Note 5.

There were about a thousand horns blaring at the same time, from vehicles of all shapes and sizes hurrying, scurrying and struggling as they crossed her. The wind was so hot that it seemed as if it were blowing straight out from an oven, and the sun was lousily busy sucking every last droplet of water out of her body. 

 The busy Delhi road, like every other Delhi other road, was alive with all forms of animate and inanimate life, like a swarm of drugged bees that buzz hysterically and hover in all directions chaotically. People walked past her with a frenzied calmness as she walked past them in a calm frenzy. She was approaching the bus stop on her way, which was always crowded with eager eyes waiting for the right bus to come. It makes it easy in such places if you know where you have to go, when you can even change buses for a longer journey which will eventually get you to your destination. The thought made her feel a little out of place.

She took a prolonged look at the anxious countenances as she walked past the bus stop, when something like the sound of heavy thunder startled her and shook her out of her daydream. A bus, a giant green growling beast, drove right past her, almost brushing against her right shoulder. She froze in her spot, as she felt a shock traversing through her nerves. Her heart was leaping, her breath was racing, while she was was stuck motionless in her spot. Her eyes were heavy from the stoning, yet open wide, causing extra strain on her head. A group of youngsters, which had till now been dawdling back and forth a certain length of the sidewalk, broke into a chain reaction of giggles as they took turns in staring right into her eyes for 5 seconds each.

The horror of that moment was grimly laughed over by the bus driver as the bus's rear farted out an extremely hot gush of exhaust in her face. Gathering herself again, she took a deep breath and jay-walked to the other side of the road. Her face had started to counter the temporary bleaching action of the incident as she turned her head towards the bus stop before entering the honey-comb maze of the 'mohalla'. Everyone was waiting. Most of us are always waiting, just like all of us, she thought and walked on.