Bumpy ride

Clutching her handbag on her lap, Revathi kept her wet umbrella near her feet and held on to the rail in the moving bus. She noticed that a lady got on drenched in rain, in the following bus stop. She moved towards Revathi in the crowded bus. That's when Revathi noticed her belly. It was big. She must be at least six months pregnant, thought Revathi. Not battling her thoughts of standing in the crowded bus for the next hour, Revathi graciously gave up her seat to the pregnant lady. The lady seemed confused at this generosity and politely declined the offer. Revathi insisted that she sat there and got up from her seat. Realizing that if she didn't take the seat, someone else would, the lady accepted and thanked Revathi.

Revathi held on to the overhead rails and moved along the momentum in the crowded bus, content with her own gesture.

The next day Revathi settled in the same seat in the same bus. The lady with the baby bump got on at her stop and stood near Revathi. Revathi stood up and offered her seat to the lady again. The lady threw a smile at Revathi looking pleasantly surprised but happily took the seat that time.

This went on for a couple of months; the pregnant lady's belly slowly got bigger, Revathi would voluntarily get up when the pregnant lady got into the bus and the lady would occupy her seat, Revathi would travel standing in the bus for an hour to her work place.

One day, Revathi was eagerly waiting for the lady to get on at her bus stop. She didn't turn up. Revathi was worried. She brushed her thoughts away and continued travelling. She didn't see the lady for around three months. Revathi thought to herself that the lady must have delivered the baby. She smiled to herself and said a silent prayer for her and the baby's health.

On a sunny day, Revathi noticed the lady popping in to the crowded bus at her stop. Revathi was excited to see her face. She wanted to ask her about her health and the baby's and was waiting for her as the lady approached Revathi slowly in the crowded bus. As she came closer and closer, Revathi noticed her belly. It was still big and plump. Revathi's jaw-dropped, eyes-widened. The lady gave her a confused look as expected Revathi to offer her the seat. She was openly irritated when Revathi did not get up or made eye contact with her!