When I thought I'd seen the worst of vehicles, then another contender emerged, and it was a real doozy. Lol.
It may interest you to know that the mini bus I boarded to work this morning was the most questionable bus ever. It was more like an accident waiting to happen. Was I shocked? Of course. In fact I was gobsmacked.
There is nothing sound about the said mini bus, except for the engine, which I observed was the only part that was in good condition - very strong and sound. But every other part, both the exterior and interior of the bus is in extremely poor condition, and it's a wonder it's still operational. I guess it's because of the sound engine.
The door on the right side? Non-existent, totally ripped off. The one on the left was barely hanging on, and as the vehicle moved, it was swinging, and making this rickety sound - "kwicky kwicky kwicky". 🤣.
There was no side mirrors, no rearview mirror – it was like driving blind. The lights too, were all broken, including the inner light.
What about the seats? Just leave that one aside. What I sat on was nothing but iron covered with a worn out foam. Like I was so uncomfortable, resting my soft butt on such hard surface. 🤣. To worsen the situation, the seat bolts were loose, causing a jolt back and forth as the bus moved. I had to grip it tightly to avoid being thrown out, especially as I was seated by the door-less right side. Ah, it was crazy.
The side windows of both the front and the only back door had no windows, just an open space. The roof also looked like it would let rainwater in. So imagine yourself inside such a bus when it's raining. It would be like taking a shower on the move. 😂. It's hilarious to think about, but I'm sure it wouldn't be so funny if I were actually in that situation.
I was surprised that I boarded such a rickety vehicle, and even controlled my patience all through the ride. Well, I didn't have a choice not to board, since it was it's turn to load. Again, I was running a little behind time and just needed to move, because on a good day, I wouldn't dare board such a vehicle.
All through the ride, we, passengers were jokingly complaining about its deplorable state. That bus was a hot mess, I tell you. In fact, a laughingstock - literally. Each "kwicky kwicky kwicky" sound from the loose door had us laughing. Lol Lol.
The funniest part was that the driver didn't get defensive or angry, unlike some drivers would. Despite our jokes and complaints, he just shrugged it off. When he was asked why the vehicle was almost a shadow of itself, he replied that the bus is still under financing, and he's trying to make his payments. Once he completes the payments, the bus will be fully his, and he can fix it up. What a flimsy excuse for neglecting the vehicle.
He even confirmed my early assumption of the sound engine, and assured us of our safety, saying that we'd reach our destination in just minutes, and then we could all go our separate ways without any issues.
The interesting thing that happened was that he turned to the woman sitting behind him, who had some farm produce to sell at the market and said, "Madam, so you joined them to yab (joke about) my bus, no problem. You see that your load in the booth, you'll pay ₦300 for it." It was like he was teasing her, but also making a point. That comment sparked another round of laughter from everyone on the bus.
I have to confess that this morning was one of those mornings where everything seemed funny. From the moment we left the bus stop to when I got off at my stop, it was all jokes and laughter, and everyone was just enjoying the ride. It was such a hilarious moment and I couldn't help but laugh along with the others.
True to his words, I got to my bus stop safe and in one piece. This confirmed the usual saying "do not bother yourself with what's written on the vehicle, just enter the vehicle" Lol.
I'm just glad there was no mishap, and grateful for the shared laughter which made my morning. The sad thing was that I couldn't take snapshots of the entire bus. Seeing it would have been better than imagined. Lol.
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