Roberts Gregory David (w3327)

‘Doesn’t it tell you where every bus is going, on the front of the bus?’ I demanded, irritated by the delay. ‘Yes, Lin. See, this one says Aurangabad, and that one says Ajanta, and that one says Chalisgao, and that one says - ’ ‘Yeah, yeah. So … why do we have to ask every driver where he’s going?’ ‘Oh!’ he exclaimed, genuinely surprised by the question. ‘Because not every sign is a truly sign.’ ‘What do you mean, not a truly sign?’ He stopped, putting down his share of the luggage, and offered me a smile of indulgent patience. ‘Well, Lin, you see, some of those driving fellows are going to places that is nobody wants to go to. Little places, they are, with a few people only. So, they put a sign for a more popular place.’ ‘You’re telling me that they put a sign up saying they’re going to a big town, where lots of people want to go, but they’re really going somewhere else, where nobody wants to go?’ ‘That’s right, Lin,’ he beamed.

Roberts, Gregory David. Shantaram. Melbourne: Scribe Publications, 2003.