The Magic the Mumbai locals are.

I had been to Mumbai(Bombay) last weekend to meet some of my friends from my grad. I have travelled to this city many times in the past, while going to Nagpur, have travelled in the locals as well. But this time, I wanted to observe people and their bonding with the lifeline of this city: The locals.

So I was observing the people, hearing teh discussion and could see the magic at work here. The young and the old interacting about their lives. I distincly remember a guy, who I think is a junior journo in Mid-Day, showing an expensive watch which he bought for his father, to all who were seated there. An man in his fifties getting up to give his seat to this guy, who must be 26 or so years for this guy was standing for a long time talking to all others. They don't have anything in common except that they travel in a common train. They board on different stations and alight on different stations yet they have so much to share and smile. Listen to their conversation that ranges from Police, government, media, IT, banking, marriages, their families, business.  If you travel for the whole year in the local  and you will enough knowledge of all occupations, food and lifestyle, people etc. under the sun.  

I also got to taste the sweetness of the bond that these people share. Yes, I really tasted it, and it was the sweet that someone started sharing with everyone. I really did not get a chance to catch the reason for his celebration for the crowd in the train. I was standing for a while but got a seat as a man had reached the destination. I now could now be a part of the converstaion that the group was already having. What startled me was  the train three-minutes behind schedule was like "aaj train bahut late chal rahi hai".

I so people standing, holding the bar and having sound sleep. Nothing bothers, neither crowds nor the flow of the crowd moving in and out.

Apart from all this, the way people flow in and out of the train. You cannot make a mistake of  moving against the flow. Storm in to enter, and be ready to move out only in the direction of the platform. But it is fun to travel. 

With what had happened in the last few years in this city, and also recently, the terrorist attacks, no one is worried  about their lives or death. They take life head-on, and that inspires me. Our life is like this journey in the local train. Many come and many go. It has its own beauty  and also its challenges. Just be alert, and know where you should board, and where you should alight. And it also important to know how you go about doing it.

As such I loved every moment I spent there.