Last week at exactly 1:30 PM, I got into M14 bus. I gave a 20 rupees note to the conductor and said "Oru Mount". He gave me a look as if I had asked to give his house property. He said "change ila" ( and yeah i could listen to the coin's sound very clearly for every shallows and speed breakers of our Indian roads). I didn't have change, so he said he will give it when the bus nears mount. Just 15 seconds before getting down at Mount and still he didn't give me the change.
When I asked him, he gave me the worst 5 rupee note ever and two two rupee coins. I was really irritated and I gave him the 5 rupee note back and asked for another one. He started speaking his very decent madras Tamil. I felt like having a competition with his local madras Tamil but time didn't permit me. i gave back the whole money, pulled my 20 rupee note and climbed down. Before he could start a fight, the driver started the bus (phew).
This post is not to share this stupid adventure of mine, but tell you all the open truth which you all already know about the behaviour of the public transport people.We face this problem everyday but yet we all remain silent. Why? Busy with our own business right? Nonsense.
This is a part of our life. People who are already having too many problems to deal with can't be taking the exact fair everyday. Conductors whose bags are dumped with coins and whose only concern should be passenger's safety and giving back the exact fair.
Something has to be done about this public issue. Only when we all spend a little time in this, something can be done. Bargain with them, fight with them until they give you your change (what you deserve) before your stop comes obviously.
