There were two serpentine queues . Two different routes . Yellow line , blue line . There were some charts and maps, displaying which line goes where , but I always found it better to ask a stranger . My neighbour’s mouth was full of “paan” , but he still ventured to indicate that I was standing in the correct queue , if I had to get to the station K.
I was issued a plastic token , which was imperative for the gates to open . A flood of commuters accompanied me to the said platform. We climbed down two flight of stairs , went under a dimly lit culvert , and emerged onto a neon lit platform . All my co- passengers were young . Young and fit . Two words , light weight . Travelling via metro , reinforced another bitter truth . You have to be fit enough to jog alongside and board the train swiftly, thin enough to squeeze yourself in at rush hour , and strong enough to hold your ground and not be swept off your feet when the train brakes , suddenly. Secondly , minimal luggage . Preferably rucksacks , anything superfluous will be a millstone around your neck .
A small toddler , squirmed out of his mom's arms and started crawling on the crowded floor . After few failed attempts to rein in the bugger, the panting mother sighed and gave up . Keeping a watch from her perch , as the apple of her eye , made his way through impatient boots , slippers and moccasins . A strange girl , decided to help out and grabbed his grimy paws . The baby squealed in delight , tottering unsteadily on his pudgy legs , started walking the narrow path between rows of trousered legs , rubbing against millions of germs, eliciting a frown here , a smile there . Mostly people ignored this homely scene , and busied themselves in their phones , and i pods .A tiny human being was taking his first tentative steps , and no one noticed
We were about to reach station K . I had been forewarned that there will be a surge of crowd towards the door at K , as most of the commuters got down there . I dutifully positioned myself at a safe distance from the door . K arrived , announced , doors slid open .No one got out . Not a single person in that jam packed car moved . I read the signs again , asked a neighbour, panicked , and heaved and pushed my way out of the car , just in time . The train whooshed away , just as both my feet hit the ground . Another lesson learnt . Never presume anything .
Now K was a massive junction of sorts . There were various exits for K east , K north etc . I caught one and kept walking , don't remember which.I was boarding a regular , long distance train from K. No one told me about K east / north etc. Again I presumed they all would lead to K . But as they say , there are millions of paths to reach God (K in this case ) Some are easy , short ; others torturous and agonisingly long . I cross multitudes of helpful battery operated rickshaw-wallahs . Offering to drop me at my destination. For this and that price . I refused. I started walking.
And kept walking for the next 45 minutes. I crossed one bridge. Several stretches of road , winding through the residential areas, a school, several bazaars , three automobile repair shops, and no railway station in sight . Several severe looking men in chequered scarves and kohl-lined eyes crossed me . I could not see a single woman.
Let alone anyone in western clothings . It almost felt like time travel . For a moment I had entered last century.
Then I saw this boy with his ears plugged with ear phones and walking in a trance , skipping slightly to the beat in his ears . He decidedly belonged to this era . I flagged him down , and to my great embarrassment , he pointed out the sprawling vista of station K to my left . He asked me to keep going and take a U-turn here ,and there I was .
Back in civilisation.
