This is my first post after my re-location to Mumbai. It was a fairly long sabbatical, I guess. Maybe the delay was due to the fact that, I took some time to settle in. 'To get into the groove', shall we say? Well now matters have slowly and steadly set in. I am slowly establishing a pattern to my life in Mumbai. I travel to my office by 06:22 local and return home by the 15:17 local. Sounds strange ! .... I know no other place, whether a city, town or a village where such odd times have any importance. Nor have I known anyone outside Mumbai who understands the relevance of knowing time by every minute on the clock as Mumbaikars do. At every other place it would been a 06:20 or a 15:20 local, but not in Mumbai. Here people's lives are depend on such "REAL" timings. The moment a Mumbaikar wakes up, the first thought is how to plan his morning so that he catches the 08:13 or the 09:16 local. His routine, his wife's routine, his other family member's routine and even his dog's routine is planned and executed in a way so as to help the poor man, to pull it off. He will run, he will jump, he will fight, he will scream, but he will be in that 'DABBA' (compartment) of that local. If by any chance, he misses that train, he would feel wrethced and worthless. Such is a Mumbaikar, who travels to his office by a local train. Can't blame him. Catching the local at a particular time is a crucial part in the chain of events for rest of the day. People don't waste their time, even whilst travelling. I find students studying or completing journals during the travel. Elderly people read religious books. Young lovers find their time of bliss on these local trains.Some are engrossed in preparing for the days job, or reading a newspaper or reading a book (I do that). Some catch up on their lost sleep and some others listen to music. I have even seen a person practising YOGA....
Mind you, he does all the activities mentioned above, when he is packed into those compartments liked tinned sardines. He does all this when he holding on to the handle with his one hand and his nose is rubbing against the armpit of the person ahead of him. Never does he think, that his activities are strange. Never does he think beyond the set parameters of his routine.
I sometimes wonder, Is it because he does not have time to think? Or is it because he does not want to think? All said and done, I must say, Mumbaikars does have a right attitude towards life.....Keeping going guys...don't waste your time reading this blog. You might miss your 08:21 Dombivili semi-fast
