Thrissur: “Haven’t seen you for a few days, dear?” asked Abdul Latheef, a retired employee of the Veterinary University, when he saw Mini.

“I wasn’t keeping well, ikka… I was on rest for a week,” she replied instantly.

Not just for Latheef, but for most passengers travelling on the Mannuthy–Chalakudy route, V Mini of the Pudukad KSRTC depot is a favourite conductor.

For the past 15 years, Mini has been greeting passengers with “Ammoo… Kutta… Chetta… Chechi…” at the Pudukad KSRTC depot. The 46-year-old was once an ITI instructor, but joined KSRTC as a conductor in 2010. The teacher loved by children gradually became a daughter, sister and friend to many who board her bus. She now works as the conductor on the Mannuthy–Chalakudy route.

Even today, some passengers still call her “Teacher.” Mini treats students with a mother’s affection and elders with the care of a daughter. If a regular passenger fails to board the bus for a day, she eagerly enquires about them. She also calls out to those standing aside at bus stops and encourages them to board. When a regular passenger’s stop approaches, she makes sure to remind them — “Latheef ikka, your stop has arrived.”

“Nearly 1000 people board the bus every day. One should enjoy the work they do, make people around them happy, treat everyone with kindness, and spread a smile on at least a few face. That’s all I try to do,” says Mini. Some passengers, touched by her warmth, have even sent letters to the depot appreciating her behaviour.

Mini’s first trip begins at 6.20 am. She wakes up at 4 am., finishes household chores and then heads to work. At their home in Vasupuram, Mattathur, she lives with her husband K Ramankutty, an electrician, her mother, and her mother-in-law. Their daughters are Gayathri Menon, a third-year BSc Mathematics (Honours) student at the Delhi Central University campus, and Gauri Avantika Menon, a nursing student in Germany.

As she chats with passengers, shares their joys and concerns, and spreads warmth, Mini’s journey continues — one bus ride at a time.