The Daily Commuter

I was travelling today from Maim to Kandivali for a client meeting. Pushed in to the 2nd class compartment and stuck in at a corner like a plug in a socket (yes absolutely I wouldn't have possibly come out of that socket without "extra-terrestrial" intervention). As usual, the 6 ft 4" that I am, getting easily noticed and stared for no other reason but being too tall.

At Bandra station a guy with long curly hair enters. For a change some stares are diverted towards him (including mine). Looked like, if possible, he would pull a guitar from somewhere and start head-banging right over there. Khar station arrives, labour gets in and out, and yeah literally labour.

Santacruz and Vile Parle go by quickly without getting too much notice as I am looking forward for Andheri to come and give some much needed space to my static limbs. Feeling like a statue (who is sweating). Finally Andheri comes but brings no relief.

A man gets in at Goregaon. The real life revolutionary from the film Dombivali fast. Fed up of the daily grind and travelling in the same condition everyday. He was shouting and howling at everybody and the way everybody was rushing in and out of the trains without caring whose face is getting stuck in whose armpit and other "mundane" issues like that. Most of the crowd including that man and myself get off at Kandivali - man is still shouting in frustration.

I try and follow him. Keen to find out what is going on in his mind. I thought I'll talk to him. But, considering his mood I decided to leave him alone and just follow him. There is a weird way of crossing over to Kandivali East. Had to climb and get down 2 separate bridges. Most people avoid the second bridge and take the tracks. I am still walking behind this person wondering if he'll take the tracks.(and also wondering whether he is another case of all-blah). He is walking towards the tracks and .... finally he takes the stairs -- the man beside his irritating way of expressing his frustration won my respect for practicing what he preached. Whether he was mentally imbalanced or no I don't know but it sure did make me feel sorry for the daily commuter. He seemed to be a pretty normal chap. This daily commuter is definitely facing some troublesome times everyday to be turned into such a violent mind.