1. An Unusual Welcome

“Here. That’s it. Just the spot. Can you stop the vehicle here, please?”

The bus conductor blew his whistle, halting the vehicle. Seventeen-year-old Deepa steadied herself before running a hand through her short hair. Phew! It really was a great decision to have gone for a haircut just before this trip.

Before starting from her home in Mumbai, her mother insisted a haircut for Deepa. She grudgingly visited the salon but she was thankful for it now. Agreed, May was one of the hottest months but it wasn’t even eight in the morning and she already felt like being baked in an oven.

The conductor eyed Deepa with a look that said, ‘Really? Do you want to stop here?’ And he voiced his thoughts too, “This is the middle of nowhere. Why do you want to get down here?”

Deepa shrugged on her backpack and her camera bag. She clutched her red hat that matched her T-shirt on one hand and used the other to navigate towards the conductor. The suitcase which she had carried from her home was at her mother’s friend’s house, where she was put up for the duration of her stay in Bhopal. This gave her the freedom to travel light while she went visiting the monuments. She was grateful her parents had friends and relatives all over India. It worked wonderfully for her. It gave her parents some peace of mind knowing that Deepa was safe; it also allowed her to travel to heritage sites on her own. The passengers, who were tired of looking at the same constant scenery outside, tuned in to the live drama. Happening right in front of them. And just for them.

“This is the place, I am sure. Thanks for stopping. My change, please.” Deepa shot out her hand and waited for the conductor to hand over the remaining fare amount.

The conductor grudgingly counted the balance. ‘Never forget to collect change,’ he mumbled under his breath, cursing his fate for being struck as a bus conductor. He had to endure not just the crowd but also the stench of sweat, and grime that engulfed many. Even after many years on the same job, the one thing which he had low tolerance towards was the stench. He was also reluctant that this girl, who had splashed herself with some sort of flowery smell, was getting down before the final destination. He would miss the occasional bliss of the flowery fragrance that wafted his way, in tune with the breeze.

A well-meaning old lady quipped in, “But what for, child? The next stop is the Stupa. You come along with me, I will explain the teachings of Buddha.”

Deepa gave a cursory nod and tapped her foot, waiting for the conductor who took forever. ‘Ugh! Can’t you count any faster?’ She didn’t say the thought aloud. She wished once more that they start using digital money in public transport systems as well. Cashless India has made quite a bit of progress and rural areas too have adopted the concept. Then, why not in public transport?

“Don’t you have anyone with you? Are you travelling alone?” Encouraged by the old lady’s concern, her grandson, a measly boy of ten, questioned her.

Before Deepa could defend herself or even answer back, a middle-aged man added, “Yes, it is not safe for girls to travel on their own.”

“I am with her.” The girl, Aarti, who had occupied the window seat next to Deepa during the bus ride got up, surprising Deepa in the process.

The conductor handed over the change and the driver honked, registering his impatience.

Deepa shuffled to the door followed by Aarti. “I am fully prepared. I have my bottle of pepper spray. I am also a black belt holder in Karate. My phone is fully charged. And I have downloaded 112India App for emergencies on my phone. I also have the Family Alert app that will help my parents to keep track of my whereabouts. And, oh, I have my power bank too, in case my phone runs out of charge.” Deepa retorted as she got down.

The middle‑aged man looked on, unperturbed by Deepa’s answer.

Aarti sized the man up for a second, not liking what she saw in his eyes, and asked, “Do you want to volunteer to test the pepper spray? It is very effective.”

The bus took off but stopped again in answer to Deepa’s bang on the side walls of the bus. She climbed the first step of the bus, “Hey, boy,” she addressed the ten-year-old boy. When he looked up, she said, “Yes, I started alone from my home. But this is my country and I hope you remember the pledge you take in school.” She looked around the bus and then at Aarti, “My family is with me and I don’t have any qualms to travel anywhere in my country. I am proud to say that it is safe, for boys and girls alike. Also, from my earlier travelling experience, except for a few stray cases,” Deepa eyed the middle-aged man, “humanity is very much alive.”

Deepa jumped out of the bus and whistled. The bus driver immediately stepped on the accelerator not wanting any more drama.

Aarti smiled as she heard Deepa whistle. Deepa turned around, “Did you see the face of the man when you asked him to volunteer for the pepper spray?” Deepa clutched her stomach and laughed, “Priceless. He looked like a child with a bitter tonic forced down his throat.”

“And good that you gave back to him. This is how it starts. Benignly, like a question of concern. It slowly transforms into fear and then becomes the rule of the society. I hate such people who ingrain fear under the guise of concern. It is best to steer clear from them.” Aarti opined as she removed her hairband and re-tied her pony. “It is quite hot, isn’t it?”

Deepa looked on as Aarti removed her dupatta from around her neck and stuffed it into her backpack. The backpack was one of a kind, almost like a patchwork bag but it looked amazingly unique and beautiful.

“Hmm. Yes. You have got a beautiful backpack, kind of matches with your salwar too.” Aarti smiled at Deepa’s compliment. “By the way, thanks for accompanying me, Aarti. I didn’t expect you to join me.” Deepa held out a bottle of water to her.

Aarti took the bottle and shrugged. “No one is expecting me home. I have time on my hands. And the way you explained your travels fascinated me. It intrigued me enough to know your lifestyle. And when someone asked if you were alone, it was an impulsive decision on my part to join you.” She took a swig of the water, “I have never been impulsive, but today I wanted it to change. Maybe so far I have never had the time or bandwidth to do so.” Aarti looked around, a bit anxious that they were in a completely deserted place with not a soul in sight. This morning, when she had left her room, which she shared with a colleague, she had not anticipated to be taking a detour. Much less a sightseeing stop with a stranger. It was not that she was carrying any valuables. A change of clothes and her lunch was all she had in her backpack. She wasn’t planning on staying at her village for long. She just wanted it to be a surprise for her mother. But looking around the spot she was in, Aarti feared that no one would even come to know if something happened to her.

Understanding Aarti’s concerned look, Deepa chimed, “Don’t overthink. You won’t regret this decision. This is the right place and I promise, you will have an entertaining day.”

“Okay, I believe you.” Aarti returned the bottle and adjusted her backpack, “Lead the way.”