On my way to office, I generally take a train to Kurla, from there another train to Dadar and finally a bus to Worli. Today was no exception, untill I boarded my second train to Dadar..... After hanging out of the train for quite sometime, finally, when I got a chance to step inside the haphazardly crammed compartment, I saw one of God's unique creations, a lady in salwar kameez (probably heading to office). She had a huge built, was tall and had a heavy voice.
She stood in front of me, or say, there I was standing right under her nose. I had to get to the other end of the compartment. Seeing no place to move, I asked the lady where was she getting down. "Matunga", she said, in an unconcerned tone. I cleared my throat to match her thick voice and asked her to exchange the place as it would have been convenient for both of us. I moved, but she didn't. Instead she screamed at me in marathi, "pudhey chal, rasta addu nako (move ahead, don't block the way)." I turned back and saw the place I just left was still unoccupied, confused...replied (in hindi), "aree aap waha gayee nahi...mene kaha tha naa jagah badalne!!!(Oh, I asked you to exchange the places....you didn't go there!!!)." And she bellowed, "tyacha kaay artha aahe, tu majhe sathi shift jhalis!! (what do you mean, you shifted for me!!)" I retorted "haan (yes)!!"....and then some words spoken in marathi...but still not moving.
"Theek hai (Fine)", said I, and moved back to my initial place. This time, expecting the consequences, I stood firm with strong hold on my feet. Smiled at the lady, only to see her frowning, "ha haa haaa" I laughed. Seemed I had struck the anger chord. As expected, physical strength took front seat. All possible pushes and hits were applied on me...by "LADY BHEEM"...but I stood right there, steady like Angad ...everytime laughing loud.
Only if I would have been rude to her or may be violent she would have scored over me, but as I said.....only if!!! So there she was, grimacing and glaring at me with me smiling back at her. All that she could do was wait for her station to get down.
Oh...now I wish...I should have atleast said adieu.
Just another small tryst with "Mumbai Locals"!!
She stood in front of me, or say, there I was standing right under her nose. I had to get to the other end of the compartment. Seeing no place to move, I asked the lady where was she getting down. "Matunga", she said, in an unconcerned tone. I cleared my throat to match her thick voice and asked her to exchange the place as it would have been convenient for both of us. I moved, but she didn't. Instead she screamed at me in marathi, "pudhey chal, rasta addu nako (move ahead, don't block the way)." I turned back and saw the place I just left was still unoccupied, confused...replied (in hindi), "aree aap waha gayee nahi...mene kaha tha naa jagah badalne!!!(Oh, I asked you to exchange the places....you didn't go there!!!)." And she bellowed, "tyacha kaay artha aahe, tu majhe sathi shift jhalis!! (what do you mean, you shifted for me!!)" I retorted "haan (yes)!!"....and then some words spoken in marathi...but still not moving.
"Theek hai (Fine)", said I, and moved back to my initial place. This time, expecting the consequences, I stood firm with strong hold on my feet. Smiled at the lady, only to see her frowning, "ha haa haaa" I laughed. Seemed I had struck the anger chord. As expected, physical strength took front seat. All possible pushes and hits were applied on me...by "LADY BHEEM"...but I stood right there, steady like Angad ...everytime laughing loud.
Only if I would have been rude to her or may be violent she would have scored over me, but as I said.....only if!!! So there she was, grimacing and glaring at me with me smiling back at her. All that she could do was wait for her station to get down.
Oh...now I wish...I should have atleast said adieu.
Just another small tryst with "Mumbai Locals"!!


Moral of the story ......stick to "Buses"
ReplyDeleteGandhi would have been proud of you!
ReplyDeletereminds of few words by Oscar Wilde :"Always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys then more".
ReplyDeleteI have always found it to be the best solution to most irritating situtiosn: Keep shut, and wait for the opposite party to burn in anger!!
Hmmm.. I am proud of you Priyanku's girl. Though, I do not think Gandhi would have loved to watch his opponents frown.
ReplyDelete