MY STORY: One Bus Conductor Made Me Believe That Good People Exist Everywhere

Basuki Nandan forgot to collect change of Rs. 420 from a bus conductor in Bengaluru. Given the reputation of bus conductors in general and the advise of everyone around him, he did not have much hope of ever getting it back. Here’s what followed.

While commuting to office yesterday, I happened to forget collecting Rs. 420 change back from the conductor of a BMTC Volvo bus. And when it stuck me two hours after I got down from the bus, I had no option but to regret. Though, thinking of trying my luck with the unique number on the ticket that I had, I visited the nearest bus depot to enquire if I could get details of the bus from the ticket.

“It’s impossible to get the change back as its totally dependent on the conductor’s morality, and you know how they are in Bangalore,” everyone told me when I shared the incident.

Meanwhile when I reached the bus depot, officials told me that the ticket doesn’t belong to the bus depot and that I should call the general enquiry number to know the bus details. I realised that it was a government holiday when nobody picked up my call at the enquiry number.

“Even if I get the bus, the conductor would say I don’t know you,” is what was going on in the back of my mind.

Still trying my luck, I called at the enquiry office this morning. The receptionist took my ticket id and gave me the conductor’s number. The conductor picked my second call. “Sir, yesterday I didn’t collect change from you on route to ITPL,” I said.

“Sir, I don’t know good English like you – but I am coming to silk board around 2:30 pm. Can we meet?,” he replied. It was 11:30 am then. He again gave me a call at 1:00 pm to tell me his bus number.

Photo for representation purpose. Source: fottam.com

2:30 pm at silk board, I saw the bus with the same number coming – with the same conductor standing beside the driver. I boarded and took a seat while he was still looking for someone outside. “What will he do next…,” I thought to myself, looking at him.

He, then, took out his phone and called me – “I am here.” I said to him, waving my hand. He checked my ticket and confirmed that it was from the same bus and returned Rs. 420.

I am writing this for many others like me in Bangalore who have a similar assessment on the BMTC bus conductors. We need to appreciate people like Mr. Tandchan, the bus conductor – would have been very easy for him to wipe the incident off his plate.

There exist good people, everywhere!

-Basuki Nandan

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