A Bus Ride on a Rainy Day

As a young, aspiring writer, I spend a lot of time catching a bus to the city, sitting at a café, and reflect on my life, and how small moments can affect the way we see our bigger reality.

As I write this story, I look outside of a coffee shop and see pedestrians, couples and families alike, passing by. The rain gently showers on their umbrellas, as they huddle further away from the road, to avoid getting splashed by cars. I thought to myself that so long as cars drive carefully, then there shouldn't be any concern for accidents, nor are there problems with any unintentional damage.

Time passed by.. Slow, solemn, serendipitously- I saw raindrops dripping off the windowpane. I reminisced to the times when I caught the bus on a rainy day.

It was a Sunday morning, just after New Year, and the bus time schedule was incoherent with the online timetable. Nevertheless, I waited and caught the bus to the city. The bus came extremely late- 15 minutes late! And, I can tell that it hastily arrived at the bus stop, as it tried to catch up with its forecasted timetable.

I sensed danger. Not long after, we passed by a bus stop close to a nursing home. An elderly woman wanted to get on the bus. As the bus abruptly stopped, I noticed that the bus was too far from the pavement. Moreover, the boarding platform did not level down to ground level. It was a disaster!

My instincts told me that this was not going to be safe for the lady. So, I offered to assist her on boarding the bus by being her firm, and gentle stronghold. However, before we could safely sit on an accessible chair, the driver dangerously drove causing the lady to jolt backward, nearly falling over! Luckily for her, I held on tight, and made sure that no fatality was present on this bus ride.

However, I could not let this mishap come past without any repercussion. I gave the bus driver a stern lecture regarding the safety required, and expected from public transit officers. I got his license number, and promptly told him that I will be making a formal complaint regarding his actions as a bus driver. He did not seem fazed by my reprimand, nor did I feel like he reflected upon my words. However, I was happy I gave my peace towards the driver, for me and on behalf of the elderly lady.

I am glad that the lady had not sustained any physical injuries. But she was trembling. With a fearful voice, she anxiously notes of her fear on riding buses again. If I wasn't close by to help her out, she didn't know what would have happened to her.

I gazed at her eyes. And, as I filled my heart with warmth and kindness, I reassured her that most bus drivers are not as dangerous as that last driver. In fact, I do see most drivers slow down when driving towards an elderly home. I see drivers actively assisting elderly people board the bus by parking the bus close to the curb. Most drivers lower the boarding platform to minimize any struggle for boarding by the elderly. And most importantly, most bus drivers drive with care, when they know that elderly individuals are aboard the bus.

And with that assurance, I saw the fear fade away..

The sun started to pierce the clouds, as the latter fades away. And, I am glad to have helped, and changed another strangers life. Even if it was during a seemingly inconsequential bus ride for most people, for that elderly lady, it was something worth remembering. At least, I know I will.