New Delhi: In the late 1990s, the cost of freedom was measured in patience and Rs 12.50. After the initial excitement of securing admission in a Delhi University North Campus college faded, the challenge of traveling 23km from home to the campus emerged. The first option for many was a bus journey involving three changes, including a tumultuous ride on the fiery red Mudrika service along the Ring Road, frequented by various characters. However, a more convenient direct bus route was discovered, requiring a travel pass.

Armed with a passport-sized photo and Rs 12.50 in change, students queued up at the "passwala window," aiming to catch the right moment between tea breaks and lunchtime. Half an hour later, the coveted pass was in hand, a small victory akin to acing an exam. Boarding the Alaknanda U-Special bus the next day at 7.25am was met with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

As newcomers, the yellow and green U-Special buses provided a sense of security and familiarity with their basic interiors. The buses, with their spiked aluminum floors and weathered green cushioned seats, carried messages cautioning passengers against misconduct. Despite the bus's imperfections like stuck windows and broken seats, it offered a reliable and punctual transport service to college.

Being the first stop, students could easily find a seat and even catch a nap before reaching campus, well before class began. The conductor soon recognized regular passengers, eliminating the need for pass checks in those simpler times devoid of advanced security measures.

Aside from its practicality, the U-Special bus served as a platform for forming friendships, crushes, and even love stories during the daily 45-minute journey. Different types of passengers, from the daring ones hanging on to life at the bus entrance to the quieter individuals at the front, created a unique bus culture filled with camaraderie and occasional disagreements.

Despite occasional disruptions due to strikes and protests, the U-Special bus remained a cherished part of the Delhi University experience, offering students a memorable and nostalgic ride down memory lane.