Joy Ride - Kolkata Metro

Suddenly an elbow pushed at my sides. I looked around but no one was looking at me, it might just happened.  It was a very peaceful morning, beginning of a week. Had a good breakfast after morning shower, and, now trying to complete sleeping quota of early morning. Every morning, I feel, some more sleeping could have made me more energetic for the day.  But that doesn’t happen! Probably, ageing affect.

This time it was a real push from the tall man beside. My eyes fixed at his eyes, visibly agitated. ‘Please stand straight’, said the man. I realized that I was really sleeping in the cool AC metro in hot summer outside. Train by now has entered the dark tunnel and the lighting inside the coach was also partial just creating a suitable setup for a strong nap. I felt humiliated, still can’t forget the stern look of the co-passenger. But then I realized I am getting adapted to the habits of Kolkata metro passengers. After all its 10 long years for me in Kolkata!

I feel jealous seeing passengers having a slumber chain all along the journey, holding the rod by two hands standing on feet. Never you see them slipping sideways, backward or forward. It’s a real art! I think these people develop skills since beginning, initially in the rush full buses travelling hours in a day.  Now, in the fast metro they show their developed skill. Just can’t imagine how a people sleep in the standing position. More surprising, they get off at the exact station, dogging in the rush!!!

For those who are fortunate enough to get seats are the kings. Most of them sleeping, or reading a newspaper or a book. If nothing, than definitely a head-phone will be plugged in their ears. Even in the rush full hour in the morning someone will unfurl the newspaper in front of someone else’s face. Consequently, some  eyes will scan the visible corners of the news paper at the mercy of the owner.

Many of the faces are well familiar to me as others too like me try to maintain the same schedule. Characteristics of morning passengers with that of the evening differs. Visibly many are exhausted yet energetic as they are heading their near ones. Their energy level spikes up on reaching the station as they will race to catch the escalator and further run down to leave the station. This is good to maintain fitness at least, and one remains competitive to the other in the daily hustle.  

Nevertheless, I enjoy the ride not only because of the boon of saving time but also the uniqueness of  passengers. It’s a different life below the ground, mostly enjoyable.

There are office teams who will try to book the vestibules of a coach where office politics continues. Someone was guiding a lady colleague how to tame her boss who seems to be of unpredictable character and always put her on job at the evening hours. Mr. Muthuswamy and Mr. Nair seems to be more worried about banking regulations, bank rates, inflationary trends, etc. They speak very softly difficult to hear if you are not close to them. I rebuke myself of not studying economics seriously, at least I could have understood them better.

The other day a couple seem to be in deep problem in the early morning. There were lot of exchanges and then I could realized that their concern was tenant. Wife seems to be more harsh, not ready to give time for the tenant to leave. On the other hand, husband seem to be sensible, a soft hearted person unable to speak harsh. His wife was rationally harsh as they could get a better return from some other party. In one year the tenant seem to hike to rent only by 5%.

Sometimes not often although, bad habits return and the whole coach gets polluted with the stingy smell released by unprocessed junk foods silently by someone. In old non- AC coaches it escapes faster but for the AC coaches it really heats up the noses! Everyone will look around at everyone but one who is the offender remains untraceable.

 Another bad habit worth mentioning is the grilling of noses and then rubbing the fingertips with a deep sense of satisfaction! When will they realize that publicly such habits should not be exhibited. I give a stern look at them and sometimes even change my position sensing indifferences. You can’t change old habits.

Oh! Its my turn now to take advance position at the sliding doors to race for the escalator. At least what can be better than the Kolkata Metro who relentlessly brings us back to our near ones in no time.