The bus stopped at a stop known as Tarangewadi. Four elderly people, two men and two women boarded the bus. Their looks could tell their tales of life- exhausting and tiresome. One was elderly couple. The man was well built. His wife followed his way from the bus door to the seat. "Seat there", he commanded pointing out to the seat next to him. The other elderly man was typical rural folk. Wearing his Topi and Shirt, he helplessly looked here and there for seats. An another women was doing the same but she was quite confident that she would get one.
She was Rakhmabai, probably in 70s, wearing Nauvari, a Marathi drapery. Her Nauvari was not of the fashionable ones of urban elite wear in fancy marriages but of the common peasant toiling hard in farms. She found seat near window at the backside. Four folks from Tarangewadi got seats, although different ones.
The bus conductor started from the elderly couple. "Where?", he asked to the man. The man answered, "Natepute," while showing his Aadhar Card. His wife did the same. Both of them didn't pay anything but got the tickets. In Maharashtra, senior citizens above 75 years can travel freely using State bus transport. The next turn was of another elderly man, Tatya, lets name him. Conductor reached to Tatya's seat. Again the same question. Tatya said while showing his State Transport Senior Citizen card. "One for Barad. I'm also senior citizen above 75 years" Barad is a small town, a next stop after Tarangewadi for buses traveling to Pandharpur and other main stations.
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The conductor asked for Aadhar Card. Tatya got irritated. In his aggressive tone, he roared ,"Why do I need Aadhar Card now? Is this not enough?" The conductor politely said," The machine needs Aadhar number to give you free ticket, otherwise you have to take half ticket without Aadhar Card. Tatya was in no mood to listen. The argument started.
There enters Rakhmabai into the argument. After hearing conductor's sentence that he would pay for half ticket but Tatya has to take it as he have no Aadhar card, she targeted Tatya. Standing up in running bus from her seat, she asked Tatya to pay for half ticket. "If you don't pay, Saheb's job will be in danger, why don't you pay for half ticket of Rs 25 while he is even ready to drop you home next time you need to travel?"
The conductor was confused. Giving sheepish smile to Rakhmabai, he requested her to sit down and not to interfere. But Rakhmabai continued confidently. By now all the passengers in the bus were looking at her what she has to say. She was eager to talk. In her hands, she had Aadhar Card, Senior Citizen Card and also Voter ID card. Referring to Tatya, she thundered, "Why can't you bring Aadhar Card if you have to travel free? I have three cards despite being a woman. You are man still you can't even bring a Aadhar Card."
The conductor's sheepish smile turned into laughter. He again requested Rakhmabai to sit down. The elderly man also got into action. In his proper Deccan tone, he said to Tatya, "This is Aadhar card, everybody has it since childhood, you should also have it." Tatya had no option now than to pay.
As the conductor again politely tried to convince Tatya that he has no option. "I'm telling you what Government orders are. I don't want you to pay, but its my job." Tatya was silent by now.Afterall his Rs 25 were gone. The bus catched up speed to reach Barad, where Tatya had to reach. The four unknowns and the conductor got into their own worlds forgetting the argument about the small but important piece of paper called as Aadhar card that made their lives better and complex at the same time.
Written by
Chaitanya
