Since ma school days have always be travelling by trains…..It was more than a necessity and a plausible escape from bus travelling (Psst…me one of the rare species who feel sick and then make the other commuters feel sick by unalarmingly vomiting). Not a kind who remembers or rather cherishes the foremost happenings in life……so dunno how trains became an inseparable part of life…College, classes, Articleship. first job………everything I have reached and travelled through these “Manage to get in & I assure to transport you” .
No one can deny that their everyday chores get scheduled on the basis of the time tables of the trains…..We preach “
Ek jaati hain toh dussari aati zarur hain”………but We practice “
Praan jaaye par gaadi naa chute”….. The “Oh shit!! maaan I missed my train expressions are sumtimes priceless, u rather wonder dat the person just missed his breath….The whole idea of getting into the train is too risky at times………..U need to stand in front and have people behind you who will push u in without ur consent and u are assured of their strength n eagerness to get in ,dat eventually will GET U IN hehehe dis is wat I follow!!!….initially u feel as some
” Hen bein squeezed merciless into a van but once inside It.. you can sophistically pretend to look out for your space…Still u find Some dumb emotional fool who get in, turn around at the entrance and call out “nita” tum chadhe “nita” tum chadhe…….Abheey “*&%^&&%” once you get in she will get an opportunity or rather spacious opportunity to come in…
Once inside…da most humorous scene is to watch “
catch a seat “driven people looking around admist chaos and asking desperately for seat …waking up certain sleepyheads and gettg some well deserved “I will kill You” looks…Herein I recollect an incident wherein me and ma friend had booked a seat ( By words) and were waitg for vikhroli statn to arrive so dat we could rest our ***….Normally the commuters do get up a station or two before so dat they pave their way through the crowd, this particular female wasn’t budging ,My anxious friend started mumbling in our common lingo abusing her for being so laidback and inconsiderate or rather utilizing her seat till she sees The V of Vikhroli hehehe…….Now the curtain raiser…….She arose few sec before the station……and politely told ma friend in our same lingo..
”Please do have a seat”……ma friend was stunned or rather sheepishly stunned..
Moral : not all southie’s appear to be one….so be careful the next time u use ur
lingo Each of the commuter are our known by their train timings…U find People claiming ,”why four are not bein accommodated on the seat meant for three irrespective of the sizes of the first three ( How illogical can we be!!!) I personally like standing near the door and holding ma face against the wind listening to ma mobile instead of finding a place to rest ma seat… But had a bad experience wherein a stone was just thrown at the door by some kinda “I-can't-be-caught-type” idiots….saw innocent people injured….So much of insanity around…just like da stone , a bomb was planted….Wats wrong with our sensibilities…Does taking a revenge mean doin bad to the easily available Lot……..I don’t think so!!!...We all are unique in our own way and merely belonging to any community/caste/social status/ does not Qualify us to pay for the deeds of few wrong dumbheads…….
Certain incidents are peculiar in train which are absolutely worth a mention “fisherwomen alongwith their unbearable Tokri which they squeeze in the upside of the handle hanging rods ( punishing the one standing beneath the same with terrify drops of stinking water “Do bhoondh maut ke!! ) College group who are absolutely irritating at times….they are the ones who rejoice on getting in ,then rejoice on finding place ,then further rejoice with an ounce of screams on finding some known faces……phew! in short fultu earthcracking noises..Feel like shooting them with a silencer!! But couldn’t refuse the fact that once upon a time I too was a part of such groups….wherein friendship was made in few glimpses shared while standing on station waitg for the trains..It was a joyful time observing different generes of people under one common platform.. Could not help mentioning my astonishment coupled with loads of witchg witch laughter on witnessing a scene wherein my “Now good friend but then just a classmate “ was conversing with a stingy beggar on board exactly uttering “ hey you dirty rag please move off…..dont fall on me “ (How well the beggar understood da English)… U sumtimes sympathize when u find people arguing ,fighting ,abusing even hurting each other physically for want of some seat, some space or rather just for the sake of Not touching them” Some females who are found squatting at the entrance who very courageously advise you how to manage to stand without hurting them….I remember once replying to them “ “agali baar haath ke saath pairon ko bhi upar latkakar khadi rahti hun, hawaien mein latkungi toh aap ko takleef nai hoga naa”; then u find some specific types like me listening to music on earphones unaware least oblivious to the environment.
The most wanted people being the EVER WELCOMED “Vendors”..Who literally struggle their way with their baggages to make a living ,they strike a cord with everyday commuters. On encountering old women , men selling /begging u are forced to pensively wonder of offering substantial money but there is something which holds you back. Lack of trust!
Some things are invaluable , I vividly remember once offering ma seat to an elderly lady, she was so surprised rather moved by my gesture…such moments re ensures ur faith on doin and meaning Good!! Talking of the good ……am reminded of the singing sessions with ma friends……teasing each other by changing the lyrics of the song…..Repeating certain songs again n again on realizing someone’s irritation. Clicking photos…..posing for the same……LAuging aloud on certain fights which go haywire n then slowly being dragged into the same for the untimely laughter…..poor husbands ,kids,parents,Boyfriends and I dunno who all are cursed……I bet I don’t understand the abuses thrown ,so fail to react appropriately…Ignorance does work….How we all manage to have fun while just travelling...It is merry ride to think of….it does carry a lot of moods, lots of fear ,anticipation, problems, hopes, happiness……U find untimely help & support on any mishaps or accidents..U feel secure and safe….I guess its true with any transport means…however it’s the lifeline in Mumbai ,Once they are dead……. we die in fulfilling our daily commitments…It’s the most happening place wherein u also end up making a lot friends- TRAIN FRIENDS.. I admit of not having any but still have seen and heard of them……..But with friends or without friends around ,train journey still is enjoyable and interesting inspite of the crowd, the uncertain speed, da late arrivals/departures….Its How u perceive if u wana have fun u surely can!!!
