With the initial fears coming into manageable terms it was time to dive down to the core of the city. It not only allows the city its distinct feature; what i feel is, it gave Mumbai its existence. With a interval of 3 mins between each of the chariots of life; still the city does not seem to slow down and wants to go faster and faster. The red-black-blue-yellow-pink colored bogies seem to rush past you as if the only thing they care about is the destination to reach. I learnt a lesson the very first day- If you wanna live in Mumbai embrace the local trains. The santacruz, the ville parle ,the khar ,the thane ,the Vashi ,the Andheri all seem to fly past at breakneck speed. The first day when i visualized the spectacle the enormous size of it took me by its arms. People jostling around, Clothes being sold at 20 Bucks, Sea fish being sold and 10-12 boards showing train times which changes every minute. The observation swept me off my feet as that was the first time i felt i was watching the population of India. It is not an spectacle it’s a catastrophe which can turn pretty aggressive soon.
I made my way into the train (2nd Class); without finding any trace of differentiation factor between the classes. What welcomed me was a crowd from various factions of life- An IT guy carrying his laptop on his head, a carpenter with his tools and a lady with her son in her lap. This was not all coz if i need to describe one and all the entire segment of population of India could have been evident. My nasal equipment stopped recognizing any smell as the mixture of pure human odor along with various artificial ones laid the foundation for a gas tragedy. The train chugged on and slowly and slowly I started feeling the changes in me. The shirt was fully wet with perspiration; my bag was worn in the opposite way, my shoes have been trampled a thousand times but still a beautiful feeling held me. I was one of the common people-I saw life open up before me. The strengths and weakness required to keep you on and on in such environment deserves a salute. People from various factions’ embarrassed life the way it is and in the local train platform all became same. All pay the same amount of money for the space to stand nevertheless keeping the fact in mind that after you get down one may go into an AC room earning dollars and another go the market to sell vegetables: a beautiful way to bring the people back to the roots of life. I had a feeling of desperation for a few days but the day I felt that here is the platform where your social and financial status do not work, I felt a good feeling sweeping over me that yes “I am LUCKY”. One thing which strikes more is if you can peek out of the window or the doors of the train you see structures that takes your breath away and on the other side of the track their would be a line of shacks with naked children dozing off near a gutter.
I got a chance to even see the city one day when the hardworking motormen said that they gonna take a decisive step of stopping trains to get a good bet for their life. Half of Mumbai stopped. Buses plied on the roads on extra number, Autos became half as the drivers cold not reach their locations. Half of the offices closed and something which cost Rs6/- now was Rs 60/-. The local trains seem to be the heartbeat of Mumbai.
Now as the days are coming to an end when I still get people falling over me I feel that the ordeal is gonna get over but if this is an ordeal for me, for many people a journey in the local trains is a way to get out of their ordeals of their life. The train of Mumbai has seen all- Bomb blasts, financial meltdown, poverty, rains, kasab, growth and a thousand things you can add- But it still remains true to its dedication: KEEP MUMBAI ALIVE.
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