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September. Now November. It’s finally struck our city’s shore – the sheer simplicity with which they entered, gunned and are still holding onto their positions for the past 24 hours is unbelievable.
Last night slept, hoping there would be some resolution by morning. Hoped a friend stuck at Indigo’s is fine. Get a call at 2:30am saying that our ATS chief is no more. Wake up in the morning to hear the Taj has been gutted. Thankfully, friend is back home after a night long ordeal.
Though at Powai, the streets today morning resembled that of a ghost city. Police force at the Rodas Hotel. Air of disturbing calm – the harsh voices of the crows earlier drowned by traffic now audible, the occasional whines of ambulances, police vans.
The day went by. The sense of uneasiness hasn’t left the heart yet. “High alert” security it seems. From “What’s happening” to a more angry “Why is this happening?” Chuck.
Tired. Pained.
The Central, Western, Harbour arteries pumping life to and fro suburbs to the city. The clap-clap of metal hitting metal so-like the heartbeat of one who’s scrambled on-board. Come a major station, the blood curdling yells of those alighting the yet-moving locomotive. You prepare yourself for lift-off – place your hand-bag forward, anything dangling -earrings, weird necklaces stashed away, run and hold onto the side corners of the door for leverage.Cries of “Pude salaa!” (Go forward) “laukar!” (fast) as the compartment empties and fills up in a short span of 20 seconds – just like that!
The ensuing drama as people hustle for space within -
- “Oye heroine, you want all the space to yourself!”
- “Aunty, please make some space?” “You called me aunty, you granma!!” ( LOL!)
- Stinking noisy fisher-woman who spits out wrath at people insisting she’s blocking the way
- Someone who takes out time to be nice, helping out an old woman with her heavy package 
- MP3s, phone players switched on, spoken into amidst the movement, the rush
- Eunuchs who promise your well being in exchange for a few coins
- Students discussing Income tax laws, engineering drawing assignments
- Space permitting, hawkers display their wares from the hand grips
As your station draws nearby tap your neighbor in front ”Getting down at XXX station?” “Haan haan”.Make your way towards the side of the compartment again. You are pushed with a force inversely proportional to the speed of the slowing train, reaching a crescendo as it slowly stops. Grab the nearest immovable piece of metal. Push your way out. Breathe freedom.
Sure beats them roller coaster rides hollow!
