It was afternoon, and the sun was extremely hot. People at the bus stand were running to find shade. Anyone who managed to get into a bus quickly felt lucky, because it was the only way to escape the burning heat that felt like fire on their skin.
Maua ( university student ) was one of the passengers waiting for a bus. She stood beside a small drink shop, staring at the cold sodas and bottled water with desire. She was very thirsty, but she could not buy anything. The only money she had left was her bus fare.
It had been a long and tiring day. Still, she felt a little happy because tomorrow is weekend.
After a long wait, a bus finally arrived. Maua quickly lifted her long dress a little so she would not trip as she hurried towards the bus.
Inside the bus, it was already full. She could not find a seat, so she stood and held the metal bar above her head.
"Miss with the red hijab, fare!" the conductor called out.
Because the bus was crowded and she was tightly squeezed between people, it was hard for her to reach her purse.
"I can't take it out right now. Please wait until the crowd eases a bit," she said politely.
"Make sure you don't get off without paying," the conductor warned before moving on.
The bus continued moving. Everyone seemed busy with their own thoughts.
As Maua looked around, she noticed a young man wearing blue trousers and a big black T-shirt. He was slowly pressing himself closer to a woman standing in front of him.
Sadly, this was common in public buses—some pervert used the crowd as an excuse to touch women inappropriately and satisfy their needs
"Oh God, give me patience," Maua whispered to herself. She looked around to see if anyone else had noticed.
Suddenly, a strong, broad man pushed through the crowd. Without saying a word, he punched the young man hard in the face.
"Bro! Why are you hitting me? What have I done?" the young man cried out as the man grabbed him by the collar.
"Shut up! Do you think I didn't see what you were doing to my wife?" the man shouted angrily, holding him tightly by the neck.
"Help… he's killing me!" the young man gasped, struggling to breathe.
The bus became noisy. Everyone had something to say.
"Don't choke him, you'll kill him!" some shouted.
"These young men have no manners," others complained.
Some even blamed the woman. "Why didn't you say anything when he was touching you?"
Others mocked her. "Maybe she was enjoying it, heheh"
Every comment made the husband angrier. He continued hitting the young man.
"Please forgive me, bro!" the young man begged, covering his head. Blood started coming from his nose and mouth.
The driver quickly stopped the bus. The young man was thrown out. It was probably the only thing that saved him.
After a while, things became calmer, but people were still whispering.
The husband then turned to his wife. "Why were you silent?" he asked angrily.
The woman had not spoken the whole time. Strangely, she looked upset—not at the young man, but at her husband.
Maua shook her head in confusion. 'This woman is surprising,' she thought. 'Her husband fought for her, and she is angry at him??'
The journey continued.
As they approached Maua's stop, another argument started. A passenger was demanding his change from the conductor.
"When we are short even a small coin, you refuse to listen," the passenger shouted. "Now you want to keep my hundred? No way!"
Maua paid her fare quickly and got off the bus, leaving the noise behind.
For her, this was nothing new. If you used public buses often, you saw such things almost every day.
To Maua, it was simply another normal day in her busy, noisy cycle of life.