5 Most Annoying Co-Travellers

Disclaimer: I am a regular city-goer with an exciting job, ample friends and a loving family. I have patience levels that are considered normal. I am no Rowdy Rathore who gets angry at the slightest excuse!

Trust who to take the fun out of travelling? Annoying co-passengers! I bet that statement would have teleported you to the painful times when you were at the verge of pulling your hair out just because the person sitting next to you was at his or her most annoying best.

Being a travel writer and staying away from home, I travel frequently, mostly alone. So unfortunately, I have been a prey to many such unwelcomed encounters. As if the stress of taking leave from work, making a last minute rush between packing stuff and booking a cab to standing in queues is not enough, these painfully irritating creatures are ready to choke your personal space during travel.

Believe me, I can list out 100 such cases! But, I’m only going to 'raise a toast' to the 5-most-annoying co-travellers I’ve experienced so far.

1. Kissa Kursi Ka

 

Here’s to the irritating bunch of kids and elders, who have an unending quest to experiment with  seats. When travelling by train in a Chair Car bogey or in a flight, I’m almost always wary of sitting behind someone who will keep adjusting the recliner seat till the farthest possible (result: spilt tea/gravy). Next, the kids will ensure that you don’t doze off as they constantly kick the back of your seat (because the train or plane is a mobile picnic spot for them to explore!). So far, the worst has been during my ride from Delhi to Kanpur in a Shatabdi when an uncle sitting behind me grabbed my hair while getting up. Yes! That was an add-on to the already bad hair day I was having.

2. Sounds of Travel

 

 

This is to the “I-can’t-take-you-any-more” sounds. Mr. Snoreman and Ms. Snorewoman will never bunk class. So what if you thought of sleeping through the journey. Why would they miss on their attendance? The chatterbox aunties too will interject at regular intervals, telling you everything about the property divisions in the family, how their sons only listen to their daughters-in-law and throwing in tips every now and then about good family planning (and all this gyaan comes for free).

3. The Restless Tripper

Be it the train, plane or bus, what can you possibly do about the window seat aspirant? I don’t know if it’s my bad luck, but I always manage to find one such person on most of my trips. I might still ignore their ambition, but it’s practically impossible to get away with the frequent bathroom tripper. If only there was a special quota for passengers with a weak bladder! If you happen to miss out on both of these, you would certainly have an unpleasant encounter with a waiting ticket holder wanting to share your berth space. Why not? We have always been taught to “adjust”.

4. Mere Paas Phone Hai

 

I raise this toast to the travellers who think that phone rules do not apply to them. If they listen to songs, they think it’s their moral responsibility to make you listen to them too. Forget good songs and say hello to endless crooning by Himesh Reshammiya. Then there are some who would conveniently blab with their friends or folks on the speaker phone. That’s one occasion I really get curious to know, “who invented the speaker phone?” I’m sure most of us have also come across the pseudo bade log who would be too busy cracking their ‘laakhon-ki-deals’ on the train. I wonder if that really is to the benefit of the business or of those around you!

5. The Khaan-Paan

Public conveyance has always been regarded as a litter dumping zone. So this group considers its right to eat and spill at the same place. Dustbins? Well, they don’t exist in their dictionaries while on the move. You would recall being told by your parents to avoid eating food offered by strangers during travel. Irrespective of that, the aunties with their bags full of paranthas  and achaar somehow transform into your guardian for the duration of the travel. I do understand your sentiment aunties, but, how about considering that I might be carrying my own food? Nevertheless, you still deserve a toast.

Sound familiar? I bet you too would have tons of your experiences, so do share your stories. A little venting can do wonders!