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Bus Stop

                                                                     Bus-stop
Sheena craned her eyes into the distance on her rt.She was waiting for the bus which was to take her  to the nearby public library. She was new to the place and in an entirely different world.She was feeling very nervous though she was made to memorise all the small and big landmarks which she could recognize while going towards the library.Yet  she was mortally scared of getting lost.The place and the people were new to her though few people were in sight..The wind started  blowing hard.She held to her shawl tightly which she had worn like a stole in order to avoid looking starkly alien in this foreign land.She kept her eyes glued to the electronic schedule board which flashed the coming bus routes every minute.The buses were of low floor almost level with the foot path and it was  lovely to board them but the fear in her heart never let her enjoy the ride.The bus was still not in view.The straight asphalt road on her rt and  left  refleced the harsh heat of the mid-west sun.They shone like steel sheets and were stark empty.She wished somebody to join her on the bus-stop.But not a soul was visible there.The entire sky was open to her view.She could see the fast moving cars zooming past her.She longed for a glance thrown at her even  though out of curiosity and that too might have been a little assuring that she was not in some God forsaken country.But nothing of this sort happened.She knew that very soon she will be entering one more silent zone which was suffused with the profundity of erudition and  of shuffling of books, hits on the keyboard pouring  eyes over them- the intent eyes of various nationalities.
Her bus had still not shown.Suddenly she saw one lady approaching the stop.She held her breath and got determined to speak to her.The lady came and passing a fleeting glance on the monitor  sat stone silent .It was quite intimidating to break the wall of her intense exclusivity. Sheena observed that the lady had taken great pains in polishing her nails.She was a black but her complexion veered between pale and dark which took away the distinct persona of a black person that  gives them their exclusive  identity. She might have gone through a lot of perming and bleaching.Her shoes looked quite tacky but ornate like the ones  she saw her maids wearing back in India.She was looking straight into the road not even once turning her glance towards Sheena.Her vacant looks and detached expression muted Sheena into absolute desolation.Suddenly she saw her bus approacing.she got up hurriedly almost lurching towards it buta halted in her way since she saw the bus slowing down almost sauntering near her.The driver was intently looking at her stepping in feet.He moved only when she was fully inside the bus.She felt grateful to him and warm inside.The driver was still giving her a side glance may be he would break into a cordial smile but he was observing her bus pass which she was supposed to insert into the required slot.   


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