage, desktop with its all
accessories off and on to the bus. With little extra politeness and respect I
was successful several times in keeping my big monitor or Big CPU next to
somebody’s seat and those great people would then hold it safe from floating in
the moving bus. I remember, I developed this style, even after seeing my bus I
would never board the bus just like that. I would first ask the bus conductor if that bus is going. He would say yes, and I would say, no I don’t think there is any space left in the bus I have some luggage and this big computer TV with me. This statement will hurt conductor and he would say, अरे सामान तो रखवा देंगे , तुम चलो बैठो तो सही (no problems, I will have your luggage adjusted somewhere in the bus, you first get in) . This would hint a lot.
Sweat, heated discussion, sharp mind and a "fiery tongue" :
After college, I moved to Noida with my desktop of course but this time my elder brother was with me and we handled it easily in the bus. Sometime later I bought a new desktop in Noida and thought of retiring my first
computer and finally decided to move it back to home (Haridwar). The day of travel
came, this time it was around 200Km in bus but with fewer luggage, only my
backpack and the CPU cabinet roughly of the size of a big suitcase. I packed it
in my new CPU cabinet’s carton so it looked new stylish but slightly bigger
than its actual size. The moment I boarded the UP roadways bus from Noida sec 12-22
stop, the conductor noticed it and asked me to keep it at the back or at front
above bus’s bonnett. I simply refused his indecent suggestion, how can I keep a
sophisticated device like CPU at the back of the bus or above bonnett, the conductor
got busy with tickets and passengers. I luckily found a window seat, kept my
backpack on the above rusted iron rack and sat holding my big CPU box over my
lap and my hands folded on to the box, reading some book. From the next bus stop
a lady in her 30’s also boarded the same bus and surprisingly sat on the seat
next to mine. No one asks for permission before sitting in a seat that’s our culture,
I didn’t bother either. She was a very smart lady, looked good, educated and right
away our conversation started. She asked me if I am carrying a computer inside this
box and if I am a student. I replied in yes and no I am not a student anymore. She asked me if she can sit on window side , I said pleasure is all mine. She
was travelling to Dehradun, I don’t remember what we were discussing when the
conductor came to our seat for tickets. I said one ticket to Haridwar;
he questioned what’s inside the box, I replied computer, he said, you will have
to buy ticket for it, I asked why? It's mine a five year old computer I am taking it with me back home, kindly consider it as my luggage. I added other
people are also travelling with so many bags, big holdalls , no one actually buys tickets for their bags,
and in fact I have kept it on my lap ?
I never encountered such an adamant conductor in past two
years when I travelled even with my monitor and inverter as well. I was
mentally not prepared to buy ticket for my CPU. He said raising his tone, you will need to buy a full ticket of 90 Rs
for it, because it’s a commercial item. By that time all passengers were
looking towards us listening that heated discussion in that month of June. I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my t-shirt. Holy
cow, the conductor added this useless term in that discussion as an expert
politician ‘commercial item’, he said I would even need to pay sales tax if he
informs them at UP-Uttrakhand border. What
he was saying didn’t make much sense to me, but he was for sure trying hard to intimidate me . He asked the driver to stop the bus, and to me to get out
of the bus. I showed him my old computer bill which clearly mentions that I
bought it in year 2001. To further defend my claim, I told him that I am a student and preparing for
this exam back home and this computer contains all that study material, he asked
what’s study material , I replied eBooks, this word popped up in my mind spontaneously,
what’s an eBook conductor asked. I said electronically saved books, my syllabus, and
course for exam, it’s not commercial and today I don’t have my monitor and its battery
backup else I would have showed you how an eBook looks like. The fair lady now
jumped into our heated discussion she added, by law conductor cannot ask a
student to buy ticket for his books and study material. More confidently I used
my mind and added further, this box contains hundreds of eBooks and thousands
of document files in fact I am saving a lot of space in this bus. I don't know if that was said in humor or not I don’t even know
if he got convinced or not or he was knowingly trying to push me on back foot
to earn some money or I fooled him, he ultimately returned back to his seat and didn’t ask
for any ticket again for my CPU. Today, I think why I never carried my computer table
with me in my travels. But honestly I once transported my heavy wooden-iron
folding bed in a city bus in Dehradun, don't remember if I used the fiery tongue or my mind. :)
~bd
