Can you Handle this?

His aim is clear and sorted. Distractions don’t bother him. He stares at you seamlessly! You can see him from the corner of your eye and then that happens what he’s waiting for. THE BREAKS!!!!! And you loose all control and you sway along the crowd leaving behind the bar you were holding. And when you try to gather your senses you see that monster with a devilish grin with his hand on your bar handle, celebrating what he has conquered. And that too in the crowded metro in Delhi where if there are no support you’ll bounce like a jelly!

When the whole Delhi gets into it

The rise of Delhi’s census gets a proof when you come across some people who say that it’s their first time. I just wonder if the whole Delhi climbs up the metro, what it would be like…
1. That day metro would have oxygen cylinders (and air fresheners of course. Thanks to the hot and spicy cuisine of north India and some of our hairy mates).
2. For Boarding and de-boarding people would also use emergency exit.
3. With so much crowd couples would spend a lovable time in the metro CLOSE to each other, rather than in Public Parks and monuments. (Archeology department would be quite happy that day)
4. People would tie dupattas on the handles to stand with a support.
5. The amount of pick pockets would make the burglars richer than people in the reality shows. 6. The untouchability stigma would just disappear else you’ll be thrown out.
7. People would become coolies as there would be no place to keep the luggage. People will keep on bumping their heads on the emergency button and giving fines (DMRC would earn huge profits. Maybe the amount collected can rebuilt new routes, so one day you will have the metro at your doorstep! Too dreamy…chuck it!)
8. You can imagine slumber fights going on making waves all across the bogies with people pushing, kicking, and beating each other.
9. The cupid will get extra arrows and will throw them all across, as some of the love stories would definitely build up in the metro with things falling (I mean books and bags here you dirty fellow) here and there. And it usually starts with ‘may I help you’ and then end up asking for names and the rest of the work is done by adding the person facebook.
10. People will get lost in the train. It will become Kumbh Mela part II. Movies will have dialogues, “main apne bhai se metro mein bichada tha”
11. While some people will meet their old pals and relatives. You might bump into the irritating professor from college on whom you played the wackiest pranks.
12. And if by chance the metro would stop for some reason then…it’s upto your imagination.

Well there are endless things which I can add to this list but I have miles to go before I leap safely in my daily metro travel!

The thinking lady

With the overcrowding metros, people sometimes loose all control while boarding and de boarding. After climbing up they just want to push in themselves, stepping over others foot, pushing in their bags which usually scratch away some part of your skin. Actually the situation gives no mercy to anyone because everyone is pushing everyone making way in nowhere. Sometimes you can’t even move a little. And when you are standing, you have to look for the best area. So the popular spots are the area next to the gate and the area provided for the wheel chair. And it is obviously understood by our intelligent Dellites that a person with crutches has no space in the metro, so why not just spread out! While standing in the same area, I was taking rest on the window(it is the best way to rest in the metro, the second best are the poles. but sometimes they get weird with too many breaks as you look like a pole dancer swinging alon the pole). During the journey at some station a lady climbed in. An ordinary looking lady, probably a housewife who has a busy life. Despite it was just 9 a.m she looked pale and tired. She rested her head on the pole which I was holding and I could feel her warm breath on my hand. With her breath I could also sense her weakness and the irritation she had in her mind. I was keen on talking to her so that she relaxes for a while. I looked at her face again and again and passed a smile (this is the way you usually start a conversation in the metro). But she was swimming in her own sea of thoughts and problems which made her opt for a job in this condition. The metro was so crowded that the regular pushes were experienced by both of us and we were saving ourselves in falling on each other. After a while it even started irritating me and for her, it was much worse! For once I thought she’ll burst out with tear in her eyes. Suddenly at Chattarpur station the crowd started moving out. There was some movement on the seating area where we were standing. This meant that some seat is going to be empty soon and you’ll find all the eyes on it. It sometimes reminds me of the musical chair, the game which we used to play during picnics. As the train stopped she pushed herself in carefully to opt for the seat. But she was late. A fat middle aged woman sat on the seat and turned on her headphones so that no one accuses her of grabbing on to their aim. Disappointment reflected on her face. And for the first time I saw that lady properly from top to bottom. She was wearing a woolen Kashmiri kurta and salwar, typically found in all middle class Indian homes. And then I noticed her bulged stomach and I looked at her face again. For the first time our eyes met and now everything became crystal clear. Now I could call her an acquaintaince because only both of us knew how much she was looking forward to sit. But all in vain! She must be 3-4 months pregnant and thus she looked tired. She had to work because she was going to be a young mom and things have to be settled before the younger one joins them. She had no option than to do a job and feel weaker day by day. I offered her to stand where I was standing at much comfortable place than she was. When I talked to her (for the first time, it always needs some sip of courage and a gulp to talk to some serious people in metro) people noticed her and as she was stepping forward to replace me, a girl got up to offer her seat. I looked at the girl and smiled to thank her for what she did. The lady also gave a little smile and just after that withdrew it and again started sailing. I wonder what she was thinking? Was it about her husband or her family?or was it about some loans or was she actually having some health issues. I just knew she had no charm of a pregnant woman and I was just guessing why she didn’t have any.
But she made me realize that a woman has so much power, she has the will to stand even while holding a delicate life in her womb. She has the power to withstand the most difficult situations in her life and be there for her family’s happiness. She’ll love, she’ll care and she’ll swim all the day long to think of an idea which could make her family more happy and comfortable. I hope to see her again soon but this time with a smile and a new identity of a mother.

