HEART TALK

Point woes of a KU-rian

Hi Dairy,

How was your day today? Mine was horrible. Like always, it is the horrible transportation provided by the university that causes me most of the troubles in life. So, here is the sequence of the fateful events that happened today.

First of all, I got up late, ran out of toothpaste and had a difficult time deciding on my outfit. In spite of these distractions and hindrances, I got dressed in 20 minutes and left home on time. As I was sleep deprived, I decided to hop in my university point quickly, grab a seat and sleep peacefully for two hours (it takes two hours to reach Karachi University from Steel Town).  When I arrived at the bus stop, a handsome number of students was already waiting for the point, which shrank my chances of not only getting a comfortable seat but any seat because the number of students that travel by point are thrice the number of seats in the bus, and there is only one point for my area!

Everybody was waiting anxiously since the bus was thirty minutes late. Restlessness transformed into anxiety because the point had zero chances of showing up. Now what? I only had two options: either go back home and sleep or go to university in some public transport. There is no alternative for our point; if the driver is sick or if the bus breaks down, the point doesn’t come.  All 80-90 students are rendered transport-less.

Since I had a test, there was no way I could skip my university. However, I couldn’t travel all the way to KU in public transport either due to safety issues. So, along with some other point mates, I mounted a public bus which would take us to Malir, and from there we would get the point of that area.  But, it was an unlucky day. When we reached Malir’s bus stop, there was already a massive number of students waiting, and the number greatly exceeded the capacity of the point. I knew it in my heart that all students would not be accommodated and many would be left behind. So, to board that bus, I decided to dodge other students when the point came. I had no chance of getting a seat but 20 percent chance of getting on the bus. When the bus came, students ran for its doors like crazy. I luckily got some space near the door to stand. Even though many students were sitting on the windows and hanging at the door, as anticipated, many couldn’t get on because there was no room.

Our Steel Town point is relatively in a better condition; this bus, on the other hand, was in a dilapidated condition. There were holes in the roof and the floor, the seats seemed were very uncomfortable and there was less space for the students to stand. We were running late because it took extra 20 minutes to settle students who had come from Steel Town. But when a truck hit our point, we were bound to get very late. Our driver, along with some guys, got down to fight. Oh boy, it was a heated conversation! I could hear a lot of shouting and swearing. This continued for half an hour and then finally the men came back and the bus started to roll.

I was 50 minutes late and had missed my first class. I had a test in the second period. Since my department is at the furthest end of the vast Karachi University and there is no shuttle service inside the premises, I had to run. Running out of breath, I reached my class in time and took my test.

During the test I was worried about how I would go home. After the test, I didn’t have any class for another 30 minutes so I decided to go to the terminal (where points are parked) and inquire about the point and to reserve a seat. When I went to the terminal, there were already some of my point mates trying to find out which point would take us back home so that they could reserve their seats; only the bus drivers and other people who run this point service were not giving a straight answer. I was waiting for our area’s driver to come; he would tell us whether the point would run or not.

While waiting there, I noticed there were many broken and obsolete buses. If fixed, they can ease the transportation troubles of the students. KU needs thrice the number of buses it presently has. There are 27,000 students enrolled at the university, but there are only a handful of buses to cater to the needs of the students. It just struck me that it is the monopoly of the point administration and the drivers, because if the number of buses increases, their profits will reduce. How wicked! Due to this poor facility many students have opted for either private vans or the ones who can’t afford private vans travel by public bus.

My legs were killing me but the reservation was very important so I waited there in the blazing sun. After waiting for 40 minutes, my bus driver came and told us that our area point will be running. Till then many students had gathered there to reserve their seats. If I had been 10 minutes late, I wouldn’t have been able to reserve a seat. Taking out the books that I’d require for my remaining classes, I kept my bag on a seat and went for my class. My class had already started. After attending all my classes, it was almost time for the points to leave so I went to my point.

A new problem awaited me there. Since some sports competition was going on in the university, the points wouldn’t roll on time - a rather mischievous trick of acquiring audience. This happens all the time; whenever there is some mega event, the organizers make the drivers run the points after the event. Well, luckily this time, after half an hour the driver started the point and we departed the university. I, having a window seat, with cramps all over my body had just entered the depths of sleep when the noise of some commotion brought me back. I stood up and saw that a girl had fainted in the bus due to suffocation. She was given some water, candy and a seat by a compassionate girl. My friend awoke me when I reached home.

This is the order of adverse events that followed today one after the other. I’m sure some new drama awaits me tomorrow.  Till then, bye. Take care.HEART TALK