The lady on the bus

The boy's perspective:

I got on the bus, and quickly grabbed a seat; the rush during this time was too high. It was a window seat, on the left half of the bus, and there was an empty seat beside me. I was on my way home, from my place of study, Nadiad, to Ahmedabad. I had my belongings with me in 2 bags, and I kept both of them on my lap; I couldn't risk forgetting them. I was going home after a week of college, and I was feeling exhausted. I just wanted to be at home.

People were filling in the bus, and the seat beside me was empty. Then, a lady got on the bus. She came nearer and I could see her face now. From the look on her face, I could say that she was a mother. She had experienced many ups and downs in life. The wisdom of so many years and the motherhood, both were visible on her face. She came and sat beside me. The bus started and the conductor started giving tickets. I could feel the lady's eye on me while I glanced out of the window. I got a call from my mother. I told her that I would be getting down from the bus at Narol.

The conductor came to us.

"One ticket to Gita Mandir", said the lady beside me.

"One ticket to Narol", I said.

The conductor handed us the tickets and moved on. 

The lady beside me laid her head back on the seat and tried to sleep. I laid my head on my bag and looked out of the window. 

"Narol in 5 mins", said the conductor from his seat about 45 mins later.

The lady beside me was asleep. I made myself ready to get up, and she woke up. Seeing that I was struggling with 2 bags, she took one of them and said,"Let me hold this" She did not ask me; there was no need. At that moment, she was my mother and I was her son. When I got up and moved off the seats, she handed me my bag and closed her eyes again. The bus stopped and I got down.

The lady's perspective:

I got on the bus when the rush had died down. There was one empty seat. I got nearer and found a boy sitting beside it. I sat down there. When the bus had started and he started looking outside, I had a good look at him. I could say that he was a student and that he just wanted to be home; he was probably exhausted. His mother called and I knew I was right. The boy took a ticket to Narol and I took a ticket to Gita Mandir. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. When I woke up, the boy was preparing to get up. I could see him struggle with 2 bags. Impulsively, I said, "Let me hold this", and took one bag from him. He didn't hesitate. At that moment, he was my son and I was her mother. When he moved out of the seat, I handed him the bag and closed my eyes again.