After my Semester 1 examination of MBA 1st year was done, we had the previlige of holiday - one day long holiday. I decided to go home on that day. I decided that I'll go in the luxary of a volvo bus. To my dismay, I found that the bus was full. Yet, the bus operator being considerate asked me to wait and in case any passenger doesn't come, he promised me a seat.
I waited for about 20 minutes praying passengers not to turn up. Everytime, I saw someone alighting an auto near the bus stop, I cursed them in my mind for having turned up. At about 1515 hrs, a pretty girl, approximately 25, came to the stop, obviously with her boy friend. Even she wanted to get into bus and had no ticket. Even she was asked to wait and try her luck.
Thed bus was at 1530 hours and at 1525 hrs, I found that about 11 passengers hadn't turned up. I was overjoyed. However, int he last 5 minutes, a mini-tempo came from nowhere with about 9 passengers. So, now only 2 seats were left and it was time for the bus to leave.
So, the bus operator now turned to us - first to me since I had come before for the service. He checked his papers and saw that seat 36 and seat 8 were vacant. I being the first contender, I demanded seat 8. However, he being a 'responsible' citizen said that ladies should be given front seats. I reluctantly agreed to him and allowed the gorl to seat in the front. Ah bad luck.
But this was not enough. This girl who had just come on a bike with her boyfriend saw that seat no 7 was occupied by a man, in his late 20's say about 28-29 years, demanded that she cannot sit next to a man. (It was only 5.5 hrs journey).
Even this demand of her was accepted and guess what, she was transferred to seat 1, the seat behind the driver where we get a lot of leg space and also no jerks. For me, seat 1 is the favourite seat in a volvo since we can stretch our leg and can relax just like in the train. The poor guy from seat 1 was transferred to seat 8.
No one could protest because on the ticket it was written that the decision of the bus operator would be final in case of any disputes with regards to seats. Thus, the girl inspite of coming later as compared to me got the best seat on the bus and I got
possibly the worst seat (in the last row) in the bus.
At one place women say that they are equal to men in all the tasks. They compete for higher positions in the corporate world, earn as much as the men - atleast in the IT comapnies. On the other hand in situations like mentioned above, they conveniently project themselves as weak and vulnerable to get better treatment. This is not done. Equality has to be followed in this case too.
But alas, this will continue so no point arguing it. Even I'll want my wife or daughter to be given a front and a better seat in a bus if she is faced with a similar situation. So, no use cribbing about this!!!
