Local Train stories…

One of the dirtiest, craziest and amazing experiences of my life was when I traveled by the great Mumbai local train yesterday. Not only is the train the fastest and cheapest mode of transport in Mumbai, but is also one the most crowded one, which I learnt on my trip. Standing on the platform with my ticket in my hand and the other clutching my new phone in my pocket and my constantly checking for my wallet in my back pocket, I waited nervously for the train to roll in. As the train rolled in, The air got electrified, the crowd got restless, anxious faces all around me.. The quest for that elusive foothold was on! As the train slowed, there was a roar from the crowd in the train which was complimented by the now rising din on the platform. People shouting, women lugging crying babies, and hundreds of people swarmed towards the door. But they were pushed back by the flow of human bodies falling out of the train and the entire scene was violent to say the least. I stood there, frozen in time, wondering if I should even attempt to get into the train. My dilemma was resolved when i found myself being forced ot get into the train by the sheer mass of people behind me! I gripped my phone tighter and held on to the overhead handles. The sheer smell of sweat soaked people, hair soaked in oil brushing my face, and bad breath all around me hit me like a brick wall. The train left in 15 seconds with people hanging out of it like flies at a vada pav stall.

As the journey progressed, I noticed a strange phenomenon. Everyone seemed engrossed in their own thoughts but there was a silent struggle going on in terms of space. People nudged each other, jostled and pushed, but no one said a word. It was unreal the way the storm at the station had manifested itself into this calm but silent struggle within the train. Tension slowly started building up as the next station approached. People started moving towards the exit and thus the struggle to get out of the train begin. Form the inside of the train, what i saw was sheer war to my inexperienced eyes. People practically threw the passengers at the exit out of the train eve n before the train came to a halt. I cleverly positioned myself and took my place in front of the crowd and was ejected as soon as the train halted. I was still clutching the phone and was relieved to find my wallet in place too. Quite to my surprise, I’m looking forward to my next trip on this beast, but perhaps in the first class…

~ by ashish on June 18, 2007.