“Why is Mr. Pinakin late today?” “Late for what Sir?” for work, for breakfast, for lunch or……. “You mean to say it is not certain when His Majesty will arrive?” “Certainly Sir !” “Why?” “….. because he travels by the Bus no. ten.”

A person with less than one percent sense of humour would have stopped reading further about this bus no. ten, which turned out to be the number of the Borivli bound bus, during the recent Railway Strike

Of the eleven bus routes arranged from the factory, this Factory-Borivli route, was baptized as number TEN, at a very very inauspicious moment – inauspicious because the particular second, of the particular minute, of the particular hour, the decision was taken , was ruled by the WIZARD of all the planets – malefic SATURN. And you have to only consult a numerologist about No. 10. He would tell you that controller of number ten is once again the same great Lord of destruction Saturn. Saturn, whose unfailing hands clasped the no. 10 bus in its claws right from the beginning till the end.

For those who do not appreciate the reports of a numerologist more than that of a road side parrot brand palmist here are the hair-raising facts about the ill fated no. 10 and its well-fated crew comprising of 37 Hextorians (well according to numerology no.37 is again expressed as 3+7= TEN!)

On the first day, the bus-in-charge were appointed and were handed over the complete responsibilities of their respective buses. One of them, Mr. Pinakin (with apologies to Mr. Pinakin), put up an “air” of importance after acquiring the high position of such great responsibility, the only opportunity which came after a very long time, the last being time when he was appointed as a class monitor in the primary school (for a period of two days). However “air” of importance boomeranged when he was greeted in the bus as a “Conductor”.

On the second day the bus arrived three quarters of an hour late – something wrong with machine you know. The very same evening after successfully crossing Andheri it became a prey to the evil eye at Jogeshwari. The yellow-red giant refused to move further.

The third day it again came late and while returning got itself glued to the very same spot at Jogeshwari, after which that spot was termed as “break the coconut point.”

Immediately arrangements were made and the bus was changed, nay three buses were changed but the result was no better. So it wasn’t the vehicle but the NO. TEN which made the difference and in spite of thoroughly checked and rechecked buses, we had a flat tyre, bursting of hose-pipe, brakes failure, diesel shortage, starting trouble, etc. Due to all these reasons and many more we always reached late for work/breakfast/lunch for which these 37 hextonians had become a prey to general envy. Some even suggested that the bus-in-charge must be charging for arriving late as the bus no TEN misbehaved only while arriving for work!

As the Rail strike prolonged further (and everyone wished it prolonged still further) the bus-in-charge, by above conjecture, would have had ample opportunity to collect enough money for buying another bus (actually not enough even for toy buses for their kids) for which of course they had to toil and moil and put in real hard work like pushing the buses very often, etc.

This act of good will was however not lost. In appreciation of this service it was unanimously decided by the action committee of bus no. 10 to contribute something for the bus- in-charge as a token of appreciation. And all the members contributed heartily towards the noble cause.

By the way entire committee consisted of only two bus- in-charge and this hearty contribution was just sufficient for purchasing a soap cake!!!

Soap case for washing their hands after pushing the bus???

No! No! It was for washing out the zero of number TEN.