Trains In Rains

 

The summer heat had gone. I had a blissful sleep. Rain.  I woke up and left for work at 7. 

Taking a rickshaw to the station is a classic. 

Rickshaw fellow : sir, please give exact change. 

Me : bhai, no! Exact plus more. 

He had to take a detour because a tree had fallen on our regular route. 

I watched school children walking very slowly to the school.  But that is a universal rule and not because of rains. Because they will return home running despite the rain. 

It was pouring. My loyal umbrella was doing all its bits to keep me dry. But along with the rains came the gusty winds. And my umbrella occasionally turned upwards as if it was thirsty and collecting rain. All its spokes straining - along with me.  So much for loyalty. 

The stairway to the station was  puddled Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

I reached the station at 7:12.  The indicator showed the 6:47 train would be arriving soon.  Rain. 

I folded my umbrella and waited - like everybody else. Some were wearing raincoats. Few had forgotten to bring anything. And some didn’t bring one throughout  the monsoon! Somehow or other they never got wet.  Strange. 

I stood at the corner of the platform and looked for my train.  I could see few others doing the same. Heads in the air towards the tracks. The train arrived slowly as if through a mist. Like in a dream. It hooted for us idiots to stand back. Though it was late it wasn’t that crowded. But the way people rushed into the train as if it was the last train. Force of habit. There were plenty of vacant seats available, especially near the windows.  Summer was over. No scampering for a window seat.  But I stood as I always did for the first few minutes. 

Rain picked up. People looked out and then at one another. Half smiles.  Enjoying the rains but at the same time wondering if the train will reach the destination. No matter how often you travel you will always want an assurance from someone else that this city will not come to a stand still. We have the best drainage system in the world and all that crap. The truth is we are just plain lucky. 

People shut the windows but a few let them remain open. Half-checking if anyone dared to defy. College kids were glued to their phones listening to music or scrolling. Heavy rains were just an everyday affair.  

I took a wet seat. Some people were already dozing and some were pretending to be asleep so that they didn’t have to offer their dry seats. 

After several stops at other stations, the train arrived at my destination with no fanfare. Very much on time though hadn’t started on time. 

I took out my loyal umbrella and started walking towards my office thinking - would I be able to get back home even if not on time?

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!