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| Bus operator and caller. |
Mapusa-Belgaum-Bijapur
-Brian Mendonca
'Belgaum-Bijapur'
the caller calls.
One time, two times
three times, four.
His bus stands mute
waiting for travellers
headed for Belgaum
Bijapur or more.
A poor vagrant man
smelly black clothes
Props himself
on the floor
as he limps
towards a seat.
'Mujhe Bijapur jaana heh.'
Bus driver lega mujhe?
He asks me hopefully.
'Belgaum-Bijapur'
'Belgaum-Bijapur'
The bus operator checks
his list if seats are available.
One ear on his mobile
'Phone number sang.'
'Belgaum-Bijapur'
'Belgaum-Bijapur'
₹15,000 a month
for the lad for his pains
'Seat ko dekhna heh.'
'6 baje pahunchta heh.
Belgaum 1.30.'
The bus pulls out
heading into the night.
The vagrant man
is nowhere to be seen.
I ask Arif
where he is.
'Manager ko poochna.'
He says. And he is off.
(Inter-state bus stand
Mapusa, Goa
1 April 2026, 9 p.m.)
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Updated 3 April 2026.
Notes
Bijapur/ Vijayapura, in North Karnataka, is 332 kms. from Goa - a distance which can be covered by road in around 7 hours. It was the capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty between the 15th-17th centuries and is famed for the Gol Gumbaz. On the way comes Belgaum/ Belgavi 125 kms. away, which can be covered in 3-4 hours.
-Mujhe: (Hindi) 'I have to go to Bijapur. Will the bus driver take me?'
-Phone: (Konkani) 'Tell me your phone number.'
-Seat: (Hindi) 'I have to help passengers find their seats in the bus.'
-6 baje: (Hindi) 'The bus reaches Bijapur at 6 a.m. Belgaum at 1.30 a.m.'
-Manager: (Hindi) 'Ask the manager.'
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