THE TRAIN AFFAIR
Part 1
Sameer walked briskly towards Andheri railway station, scared at the prospect of traveling by a local train, to his office in Churchgate; he had recently received his appointment letter and today was his first day. He had never traveled by train earlier, the need did not arise.
He completed his education from institutions which were close to his house. In a way Sameer was lucky, because destiny had kept him away from Mumbai’s infamous transport system.
But he had heard stories. The incidents narrated by some of the regular travelers scared the hell out of him. He was informed, that for the uninitiated, traveling in a Mumbai local train could be quite a scary and hair-raising experience.
He walked towards platform number five to board a fast train. He put up a brave front as he climbed the stairs of the bridge. He was shocked to see so many people, each one jostling, running and cursing the slower ones. The nightmare had just begun for him. It seemed the whole world was congregating at platform number five. He felt for his trouser pocket. The contours of the wallet brought an expression of relief on his face. His money, monthly pass and other documents were secure. He had been warned of pick pockets.
He somehow managed to avoid bumping into people and reached the platform safely. He perspired like a roast chicken on a spinning heater; his shirt sticking to him like a second skin. With his analytical mind he had managed to calculate the time factor. He had to reach his office at 10.00. The travel time between Andheri and Churchgate was roughly twenty five minutes. Providing himself with a buffer of ten minutes, logic told him, his best option would be the 9.17 fast train.
He stood near the chocolate and yellow zebra painted steel girder; a kind of reference point for the first class compartment. He looked at the huge clock hung above. It showed 9.15. Perfect. His eyes moved frantically in every direction. Suddenly, his gaze locked on a girl standing just a few feet away, the ladies first class area. He was not sure but he could see her smiling at him. He became self conscious. He lowered his head. It suddenly dawned on him that he was actually standing with his hands folded; as if praying. He unlocked his hands and wiped the perspiration from his face. He knew the girl was laughing at him for his nervousness. I am not scared, he thought. The crowd on the platform started moving the moment the train entered the platform. He forgot about his new job. His only aim now was to prove to the girl that she was wrong. But Sameer did not realize that for the first timer, getting in the Mumbai local train, was as good as meeting the God himself. It was like an art, which had to be mastered over several attempts.
He was shocked to see people jumping inside the compartment even before the train halted. Commuters standing behind him, whom Sameer labeled as sober and docile, suddenly turned into matadors. He was pushed behind. He was kicked and elbowed. By the time he could get hold of the door handle, the train started moving. He missed the train.
The rest of the crowd started pulling back once the train left the platform. He was not sure if the girl had boarded the train. Shamelessly, he looked in her direction. He saw her laughing with her mouth covered with a handkerchief. Even she had missed the train, he thought. Or was it? She suddenly removed the head set from her ears. She pushed her mobile phone and other accessories in her handbag. The next fast train was already moving along the platform. Sameer decided to skip the train. He wanted to see if the girl could manage to enter; at the same time learn the trick.
He watched her carefully. A little before the train stopped she placed her hand bag in front of her bosom; with her elbows she created a passage for herself. She used her arms as her weapons and in no time climbed inside the compartment. The train moved and he could see her smiling once again. So this is how it is done, he thought.
He adopted the same trick. It worked; he got inside the train safely. But the fear returned once again. If entering the compartment needed a technique then obviously getting out would also require some skill, he thought. He looked at a middle aged man standing next to him, holding the metal handle above him.
“Sir, I want to get down at Churchgate. Will it be difficult?” he asked.
“Are you new in Mumbai?” the man asked.
“No. But I am traveling for the first time.”
“Oh. No need to worry, son. Churchgate is the last station. All the the passengers will get down. But don’t stand near the doorway, because there will be commuters barging in even before the train stops.”
Sameer nodded his head.
“I assume you will be heading back to Andheri in the evening.” he continued.
“Yes, of course, Sir.”
“Then I guess you have a problem. Getting down at Andheri in the evening will be a Herculean task. My advice is, stay close to the exit but out of the way of the incoming passengers and you should be fine.”
Sameer got the idea. The man was polite and had guided him in very few words.
Returning back from his office Sameer did face problems while getting down, but somehow managed. It will take time to get used to the technique, he thought.
The next day he reached the platform sharp at 9.15. He saw the girl chatting with her friend. She looked at him. She said something to her friend who shifted her gaze on him. Even she had a smile on her face. Sameer swore loudly. Today, I will show her that I am no sissy, he thought. And true to his word he managed to board the train. Once he was safely inside, he waved at her. He smiled when he saw her surprised face.
Gradually, it became a routine for him. The train journey was no longer a challenge. The only problem was his shoes which got dusty in the crowded train. He was fussy about his shoes. Even that problem was solved. There was a shoe shine boy next to the first class standing area.
Every morning he came early and got the sparkle on his shoes back. The shoe shine boy was a big talker, always had a tale to narrate. Before boarding the train Sameer would look in the girl’s direction and they would smile at each other.
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