A Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) driver marked his retirement with an emotional farewell to the bus that had been part of his working life for years. Paul Kurian, from Kattappana in Idukki district, completed his final journey before turning back to the vehicle one last time, in moments that have since resonated with social media users.
Rather than simply walk away after his last trip, Paul returned to the bus and expressed his gratitude in a deeply personal way. He hugged the vehicle, kissed it and climbed into the driver’s seat for the final time.
Driver touches bus tyres before leaving
Paul’s farewell did not end behind the wheel. Before leaving the bus for good, he went to its front and rear tyres, placed his hands on them and bowed in respect.
The gestures appeared to acknowledge the role the bus had played in his livelihood and his years spent travelling across Kerala’s roads. After spending much of his working life driving passengers over thousands of kilometres, the vehicle had become closely tied to his daily routine.
His final moments therefore became more than a conventional retirement farewell. The bus represented years of work, long hours behind the wheel and the experiences that came with a career spent on the road.
