Greentext · 2 minLast Bus To Miryalaguda

>be me

>19 years old

>freshie in B.Tech at Osmania University

>Warangal, Telangana

>just finished an interview for a junior dev role at a startup in Hyderabad

>interview went well enough, but the company is 40km away

>hoped to catch the last bus back to hostel

>check time on phone

>4:58 PM

>scheduled departure was 5:00 PM sharp

>running out of the interview hall

>door slams behind me

>grab bag of water and biscuits from table

>sprint out into the humid evening air

>sky turning orange with factory smoke

>street lights flickering on

>hear engine rumble in distance

>heart pounding like crazy

>dive onto the main road, sprinting toward the bus stop

>stop is a small concrete slab under a broken neem tree

>no shelter, just dust and heat

>bus appears, old Toyota Tempo

>painted green with "SRTC" faded on side

>driver looks bored, checking his watch

>door opens with a mechanical screech

>bounce inside, slam the door shut

>smell of diesel and wet earth

>conductor steps in, middle-aged man, turban wrapped tight

>name tag says "Ramesh" but he hasn't introduced himself

>wear a faded blue uniform, one button missing

>eyes narrow as I approach

>"Where you going?" asks Ramesh

>"Miryalaguda," I breathe hard, panting

>"Last bus leaves at 5. You're late."

>"I just finished interview. Needed to get back to hostel before dark."

>Ramesh sighs loudly, rubs his chin

>"Hostel is far. You'll miss next stop if we wait."

>"But I don't have money for night train or auto."

>"Auto will cost you two hundred rupees."

>"Mom can only pay one hundred."

>silence fills the cabin

>other passengers staring, some yawning

>one guy eats a banana loudly

>Ramesh leans forward, taps my chest lightly

>"Come on kid. Sit here."

>I hesitate, then hop onto the front bench

>Ramesh starts engine with a kick

>engine roars to life, shaking the whole bus

>"No one will know. I'm off shift tonight anyway."

>"Really? You working alone?"

>"Yes, final route. After this, I go home myself."

>"So you won't mind taking me past 5 PM?"

>"Rules are rules. But roads are flexible."

>he pulls out a notebook, writes something quickly

>"Write 'Extra Passenger' on my log."

>I sign with trembling hand

>"Don't sleep. Watch road. Keep eye open."

>"Will do. Thanks baba."

>"Just Ramesh."

>bus merges into highway traffic

>sunset dips below factory chimneys

>lights of Hyderabad appear ahead