CASE 1: It was a bit unusual that 7:26 am
train at Ulhasnagar was not filled much. It came from Khopoli, about 57 kms
from Ulhasnagar. Since the crowd in the train was less, it seemed like X and
his friend had boarded the 7:23 am train which came from Ambernath, just 3kms
from Ulhasnagar. X recalls very clearly that they had missed 7:23 local as he
arrived at the station late.
X and his friend always go together to
work. They have a fixed schedule of boarding 7:23 local to Thane in the morning
and meet again in the evening to board 5:50 pm local at Thane to way back home.
X is a bit lazy and quite often misses the 7:23 local but his friend always
waits for him and with no choice, both have to board the 7:26 local.
As X recalls, it was a bit unusual that 7:26
local was quite less crowded. Both were happy that getting down at Thane would
be easier. Dombivli crossed and Thane was approaching. Both went forward to
approach the door, to stand behind the co-passengers who were about to get down
at Thane. A person in his late 20s was the immediate next person standing, Uncle
1.
Uncle 1 suffers from a minor case of the
Local Train Syndrome (LTS)!
X: (calling Uncle 1) Aapko utarna hai
Thane?
Uncle 1: (nods his head, making a bad face
irritatingly) Haan, abhi time hai station aane mein.
After few more minutes, X: (to Uncle 1)
Thoda aage jaiye, station aa raha hai.
Uncle 1: (angrily shouts) Arey haan be jaa
aage, kabse dhaka de raha hai.
Surprisingly, X had not even touched Uncle
1.
X: (calmly) Subah subah bhadak kyun rahe ho
yaar!
Both X and his friend got down at Thane
successfully. Surprisingly, the number of people boarding the train from Thane
was huge than usual. Mumbai local train, like Mumbai city; always surprise!
X’s friend: Ch****a, waat lag gayi hogi
uski Thane pe!
X: Chhod na, pehle hi usko biwi ne pareshan
kiya hua hai, tu aur gaali de raha hai. (Both shared a laugh)
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CASE 2: Some other day! X and his friend
were in 5:50 local coming back home. Vithalwadi station was crossed, their home
Ulhasnagar was approaching. Both X and his friend woke up from their seat. They
were behind a person who must be in his early 50s, Uncle 2.
Uncle 2 suffers from a slightly advanced
case of the LTS.
X’s shoes touched the shoes of Uncle 2
while getting up from the seat. Uncle 2’s facial expressions conveyed his anger
to X. Uncle 2’s shoes were shining, jet black shoes. X appreciated the well
kept shoes, the shininess of the shoes in his mind; and gave an apologetic
smile to Uncle 2. Uncle 2 reciprocated with a mild smile.
A lot of people get down at Ulhasnagar in
the 5:50 local and one always gets a push from the men behind as the station
approaches. X was exactly behind Uncle 2.
At Ulhasnagar station platform after
getting down, Uncle 2: (angrily shouts to X) Kya pagal hai, itna dhaka deta
hai!
X: (calmly) Mein aapko jaan bhuj ke kyun
dhaka dunga, peeche se dhaka aa raha tha!
Uncle 2 had no answers, but he chose to
stay at the platform. X turned closer to his friend. X’s friend had his back
facing to Uncle 2 but X could see Uncle 2 still standing. X understood that
Uncle 2 wanted to hear cuss words about him and get a chance to attack.
X’s friend: (to X) Be******d, ch****a
aadmi…
X: (in low voice) Shhh… Whho hamare peeche
hi hai!
Both X and his friend started talking some
random stuff while X had his eyes on Uncle 2. Uncle 2 was still waiting for a
chance having his full attention on X and his friend. Luckily, he did not hear
X’s friend’s cuss remarks on him.
After a couple of minutes, Uncle 2 left
with no success of getting an opportunity to attack.
X: (to his friend) Kaise kaise log hain
yaar!
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Life is not a video game where if you start
playing bad, you can exit the game and start playing all over again. Life is a
game which doesn’t stop and moreover it isn’t perfect. It’s mysterious!
People suffer from regrets, lost love,
guilt, societal pressures, greed, jealousy, loneliness; and who knows what! Now
narrow down the presence of these people in Mumbai local trains! About 4500 passengersget packed into 9-car local during peak hours which has a rated capacity of1700 passengers. About 14 to 16 passengers stand per square meter of the floorspace. So much overcrowding! Of course, it is not a surprise that you will find
people suffering from the LTS.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway#/media/File:Bombay4.jpg
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CASE 3: X recalls an incident which
happened years ago. X got down at Kurla station from where he used to go to
college. It was like any other busy morning where after much struggle, X
successfully got down at Kurla station and saw this incident. Huge crowd
surrounded a young thin boy and a person in his mid 60s, Uncle 3.
X tells that Uncle 3 was in the final stage
of the LTS.
Both young boy and Uncle 3 got down at
Kurla from second class compartment adjacent to the first class compartment
from which X got down. The young boy was thin enough for the wind to blow him
off. His facial expressions and body language conveyed that he was the sort of
a person abused on everyday basis. X looked from a distance that Uncle 3 was
shouting constantly at the young boy and the crowd was enjoying as if they were
witnessing fireworks show on a Diwali night. All of a sudden, Uncle 3 gave a
tight slap to the young boy and continued his yelling. As expected from the
young boy, he didn’t move an inch and took all the humiliation till the show
completed.
The angry old man Uncle 3 was in serious
trouble says X. Uncle 3 was fighting an invisible ghost and not the young boy.
The invisible ghost that represented his own life! Uncle 3 must be fighting at
least one person a day. That gave him satisfaction, contentment as a reward to
stay in the web of life. Uncle 3 had fallen in an infinite depth of rowdiness
and he will stay there for his entire life perhaps.
X recalls the Joker. The Joker is actually
a hero. The Joker has given some wonderful satirical wisdom quotes.
Joker: Madness, as you know is like gravity! All it takes is a little push.
Source: http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/The_Joker_(Heath_Ledger)
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CASE 4: Coming back to present age! It was
only a few days ago, X and his friend were travelling to Thane in 7:26 local. X
very modestly tells me, “Hey, this time I was not late. It was my friend!”
Both X and his friend made some space for
themselves while the train was approaching the next station Vithalwadi. A
person in his mid 40s entered the local and stood aside X. He is Uncle 4.
Uncle 4 was very much busy in his mobile
phone and was using his both hands involved in mobile, maybe for typing. Hence,
he was not taking the support of the hanger in the train.
The train was speeding forward approaching
one station after the other. When the train took a sudden break while moving in
fast speed, Uncle 4 accidently leaned over X. Realizing this, Uncle 4 instantly
took the support of the hanger and avoided further leaning. X too, saved
himself from falling by tightening his hold over the hanger. X expressed his
discomfort by making a slight irritating tone but without uttering a word.
After a few more minutes, the same thing
happened. The speeding train took a sudden break. Uncle 4, much engaged in his
mobile again leaned on X. This time, the anger got over X.
X: (irritatingly to Uncle 4) Arey kya kar
rahe ho yaar!
Uncle 4: (paused for a second) sorry dear!
X: (instantly came out of his mouth) It’s
ok!
X ponders, ‘Did I make a mistake?.. No!
Such small things happen!’
X didn’t know what happens in the life of
Uncle 4 days in, days out! Uncle 4 didn’t know what happens in the life of X
days in, days out! But everything was handled well. Few words and everything
sorted!
On this incident, X recalled the Joker
again.
Joker: Why so serious?
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Closing note:
Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be
vengeful or malicious. (-Phillips Brooks)
By the way, X told me to wish you all a very Happy
2016!
