One Cold Working Day

 

The long narrow bridge takes you to the railway station. It is a long walk but it’s early cold morning so people don’t mind walking a bit -unless they are late. Some run, some walk, some  stroll, some laugh, some sombre, some in a trance, some listen to music. They reach the station and wait for the train to come.  A fast train whizzes past the platform where they are waiting.  A blur of people can been seen standing or sitting. Obviously not their train. So they wait. A shoe polish fellow has just opened his shop -chooses his area which is almost always the same- next to a big steel pillar-  spreads a big cloth to sit on, lays down a small wooden stool, a brush, variety of polish creams, old cloth, shoe laces, leans back on the pillar, and he is set. Bangs his wooden brush on his wooden stool to call out to his customers. He spots them, looks at them, and then starts looking at their shoes disapprovingly - not too good.  I can give a good shine, buddy - A juice vendor has started his juice machine and is making quite a bit of whir.  Orange, lemon, chikoo, banana. People wait. A chai stall is set up by someone. Some drink. A samosa stall is open now and the vendor expects people to buy from him. Seriously? How hungry does one have to be to eat one of those samosas? In fact it is a perfect diet plan - you look at it and you lose your appetite. The train arrives and people hustle and bustle to get in even when the train could be empty. It is just a habit formed over a period of years. Lots of seats available but many people stand, as if suddenly realising that the seat is important only when it is scarce and then they would fight to grab one. No fun when easily available. Life. People switch on their mobiles and start browsing. All heads down aa if in a prayer. No newspapers are read nowadays. Noise level goes up when people don’t use handsfree , or they are too bored to take them out and stick into their ears. Or just plain pleasure in seeing others getting annoyed.  Ceiling fans are off in this so-called cold season and anyone wanting to put the switch on is looked upon as someone from outer space. Can’t he see that others are wearing those fluffy colourful sweaters so lovingly hand-stitched by their grandmas some hundred years back?  So what if they are out of fashion and loose threads are sticking out? They are for cold season. Some talk loudly and debate heatedly as if the outcome of world politics and business depends on their discussion here. Some are immune to everything and doze off. But get up just when their stops come. Intuition. The final station approaches. People get down and rush to their offices. Some walk, some run, some take a taxi or bus. The working day is about to start. Though it has already started few hours back.