Pathinettu

What is this “Pathinettu”? It means number 18 in Tamil. It’s an old massive structure that moves as fast as a snail. It’s the name given to this entity. It’s nothing other than the old bus which comes to Kadambankulam twice a day. Why is it so important to Kadambankulam? The answer is so simple; it’s one among the two buses that come to my village. I remember this bus since my childhood. It started its service a way long back. That is why I guess I never know when this bus service started. And the other bus which comes to my village started its service when I was a child. I still remember how people welcomed this bus when it started its service to my village. They wore garland and fired crackers to welcome this bus when it came to my village first.

This bus is from Vallioor to Koodankulam. When the nuclear power plant started in koodankulam I expected our government to leave a new bus. But it dint happen. Whenever there are new buses released by government we expect they would change our bus. But they are only making the case worse. The bus doesn’t have unmoving parts. All the parts in it moves. I mean all the bars, seats etc etc.

Once, it was the only public transport to my village. Students used to take this bus for two reasons. First reason is the free bus pass provided by the government and the second reason is that it is the only bus which comes in that time. This bus will come almost empty to my village and when it leaves my village it will be full.

There were times when guys used to bunk classes if this bus hasn’t come to pick them to school. Now things have changed a lot, yet the bus has not changed. It is still the same old structure which comes twice a day.

Bus No – 18 has become the part and parcel of my village.

Miss the days when I traveled in this bus.