Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Three's Company, Four is a crowd

I am talking about the dreaded fourth seat in local trains
I work at goregaon and sometimes when I am unable to catch the company bus, I come to andheri and try to catch the Andheri-Panvel direct (and there is like one train every hour) Most of the times, the trains are late at goregaon and I mange to catch the train at Andheri just in time. So obviously I get the fourth seat
I actually have no problems sitting on the fourth seat. It's actually better than standing at the sides or at the door and then have women scream at you. I always get one taunt at least
Today I managed to catch the train right on time. After scanning the whole compartment, I found a seat and I requested the ladies to move in a little so that i could at least sit partly (this means only half my butt occupies the seat!!!)Unfortunately for me...two really fat ladies were sitting and I should have understood why nobody was occupying that seat!!! And to add to my miseries, I think the ladies had a huge fight at home or tey probably did not get their work done. This I can say for sure, because when I requested them to move in a bit, the ladies just stared at me and then murmured something. I am pretty sure i heard a few abuses.
Not that they moved. To add to my woes, ladies kept getting in. Nobody seemed to want to get down at any station. People kept selling all wierd things in the train. The latest I have seen is "saree cover". I don't know what that is. In addition to accessories like earrings and clips, people have started selling cut vegetables, some chocloate that looks jus like Munch but is called Manch, dress materials, chappals, crabs (which were once all over the place!!!)

But inspite of all this, I would choose a local train over a BEST bus. A train is convenient, does not break down, does not get stuck in traffic!!!

I must narrate this one incident. I was in the train returning to Chembur and was standing at the door. There were these fisherwomen who were sitting near the door. I never understand why many women prefer sitting there when the train is practically empty. I can understand why fisherwomen sit there, After all you dont want to go home smelling like a pomfret. Women will just sit at the door, then they get kicked when ladies get into the train and then they complain!!!
I mean COME ON!!!
Coming back to the incident, The train stopped at tilak nagar station and exactly at the same time there was a train going in the opposite direction that came to a halt. The trains were aligned such that, the mens compartment (or rather the GENERAL compartment - which is a term we gals like to use if are travelling in the gents compartment) came exactly in front of the ladies compartment
There were these group of men whos were standing at the door and they started passing comments and whistling. Now most women would ignore them as hey know the train is going to move in less than a minute. But that was not to be! To everyone's surprise, one of the fisherwomen picked up this long fat fish from her basket and threw it on the guys!!! It hit him right on the face and the train moved just then!
It was so cool!
The throwing of the fish was then followed by some marathi gaalis!
It was incident I just cannot forget!!

Looks like this blog has become way too long. So I shall end it right here!!!!

P.S : June is only 3 months away!!!!!