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| Sunday, 26 March 2006 |
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That's Life - ii It was quite a funny day... For one thing I had set off to pay a library fine of Rs. 895.00 (no, the three digits in front of the decimal point is not a mistake) to an institution which is registered as a charity back in its homeland. Now isn't that funny? Quite. It was pretty early in the morning and I was supposed to meet Mandy at the University to accompany one to the aforementioned library (moral support and all that....). I had already seen a bus (quite empty, even the conductor had been seated) go past while I was walking to the bus halt. It must be said that if buses down your route arrive at fifteen minutes intervals, then we don't line down the same route. Such was my plight and I reconciled myself to a long wait. By this time the young lady living in the house next to the bus halt had sat on the doorstep and was interestedly watching my plight. Then came a bus which looked as if it were ejecting passengers from its doors (or on second thoughts they were simply travelling on footboards because the bus was extremely crowded). I decided to wait for the next bus, in any case the bus certainly didn't stop for me. This time I could see several members of the lady's family voyeuristically assembled at the door. Then I realised that I had forgotten to bring my money, so I rushed back home and on my way back to the halt another perfectly empty bus went past. Now isn't that funny? Quite. Just then my friend's parents stopped their van and kindly offered me a ride. Ah, how my spirits rose. Happily I got in silently rejoicing for having missed those three buses and he, this will teach that young lady. "You can take the 120 from Pitakotuwa can't you duva? asked uncle. Oh oh, Pitakotuwa, not exactly my favourite place on earth. I won't be able to find my way there with a map and a backpack of rations for ten days. But then I thought, hey it's morning, bet there'll be loads of people who could give me directions if I lose my way. I will have to get used to Pitakotuwa some day. Ha, bet I'll feel really proud of myself at the end of the day. So I replied in the affirmative with a tone of voice that was supposed to imply that this was something I did everyday, puh....lease.... But the nearer we got to this other bus route where I could take another bus to uni the more my bravado declined, what with taking the easy way out and that sort of thing. Then it got the better of me and I asked Uncle to simply drop me off here. "But isn't taking the 120 much easier for you duva" asked uncle without slowing down. And if you possibly can, please imagine me with my nose to the shutter looking devasted staring at the only alternative to Pitakotuwa getting smaller, smaller and smaller. So in this mood we made our grand entrance into the heart of Pitakotuwa (which doesn't seem to be much different to the rest of it though). Workers pushed carts of apples, oranges, jak-fruit, vegetables and king coconuts. The hitch in this beautiful picture was that none of the carts were being pushed in the same direction. People were getting off buses only to chase determinedly after more buses to get into long lines of buses were parked in such a way they looked more like trains. Stray dogs and crows were merrily joining in on the proceedings. And I had to step into this. I could see a long row of 120 buses. What a wonderful day.... Just then Uncle and Aunty said that they were too early for work anyway and why the university is just...And they so kindly dropped me at uni. What a nice gesture and what a blaring understatement that is. And here's to all these people who make our days.... - Dilini Algama
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