Train travel in Mumbai is
often thought of as terribly entertaining by writers, and to be fair
to all the odes written on the experiences, it often can become the
highlight of a very sad and boring day at work. But as anyone who
commutes daily will tell you, more often than not it's just that- a
daily commute.
After the novelty wears off
and one gets used to being shoved around, there's really not that
much. Which leaves most people with about an hour of sitting or
standing (or in some cases hanging) in very cramped and uncomfortable
positions with no means of changing the surroundings.
Different people find
different ways to pass the time. Some work their prayer beads. Eyes
closed, lips moving softly, disconnected from the chaos around them.
There is another set among the religious types, those who carry tiny
books where they write the names of their Gods over and over again.
It's an art, perfected with much practice, as writing anything on a
moving train where one barely has any space to sit straight requires
real dedication. This group is usually quiet, keeping to themselves,
and usually not making much of a nuisance. But if you dare to disturb
them, even by mistake, you can be assured of a very angry glare as
they look down upon the lesser mortal from their moral high ground.
Then there are the older
women, typically in their forties, although not necessarily so. They
have been taking the same train since the millennials were born and
have a strong sense of ownership towards it. They remember a time
when trains weren't so crowded and expect to travel in much the same
way even today. All new entrants are treated as scum until they
establish their familiarity by taking the same train for several
months. But once a new entrant's credentials are established they may
soften up a little and work at finding a seat for the late comers.
These are the old school commuters we read about in local train
anecdotes. Their train friends are a big part of their lives.
Compartments are further divided into sections where like minded
groups hang out together. They know each other by names and also know
of each others families. In fact at some point in their long lives
spent in the train they may even have met the kids or taken their
husbands to a party or picnic with their train friends. A strong
sense of community living has been imbibed over the years and once
they have pushed each other and secured a seat for themselves they
are one big happy family. These are also the loudest and most vocal
groups in the train. Their chatter is loud and unrelenting as they
discuss everything from college admissions to in-law trouble with
complete disrespect for people trying to catch up on some sleep.
Which brings us to the type
three- the sleeping beauties. There is no set age group for this lot
they come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Their primary motive is to
grab a seat where they can plonk themselves and sleep through the
entire journey. While one can definitely sympathize with these sleep
deprived souls, the ease and confidence with which they can slip in
and out of deep slumber is awe-inspiring. Not for them the fear of
missing their station or the discomfort of waking midway through a
nap. They perfected the art of power nap before it became all the
rage, waking up just in time to comb their hair, freshen up the
lipstick and get off elegantly from their chariots, or as elegantly
as one can get off a crowded local train.
This group is the least
noisy, but that doesn't stop them from causing trouble to their
fellow commuters. While they sleep they loosen up and conveniently
turn those sitting around them into makeshift pillows, sometimes even
almost falling into their laps. An inception styled "kick"
however straightens them up for a few minutes before deep slumber
takes over again.
Then there is the no holds
barred commuters who unwittingly bring you into their lives. They
have optimised their travel time to keep in touch with family and
friends. While that is perfectly fine, this group often forget the
surroundings as they immerse themselves into their phone
conversation. This writer once spent an entire journey from Cotton
Green to Andheri listening to a woman encouraging her younger sister
to tell her boss off if they asked her to work over the weekend. If
the commuter is a regular one can even make an insightful character
study on the person and their relationship with the person they are
talking to.
The last group is the new
kids on the block. They are either college-goers or young
professionals usually in their twenties. They have ditched the age
old tradition of making"train friends" and keep to
themselves. Glued to their smart phones, they are rarely seen to be
speaking. But they aren't in the least bit anti-social, just busy in
their own virtual worlds. Their lives revolve around display pics,
status updates and group chats. Upon getting into the train their
first task is to fish out their phones and check for updates. This
also makes them the least troublesome group. All they need is a
little space to stand or sit and then they are as disconnected from
their reality as can be achieved in a moving train full of people.
