The Witch of a Woman !!

The other day, an interesting and amusing incident happened on my way to office. An old woman got into the bus. Now, you may wonder whats so interesting about an old woman getting into the bus. Wait Wait!!

Let me first start with describing the woman. She must be sixtyish, with salt and pepper hair. She was around 4.5 feet tall, and was hunched over (carrying the weight of the world???), had a pointed face and a huge mole on her face.

Of course, you may think its wrong to comment on anybody's physical appearance. But, I wouldn't have commented on her witch-like appearance had her behavior and attitude been pleasant.

She let out a banshee wail the moment she got into the crowded bus. She lamented that she was feeling giddy and nauseous and needed to sit. People asked her to sit on the floor of the bus until the giddiness went away. She did sit down but immediately started wailing that the young women (translated as 'we' sitting on the seats) are heartless and do not give way for old people. One gentleman sitting in the conductor's seat offered to get up so that the old woman could sit. But the lady refused to sit there saying that the conductor will shoo her off (a mosquito???) ..

By this time, the people in the bus were tired of her and what little sympathy was there for her earlier vanished.

When the old woman realized that people weren't paying any attention to her, she turned aggressive. She demanded that the lady sitting next to me in the bus get up and allow her to sit. When her demand fell to deaf ears, she pulled that lady's arm and demanded she get up immediately. When that did not work, she got up and almost sat on the lady forcing her to get up.

All of us were disgusted by this little performance in the bus. The old lady immediately tried to strike up a conversation with me (Poor me ... booo hoooo!!!) in the bus. I promptly and steadfastly looked the other way.

OOohhhh !!! Some people !!!!!!!

Helmets - Boon or Bane !!

I got the idea for this entry a little while ago when I was driving home riding my 2 wheeler and wearing a helmet.

Recently, the TamilNadu Government passed a rule making it compulsary for 2 wheeler motorists to wear a helmet while driving. From then on, most 2 wheeler motorists (oh yes.. there are people who don't want to follow the rule too) are seen zipping on their bikes with their skulls protected with the helmet. There are even signs on the road that says 'Helmet or Hell-Met' ..

Though the helmet is useful, I feel it is cumbersome. My helmet feels like a tonne of bricks on my head. And if that is not enough, my nose or my head will pick up that precious time to itch, when Im driving with this bother on my head.

Another thing, I love to smell the trees when Im passing a woody lane (hard to find in Chennai). With the helmet and its visor on, I cant smell a thing.

But every situation has its pros and cons. The helmet has its positives too. For one, it keeps away the smell of smoke and dust. Whoo ... Chennai has become really polluted now. Smoke, petrol and diesel fumes.. Yuck .. One reason why I have given up driving.

Also, this smoke and gas fumes mess up my hair .. After a small trip in my bike, my hair will smell like it has been washed with petrol. Uggh !!! :(

Another advantage of the helmet -- It saves the trouble of having to keep your head covered when the hot sun beats down or the rain showers down ..

So I guess I ll have to live on with it. Concentrate on the benefits and try to forget the cons. :)

I have a better idea .. Get a car and forget 2 wheeler driving .. Lets see how that works out. :)