Morning in a busy City
My route to office consists of a trip by metro for 30 minutes followed by a best-case 15 to worst-case an hour long city bus journey. When I get a chance to sit (quite infrequent!) and in addition a window seat (tough - but happens) - the journey - whatever the duration, suddenly becomes a pleasure. The roads that the bus travels are vibrant with activity. In the mornings, I typically see an old couple resting in the sun on the footpath - very often the old lady iscwith a some vegetables - chopping / cleaning. Her husband quietly resting with a cigarette in hand. Haven't seen him putting that cigarette to his mouth yet :-)

Then there is a wet market (subjee mundee - difference is that along with subjee this market also has all kinds of meat - pre-cut and in live form!) - which is usually a buzzing place. Next to that market is a roadside eatery where a very young man is busy roasting naans (or something similar) in a tandoor look alike contraption. I also see a big queue outside a shop that looks like a bakery. Must be a popular joint. There is a stretch with many small shops. Its as good as being
in Thippasandra main road :-) The bus passes through many localities of various (and some very dubious) standards. But the common denominator is the continuous activity - watching this as the bus goesby - makes the daily commute a pleasent experience.
(C) Abhijit Tongaonkar - 2006