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.