On the bus, instead of giving up his seat to a pregnant woman, a young man suggested she sit on his lap: but what one of the passengers did shocked everyone.
The bus was travelling along a narrow street, and the interior was cramped and stuffy. People were sitting in every row, and all the seats were taken. When the doors opened at the next stop, a young woman in a light summer dress got on the bus.
She was seven months pregnant — her rounded belly clearly revealed her condition. The woman was holding onto the handrail, breathing heavily, and it was immediately apparent that standing was difficult for her.
Right in front of her sat a young man wearing headphones. He was completely absorbed in his phone, listening to music, and did not even notice that there was a pregnant woman standing next to him.
‘Young man, could you give me your seat?’ the woman said quietly and politely.
The young man did not respond because he simply could not hear her through his headphones. The woman leaned over slightly, touched his shoulder lightly, and repeated louder:
‘It’s very difficult for me to stand. May I sit in your seat?’
The young man took off his headphones, looked at her with displeasure, and instead of standing up, smiled insolently:
‘If you want, you can sit on my lap,’ he said, pointing to his legs, and then began to laugh loudly.
His words sounded so provocative and shameless that the woman could barely hold back her tears. Despair flashed in her eyes — it was really hard for her to stand, but she no longer had the strength to argue.
An awkward silence fell over the bus. Some passengers turned away, pretending they hadn’t heard anything, while others exchanged glances, but no one intervened.
At that moment, the old man sitting in the seat next to me, who had been watching the situation unfold, did something that shocked the entire bus.
‘You can take my seat.’
It was an elderly man, grey-haired and thin, who was sitting next to her. He slowly got up, leaning on his cane. The woman shook her head:
‘But you… it’s hard for you to stand too…’
The old man smiled slightly:
‘It’s okay, I’ll take your seat.’
‘What seat?’ the woman asked in surprise.
Without saying another word, the old man walked around the young man and… sat down right on his lap.
The bus erupted in laughter. Someone even applauded. The young man blushed, his eyes widened, and he jerked, trying to get up, but the old man, as if on purpose, made himself more comfortable.
‘Well, since the seat for the pregnant woman is taken, I’ll take you up on your offer,’ he said loudly, and again the whole crowd burst out laughing.
The young man, not knowing where to hide his embarrassment, immediately jumped up and, almost tripping, gave his seat to the woman. She carefully sat down, exhaling with relief and thanking the old man.
