Brothers of Buses | That One Phone Call | Season 01, Episode 03

Dear readers, welcome to the third episode of Brothers of Buses. The series – Brothers of Buses – is dedicated to the staff members of buses that ply on the roads of Assam and beyond and live through thousands of journeys and millions of stories. This is Their story!

To be frank, the concept of “Botaahe Botaahe”, which refers to sailing along where the wind blows, a carefree spirit of travel/journeying through life has come from these buses.

It was the Magh Bihu of 2022, and I was at my favourite place on Uruka Night - ISBT Guwahati, at the ASTC Ticket counter with my brother Haniph Ali.

Not many buses were plying; ASTC buses had full passengers (which is a rare event) and hence the helpline was busy. I volunteered to help Ali daa out and took this mobile phone.

Passengers were calling back-to-back enquiring about number of buses and phone number of bus staff. I was as polite as I could be. Many people were good, while some were rude. At around 8:00 PM, the calls calmed down.After a break of around 20 minutes, the phone rang again.

Hello, I said.

"Hello dada, ASTC helpline hoi ne baru? (Hello, is this the ASTC helpline)" a polite voice asked.

“Hoi dada kouksun (Yes)”, I said.

He enquired about an ASTC bus, asking about the registration number of the Bus. I gave him the number as well as the phone number of the conductor since his mother, as he informed, would be travelling alone.

All done, I was about to cut the call when he suddenly said "Dada, apunaluke urukaa dinaau duty koribo logia hoise, kosto hoise sage no (You guys have to work even during uruka night, must be difficult".

"Upai Tu nai, duty Tu koriboe lagibo (When duty calls, you just answer", I replied.

"Happy Bihu dada, hubhessa thakil (Wish you a Happy Bihu brother, warm regards" he said.

I wished him back and cut the call.

The truth is that I had received hundreds of call at the ASTC counter till date and this was the first and only time when somebody cared about the person at this end. He was not the one who was going to travel, neither I was the one who takes the calls everyday. Nevertheless,Pure bihu wishes were exchanged between two strangers. Maybe that's what Bihu is all about.

Was he drunk? I guess not. I don't know and don't care either. But, I did talk with a good guy that day. Botaahe. . . Botaahe...