Nuisance of Public Travel

Internet is a double edged sword. It has its benefits and flaws as well. Among its many flaws, few we have to compulsorily observe/experience while traveling in the public transport. It’s a weapon and many of the travellers always ready wielding it in the form of mobile phones and its accessories. Without maintaining a simple decency, these guys create a chaos in that travelling time.

Last week I was travelling in a bus, got a window seat. One lady, travelling with her kid – a toddler was in-front of my seat. As the bus started, the kid started crying, she tried few ways to calm the kid and finally giving in, she took out the tried and tested formula of handing over the mobile to the kid. The mobile was playing the song “wheels on the bus goes round and round…”, it was playing almost all the time, that I got annoyed and then calmed down myself considering it was being played for me only. The irritation was so severe, that after getting down the bus, I felt like my head was going round and round for some time.

To add to it, at next stop, one guy – I think in 20’s, boarded the bus and sat beside me. Till then I was happy thinking, no one will be there in adjacent seat. He too was well armed with a mobile and headphones. I was okay and happy that he is carrying his headphones, but this happiness didn’t last long. He got a call and started talking, from the long conversation, I understood where the call has come from, the only issue here was, due to his headphones, he was talking loud and unaware that his personal affair getting public. Here, the guy sitting behind me came to the rescue and told this Romeo to tone down. But while doing that, he handed his charger to plug in the socket near my seat as his was not working. [AC buses and its amenities]. Now I had to be alert, as this socket was a loose [amenities???] and I had to be extra cautious while moving, so that it shouldn’t come out.

Similar issues during travelling in the train. No one generally likes to peep in others’ screen, but if you are travelling in a local train, that too in Mumbai, you can’t avoid looking at some or other mobile screen unless you close your eyes or keep looking into your own mobile. Long distance train travel is even more troublesome. Charging points, once someone plugs in, become the owner of that point till getting down. No one has a right to use that. Once in a Delhi train, a person travelling with his big family found an innovative way to bring the multi socket adapter. He plugged it and all the family members survived on the same. I shouldn’t forget to mention the whatsapp uncles who listen to the news on the speaker phone and make sure that everyone travelling in the bogie should be aware of the current affairs. The Bluetooth speakers are adding on to the existing menace.

This issue doesn’t stop here but flies in the sky as well. Not giving any heed to the airhostess’ request to put the mobiles on aeroplane mode, keep talking till the plane gets to 20-30K ft in air. At night watching on their mobile screen, tabs or i-pads without thinking, how the glare of the screen affecting the fellow passengers. Switch off the aeroplane mode even before the landing and tried booking the cabs or calling someone. So on and so forth.

Gone are the days when the travel time used to be a “me time”. Looking out of the window, that race with the trees, waving hands to the unknown people from the window and smile, get immersed in the favourite book which otherwise lying at home since long, or just sit back and relax, delving in the past or thinking about the future. All seems gone for now.

Vb