"Hell O"
...that's what i felt like saying when in a hurry i didn't realize and boarded a Women's Coach (it was newly introduced that the first coach in all metro-trains in Delhi will be for Women). The doors were too keen to close as if a prey had fallen in the pitcher plant, and they closed.
I shuddered (i don't know why) the moment i saw it was women all around and i realized what i had 'committed'. A thought occurred that i should find my way to the other coach but it was too crowded inside. Atleast, that is what the 'legal travelers' of the coach made it look like. For, these specimen needed some more 'personal' space than their lesser male counterparts in the adjascent coches.(I realised why a friend back in office had said that women carry a 1BHK along with them) I saw a granny nearby and i apologised (for she seemed to be not taking it kindly that i had intruded). Before she opened fire i tried to explain her that i was in a hurry and it was by mistake and that i will change at the next station. Her expressions relaxed and i felt little comfortable and permitted though not accepted. I stood pressing against the door facing it while the drama was unfolding behind. Afterall it was not everyday that they would get a poor 'creature' like me caught in their zone.
I consoled myself that it was a matter of 2 minutes and will pass in 2 minutes. But had it been so, how could that day be 'fateful' in my mind. So, it happened that some train was moving immediately ahead of us and hence our train had to take halts in between. And in the meanwhile the drama inside had begun.
I think a group on my left in its 20's (but u can never be sure with the specimen in question!) took the lead and started booing and shooing and doing what they were best at (i think, passing comments!!). Taking the cue another group on my right followed. But they mostly giggled and maybe laughed. I chose to think they were not laughing at me but alas! they were. I felt they were shameless in doing so and i was for listening to all that. The comments covered a wide spectrum from my history to geography to sociology and i knew none was even close to truth. My self-confidence would have been irreparably dented had i not known that they were just ready-to-serve dialogues (as used in some hindi movies). Well, while the comments i could ignore the giggling was getting under my skin. It was so silly. It was so pointless. It was so girlish that i chose to close my eyes and do some meditation. But neither Sri Sri, nor baba Ramdev came to rescue that day.
But the scheme of things were not so rude afterall. Suddenly i heard someone on my left saying "...........jane de yaar, dekh wo galti se aa gaya hai"...........
The comments were immediately re-oriented, the giggling had become loud and vampiric. Some new commentators were added. And I had immediately opened my eyes seeking that kind soul. Now there was a 'sympathetic heart' to share my agony in that hostile kingdom. Now there was a reversal in prayers and i didn't want the doors to open. But the next station had come and the doors opened against all my wishes. Darn!! Darn!! Darn!! I did not want to come out. But I had to and i did.
I couldn't help myself from looking back, infact searching for the source of that sweetest and most kind of voices in that coach!! I couldn't see her but i saw that all were smiling, even the granny was grinning. and someone shouted " Tanvi ke liye fir kabhi aa jana, galti se ........".
There was a loud HA HA HA in which i think all the remaining women had joined....and the pitcher plant closed. I took the next metro after some time feeling younger after a long time!!
