My School Bus

I put my first step on the bus at the age of eight. We shifted to Virar; I was a newcomer in school and so in the school bus. Day One was unforgettable because I didn't knew when to get down so I kept sitting at the window trying to figure out when I could see my building. I was an introvert then, I am still now but now I know to speak up and ask for help. The bus got vacant except for the driver kaka conductor dada and me. Then they asked me where did I stay and my I-card was checked for the address. I stayed in Manvel Pada, Virar East and the bus was right now at Dongar Pada, Virar West. The school bus travelled from West to East to drop me and here Mom had gathered the whole building at the gate just in panic. Eventually I got used to the school bus because it was the only option to go to school. Years passed by, travelling in Ashapuri bus and not to forget the Ruby bus with big windows. The Ruby bus picked us from school and then it travelled from Jivdani Road to Phool Pada to Manvel Pada dropping the students at their homes safely. Bharat dada was the driver (famous for his strong smelled perfume and the long bus horns) and Rakesh dada and there was one dada who was short in height so we called him Pav Kilo. I just can't recollect his name. The bus used to stand near the tree, bus students used to get in and the journey would start. From the school gate, there was a straight route to the main road. Taking a right turn at the Chinese stall, the bus crossed the only railway track (which led to the hills). Then it was straight drive till the Sai Baba Mandir where the bus would take a left turn to go to Jivdani Road. It was the way to Jivdani Mandir, the Goddess Jivdani for which Virar is known. We would travel till the Hill Park and take a U-turn. All the way come back to Sai Baba Mandir and again drive straight. There was a Shiv Mandir adjacent to the Railway crossing. Then we would cut through the market area. Now again taking a left turn at Police Station the bus entered Phool pada. Here many buildings and complex were in construction phase. Apart from those constructions, you could get a village like feeling for there were green-lands and mud houses with grass roofs and even chulhas. The bus used to go deep inside till the Gandhi Chowk and take a U-turn. We would reach the station passing through the Nagar Palika Garden. From station, its Manvel Pada starting now. Now on there are just buildings and buildings. The bus travelled till Ganesh Apartment and took a U-turn. During this everyday journey, we had a lot of fun, played pranks, discussed many stories, fighting, etc etc. Vanashree taught us how to tie a tie in the bus itself. Friends on this everyday journey and their stops were: Mitalee Dalvi and Vanashree Raut (@ Sakai Shop), Nimisha Patil and Swapnil Bendali (@ Ganesh Mandir), Parnavi Dhuri (@ Surya Kiran), Mrunal Vagad and Pratik Palav (@ Mohak), Pallavi Satpute and Amey Raut and many more (@ Morya Nagar), Purva Raut (@ Parimal), Palvi Vaidya and many more (@ Mohak Chambers), me and Radhika Adyar (@ Deepti), Priyanka More and Pooja Shinde and many more (@ Gulmohar) etc etc from Manvel Pada, Apurva Raul and Vijeta Naik (@ Tarangan Complex) from Phool Pada etc etc. Eventually school days were gone and so the school bus is now just in memories.