I chatted them up and enjoyed their conversation while waiting, but that was the end of our encounter because I decided to sit elsewhere on the bus. And no, the motive was not prompted by my Filipino nose (tiny but sensitive!) because they didn't appear to carry the distinctive signature Indian aroma. But alas, 3 stops later another Indian gentleman who not only possessed the scent but also exuded it well beyond his 3 layers of clothing, stepped into the vehicle and decided to sit beside me. Breathe in, breathe out. This exercise was not exactly calming given the circumstances. At this point I thought I'd just pass the time by sleeping off the rest of the trip. And with that I resigned myself to a long nap and several dreams of curry.
I woke up 30 minutes later and glanced at my neighbor only to find him asleep. Perhaps dreaming about... kitkats and longanisa?