A Kerala bus driver had an unusual goodbye for the vehicle he had driven for years. On his last working day, Paul Kurien stopped beside his bus, leaned towards it and kissed it before walking away. The simple moment, captured by his colleagues at the depot, has now gone viral, with social media users saying the farewell left them unexpectedly emotional.According to the Hindu and various media, Kurien had worked as a driver with the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for 18 years. For the last eight years, he had been driving the same bus on the Idukki-Kumily route. His final working day marked the end of his regular duties, although his official retirement is scheduled for October 31. He will remain on leave until then.
One last goodbye to the bus
The video shows Kurien standing beside the bus after completing his final duty. He approaches the vehicle, touches it and kisses it goodbye before leaving. It was an emotional farewell to a bus that had been part of Kurien’s working life for years. The gesture may have lasted only a few seconds, but it struck a chord with viewers because the bus was clearly more than just a vehicle for the retiring driver. Eight years of driving the same bus meant countless journeys and daily routines behind the same wheel.The videos of the farewell were recorded by Kurien’s friends at the depot and later spread across social media and went viral.
Kerala CM reacts to the video
The farewell also caught the attention of Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan. Satheesan said he was deeply moved by the way Kurien bowed in reverence to the bus he had driven with dedication for years. He also praised the commitment and pride of KSRTC workers, describing them as the backbone of Kerala’s public transport system.The chief minister said the government remained committed to modernising KSRTC while protecting and strengthening its role in the state’s public transport network.
Netizens react to the emotional farewell
The video quickly drew emotional reactions online. Several users focused not on the retirement itself, but on the affection Kurien showed towards the bus. One user, @haasas.vibes_06, wrote: “Ahh I have literal tears.” Another user, @raghvibehl, reacted with: “who’s cutting onions?” The sentiment was similar in another comment from @skinny_shrys, who simply wrote:”humans being humans.”Another called it “Such a wholesome video.” Others used the moment to recognise Kurien’s years of work. @Debijoy55 wrote: “Respect to his dedicated service to the people. Happy retirement Sir.” Another user, @dr.vidulagujjarwar, described the farewell as touching and wrote: “He must be a kind hearted honest man. Happy retirement to you Appa ji.”The comments reflect why the short video has travelled beyond the depot where it was recorded. There was no elaborate farewell speech or ceremony in the moment captured on camera. Instead, it was a driver saying goodbye to a bus that had been part of his daily life for eight years. For Kurien, the final journey was not simply another trip on the route. It was the last time he would drive the bus as part of his working life. And before leaving, he chose to give it one final kiss.
