Chronicles of Delhi Metro: Journey of an average Joe
Nothing represents the essence of Delhi like its metro. It is chaotic while being passed off as orderly. It is hustling and bustling with all sorts of people from all walks of life. But it has something which emboldens you. In its own ways, it prepares you for the life ahead.
More importantly, it empowers you to be what you could only imagine once. The subtle transition of human beings from the solid state outside the metro coaches, to the gaseous state inside, trying to squeeze in whatever little is available in the name of space, is mind boggling.
On an average day, I find many characters inside the metro. This one guy always jumps the queue, saves 7.6 seconds and then waits for his bag to come out of the X-Ray machine while you collect yours before him, because, well the conveyor belt doesn't allow the bags to jump.
Once you check in and wait for the train to arrive, you see another guy. He has identified his coach and he follows it. If need be, he will walk miles to get inside the "chosen" coach. The relief he gets after jogging through the entire platform is pure bliss to him.
All the while you are waiting to enter the coach that stops in front of you. But some guy decides to attempt the most audacious of all actions - the task one would not choose in the final round of Roadies. He stands right in front of the door of the coach - no sir, not at the sides. He stands in front of the door just to be crushed by the tsunami of the passengers getting down. Why does he do it? Honestly, I have no idea. By this time I am least interested in some random guy getting stomped.
I enter the metro, put my ear phones on and wait for the station I need to get down at. The many passengers inside the coach are lost in their own worlds. A girl is "babufying" her boyfriend over the phone. A guy is in a call with his wife and I know it because no one says "sorry" so many times otherwise. An uncle is cursing the changing times when he finds a couple standing together in a corner and he isn't very subtle about it.
The train has almost reached the station. Unfortunately, this time around I find myself on the wrong side with no escape. A swarm of people stands at the door of the coach - no sir, not at the sides. I look around. No one else has to get down.
I take a deep breath and pray, that for once, I get to be a part of the crowd waiting to stomp everyone in its way! Luckily, I live to fight another day.
More importantly, it empowers you to be what you could only imagine once. The subtle transition of human beings from the solid state outside the metro coaches, to the gaseous state inside, trying to squeeze in whatever little is available in the name of space, is mind boggling.
On an average day, I find many characters inside the metro. This one guy always jumps the queue, saves 7.6 seconds and then waits for his bag to come out of the X-Ray machine while you collect yours before him, because, well the conveyor belt doesn't allow the bags to jump.
Once you check in and wait for the train to arrive, you see another guy. He has identified his coach and he follows it. If need be, he will walk miles to get inside the "chosen" coach. The relief he gets after jogging through the entire platform is pure bliss to him.
All the while you are waiting to enter the coach that stops in front of you. But some guy decides to attempt the most audacious of all actions - the task one would not choose in the final round of Roadies. He stands right in front of the door of the coach - no sir, not at the sides. He stands in front of the door just to be crushed by the tsunami of the passengers getting down. Why does he do it? Honestly, I have no idea. By this time I am least interested in some random guy getting stomped.
I enter the metro, put my ear phones on and wait for the station I need to get down at. The many passengers inside the coach are lost in their own worlds. A girl is "babufying" her boyfriend over the phone. A guy is in a call with his wife and I know it because no one says "sorry" so many times otherwise. An uncle is cursing the changing times when he finds a couple standing together in a corner and he isn't very subtle about it.
The train has almost reached the station. Unfortunately, this time around I find myself on the wrong side with no escape. A swarm of people stands at the door of the coach - no sir, not at the sides. I look around. No one else has to get down.
I take a deep breath and pray, that for once, I get to be a part of the crowd waiting to stomp everyone in its way! Luckily, I live to fight another day.
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