Local Train

I have spent few good months in the magical city of Mumbai and have had my share of ups/downs by the lifeline of Mumbai-the local trains! While going through some old documents, I came across these few lines I had jotted down once during a 45 minutes travel in the ladies compartment from Powai to CST in the year 2010. Those really were old good days...

I meet new people every day,

While travelling in the local train,

Rich and poor, black and white,

Some dressed bright, some dressed plain

I look at that girl, putting her make up

Right beside her, the other one asleep

There’s another one singing to her self

And one engrossed in her book deep

There’s a lady working on her lappy

And a mother, feeding her child

Also a girl, head banging to some music

Another begging for alms,  blind.

A woman I see, selling peanuts

And another newspapers to read

There’s one with a basket of flowers,

Selling everything a traveller might need.

Sometimes I get the seat by the window,

Sometimes I sway all the way standing

And once I got so squished and smashed

That I nearly stopped my breathing

It still feels like worth the pain

Travelling by the local train

To see people on with their lives,

During all summer, winter and rain