‘Want to get off? You have to tell me’

Today morning I waited at the bus stop for some time. I wanted to get on a bus which wasn’t too crowded. A few minutes later a KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) bus came along. It was one of those low-floor buses with sliding doors. I got on and got my ticket. There was no seat, but I had enough space to stand comfortably. 
The bus moved at a good pace and in about 15-20 minutes it came to my stop. Just as we were nearing the stop there was a minor traffic jam. I stepped towards the door, hoping that once the traffic cleared the driver would take the vehicle a little ahead where the bus stop was. 
To my surprise, once the traffic cleared, the driver accelerated and just raced past the bus stop. 
“Hey, I want to get off,” I called out to the ticket collector, who was standing a little away from the door. 
“Now, you can get off at the next stop,” he said. 
“Why, isn’t it a designated stop there?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be stopping there?”
“You have to tell me that you want to get off. Then I’ll blow the whistle and the driver will stop,” he said.
I was taken aback. So if no one asks, the driver won’t stop? What if someone wanted to board from that stop? I shot these questions at the man. 
Quite nonchalantly, he repeated, “You have to tell me that you want to get off. If someone wants to get on, they’ll have to wave.” 
As far as I knew the buses are supposed to stop at official bus stops. No matter whether anyone wants to get off or on. But I didn’t have the mind to argue. 
But that got me thinking. I thought… What if there was no one at the starting point. Just the driver and the ticket collector. And what if no one waves from any bus stop? Will these guys keep driving without stopping anywhere? Will they keep doing that all day? 
I should have asked him that after all.

What if today was the last day?

Yesterday was New Year’s eve. I was working. My colleague Sajiv asked me what programs I had planned for the evening. There was nothing in particular.
Towards evening, my girlfriend called me and asked if we could meet for dinner. Sure I said. After work, I went home, had a shave (she doesn't like me with a beard), wore a clean shirt and we met at Mainland China. For a quite dinner. I was having a beer and she was having brandy with warm water (she had a sore throat).
The conversation turned to the day 21-12-12. And to all those doomsday predictions etc etc. Suddenly she asked me a question. “What would you have done if today was the last day?”
“I don’t believe is such doomsday bullcrap. Unless there is believable proof, it’s just a prediction,” I said.
“It’s fun, Sooraj, tell me what you would have done,” she insisted.
Here’s what I would do, I started: Two things I would have done, but these I do everyday – call my mom and call you.
Otherwise I’d do pretty much what I do any other day. Get up in the morning, go for my walk. Read newspapers. Then go to work. Enjoy working. Curse if things go wrong, Get back to my good mood. Chat with colleagues. Finish my work and leave.
Once I finish work, I’ll head home, watch tv or read. Or I’d meet you, have coffee or a couple of drinks and dinner, or go for a movie. Go for a walk with you. Kiss you goodnight, before heading home.
If I am out with friends, I may catch a movie or have a couple of drinks with them, have dinner. Go back home, hit the sack with a book, read till I feel sleepy. And sleep…
Will I wake up tomorrow?
Will the world not be there tomorrow?
I don’t even give it a thought.