Bheedh bhadaaka

As the Train enters the platform people start counting on the number of people in front of them in the queue. People always wonder whether ever they’ll get a seat in the metro.this thought worries people like me who have to travel all the way from one end to the other. But in case you are standing at the front, all your wishes are granted. People would be looking at you with those wishful eyes and you’ll be holding the royal smirk. But when you are at C.P station you just hope to be somewhere in between...else you will recall the newton’s laws and you’ll understand that they are not favouring. Apart from being scientific, artistically too the placerment of people in the full metro is amazing to see. You will see the girlfriend and boyfriends always in the corner. If you don’t see them, they’ll reach there anyhow after two stations. Besides the corner, the middle part is mostly full of children holding on to the poles and running and swinging along and sometimes falling too. My mothers worries about them more than their mothers. Once she scolded a mom of a 2 year old who had a humpty dumpty fall. Imagine what could be my reaction. (it was like--- ! O ! ? ) when you are sitting you have no other option then to look outside or ur phone or your book or dnt know maybe the empty spaces. But never try to look at the people who are standing (untill and unless they are good looking) else they’ll expect you to pick up their hot lunch boxes and the oil will pour all over you. But sometimes when you have space you can always try to hold something, basic courtsey and the smile from them may make your day. This is life and this is the smiling life in a metro!

Introduction Kripya peeli rekha ke peeche khade rahein

Delhi Metro Train is an amazing way to know Delhi and do a fair demographic survey. While travelling you’ll meet all kinds of people of all the colors, lingos, styles etc. And even when you have no batteries left on your Mp3 player, or you have forgot to get the novel with you, there is no chance of getting bored if you like observing people. Sometimes I do it purposely. It’s like having a silent tour of Delhi or a silent detour from the normal sensible thinking. It’s like making nonsense sound sensible.
Well I meet metro after every six months or I can say during my internships and every time I see these people I just think of writing something about them. As an orthodox Indian, I would always pray before I enter the station. Not for my journey but for the line to the ticket counter. This time I have made Metro card but for the last three times of my internships despite the Metro lady’s announcement I gave no heed. But when you miss the metro by split seconds the sight of the metro card would flash whenever you blink. So I decided to finally get that metro card with me and blink inside the metro not outside with that ‘Oh My God’ looks.
Now they have ladies dabbas too! It’s an amazing scene when the ladies shout on the guys who accidently or non accidently (probability of latter is more) enter in their special compartment. And here goes all the frustration of being the minority in the battle of sexes. But mind you ladies it is the truth and we have to work on it. Well ideas of feminism also sometimes look jarring when you see those distracting colors and the chamkili saris. And why should curse them, when the ladies in the soaps wear those saris 24X7, what would you expect from our ladies, not to follow them? Well we being true Indians, always wish to have a miraculous love story in the metro. Because these little ‘Hi/Hello/excuse me’ accidents gives a kick start to the whole DDLJ! So when you sitting in the metro, you’ll keep crossing your finger until and unless the hottest guy sits with you and then you try to at least get to know their names so that you can follow them on facebook and add them. Thanks to the social networking!
Well DMRC has many funny sides to it even if the doors open only on two sides! So keep reading my blog kyunki yeh yaatra yahan samapt nahi hui(the journey doesn’t terminates here!)