Oysterly Oyster

16 Dec, 16:00. I was going to work and it was raining. Wait... Let’s go in the flash back a bit. Let me just mention about why I got late yesterday. Yesterday I got late by about half an hour. Thanks to awesome bus service provided by UK government. Yeah I agree I left home 10mins late than my usual time but those cute looking red buses with drivers wearing crocodile smile on their face at least can come on time! I got my 1st bus - 182 - from staples corner at 15:30 and was hoping to catch next bus - 92 - as soon as I get down at Cecil avenue (in the famous Gujju den, Wembley!). But as they say whenever you are in a hurry the world goes slow. So 92, following this proverb, arrived 18mins late! Whereas according to TFL next bus should arrive in 8-10mins… cool. Finally I made it to work at 17:30 instead of 17:00.

Now scene switches back to the present day. A weird thing happen today which I never imagined, and that too on my way to work. I boarded 92 with great pride carrying the Oyster card loaded with weekly pass. So I swiped it on the machine and went straight to the seat. Then I saw that the driver, peeking out of his 4x4 cabin (or 2x2 rather), was calling me and other people were looking at me as if an alien has boarded the bus. I didn't hear him before as I had my Walkman on. After I walked up to him he said my Oyster didn't work! What the hell… I topped it up yesterday for the whole week. I again gave it a try and that nasty red light with nastier 'beep beep' smiled at me. I frowned in return, swiped it again and received another 'beep beep'! Now the driver was also smiling along with the machine… and human smile this time, not the crocodile one. Then the next moment I remember having the top-up receipt with me. So bringing the confidence back on my face I showed it to the ‘box man’ and with double confidence he replied me back saying "Sorry mate, receipt won't do." After selling myself short I gave him a thumbs-up and got down from the bus just like a child who has just been rejected from entering in a theater playing an adult movie.

After receiving an egg on my face I went straight into a shop to check my Oyster. There from behind the till a voice greeted me with a 'Hi', but I couldn't see anyone. After looking over the pile of chocolates and wafers I could see her. That lady was standing, whereas I thought she’s on her seat! As soon as she told me that my Oyster is OK I went back to the bus stop, hopped in 92, swiped the Oyster (at this moment I had the same feelings which I used to experience while going to the college notice board to see the results) and there went the green light! But as soon as I move forward I heard 'beep beep'… Uh-oh… I literally closed my eyes as in 'I give up' before knowing that it was someone else's Oyster. Sigh…

Finally I sat comfortably in the window seat and started thinking about that guy who's Oyster didn't work, and started imagining the same things which has happened with me, now happening with him.