I've experienced a week of being reduced to near-poverty. Not because of an unavailability of funds, more due to the fact that I was unable to access them.
Thursday last: it was a really screwed-up day. I began my trek to Davis Square to catch the train to Alewife. Being the last-minuter that I am, I left home at 10:05, and it takes anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes to get there. I reached there just in time to see the 10:23 train depart. My bus from Alewife, #76, plies once an hour. Doomed to an hour of boredom, I waited for the next train, arrived at Alewife, and began the hour-long vigil.
Mind you, Boston-Cambridge-Somerville could rival Chennai for humidity. By the time I reached Alewife, I was swimming in my clothes. The crotch fared no better. Ugh.
At approx. 10:58, I, absorbed in Irschick's Politics & Social Conflict in South India, happened to notice a bus labelled "76." Noting the time, I chose to ignore the departure from normalcy (the next bus was only scheduled for 11:30).
"My saviour," I thought, generously heaping huge servings of lavish praise on the MBTA & bus driver.
Little did I know that I would never be the same after that ride...
(idhu konjam over dhaan, theriyum, but bear with me).
Upon boarding, I noticed that the regulars on the bus seemed absent. "No matter," I said to myself, "I shall survive without their august presence."
The bus driver seemed hell-bent on disturbing my reverie every few minutes with stunning shows of poor driving. Chennai-oda two-wheelers madhiri he was otifying the bus - Darting through this gap, past that truck, braking suddenly and happily cursing the other motorists for what obviously, their incompetence, he began to wear on my nerves. I need the bus ride to prepare my mind, or what passes for one, for the rigours of the day. Being jolted forward almost into the seat in front of me and hearing screams of fright from standing passengers did me no good.
Nor did it do me any good when the bus appeared to depart from its normal route. I assumed some sort of short cut, and gave it no further thought. A nagging doubt pervaded my confidence. Could I have boarded the wrong bus? "Pshaw," I said, "This is highly unlikely."
However, this fear was confirmed when the driver arrived at what appeared to be a hospital in Bedford. Speaking to the bus driver, I learned that it was the #62, that had been masquerading as the #76. On top of this, the bastard was smug! I bit my tongue and asked him the best way to get to Hanscom Air Force Base, which is near my office building. He told me that I'd have to walk 2 miles from some road. Fine, I thought, what's the worst that can happen?
Well, I walked two miles along a stretch of road that had no pavement, with cars zooming past at 50-60 mph (aka 80 ~ 100 kmph), at around noon, on a very humid day. Still, my spirit wasn't dampened (though my shirt certainly was). However, as I approached my destination, I realised that it bore no resemblance to anything I'd seen before. I spoke to a security guard about my predicament, about needing to reach my office, on Old Bedford Road. Being kindly, he pointed me in the right direction (finally!) and added that it was another 3 miles. What else to do? As I began the long haul along the suggested route, I called my colleague, Eric, to inform him of delayed ETA.
Me: Eric, I got somewhat lost, and will be there by about 1 or 1:15. (it was 12:20 then). I've to walk another 3 miles.
Eric: Again?! (I had called him earlier, as I alighted from the bus) You want a lift or something? I can pick you up.
Me: Thanks, chap, but there's a problem with that - in order for you to pick me up, I'd have to tell you where I am. Sadly, this valuable information is unavailable at this time.
Eric: (chortles) OK, see you in a while.
I walked another mile or so, to find myself face-to-face with MIT's Lincoln Lab. facility, from where the *correct* bus could be taken. The only problem - it was another 45 minutes before it would leave. Sweating buckets, with no food since the previous night, I waited it out. Finally, at 1:15, the bus arrived. Thanking my stars, I boarded it. I arrived at office at 1:28, after a three and a half hour commute.
This is the build-up. More to follow.
However, this fear was confirmed when the driver arrived at what appeared to be a hospital in Bedford. Speaking to the bus driver, I learned that it was the #62, that had been masquerading as the #76. On top of this, the bastard was smug! I bit my tongue and asked him the best way to get to Hanscom Air Force Base, which is near my office building. He told me that I'd have to walk 2 miles from some road. Fine, I thought, what's the worst that can happen?
Well, I walked two miles along a stretch of road that had no pavement, with cars zooming past at 50-60 mph (aka 80 ~ 100 kmph), at around noon, on a very humid day. Still, my spirit wasn't dampened (though my shirt certainly was). However, as I approached my destination, I realised that it bore no resemblance to anything I'd seen before. I spoke to a security guard about my predicament, about needing to reach my office, on Old Bedford Road. Being kindly, he pointed me in the right direction (finally!) and added that it was another 3 miles. What else to do? As I began the long haul along the suggested route, I called my colleague, Eric, to inform him of delayed ETA.
Me: Eric, I got somewhat lost, and will be there by about 1 or 1:15. (it was 12:20 then). I've to walk another 3 miles.
Eric: Again?! (I had called him earlier, as I alighted from the bus) You want a lift or something? I can pick you up.
Me: Thanks, chap, but there's a problem with that - in order for you to pick me up, I'd have to tell you where I am. Sadly, this valuable information is unavailable at this time.
Eric: (chortles) OK, see you in a while.
I walked another mile or so, to find myself face-to-face with MIT's Lincoln Lab. facility, from where the *correct* bus could be taken. The only problem - it was another 45 minutes before it would leave. Sweating buckets, with no food since the previous night, I waited it out. Finally, at 1:15, the bus arrived. Thanking my stars, I boarded it. I arrived at office at 1:28, after a three and a half hour commute.
This is the build-up. More to follow.
2 comments:
Somehow, somewhere, i got reminded of that Eddie Murphy movie.
Holy Man i think.
You on the road without a pavement, cars zoomin..
chari -
Haven't watched. Was Murphy sweating profusely and did he have absolutely no idea where he was going?
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