Breaking Rules
Few days back, I had my third semester exams and I had to travel alone to my examination centre. Moreover, I had to travel by train to reach my examination centre. My exam was going to start at 2pm. When I reached at the railway station, it was already 12.30pm. Surprisingly, the entire platform was crowded. It was like everybody had decided to travel with me in the same train like I am some kind of celebrity. Anyways, the truth behind the crowd struck me when I saw the indicator. It showed 10.35 ST. The trains were late by almost 2 hours. How come the trains want to be late when I want it to be on time? I wanted to do my eleventh hour revision after reaching my examination centre. But with the crowd I was surrounded there, it did not seem like I would even reach there on time to give my exams.
I had no option but to wait for the 10.35am train. The 10.35 train did come after 10mins but the only problem was; it was so crowded that by the time the train left, only few were able to get out of the train and no one was able to get in the train as far as I was able to see from where I was standing. I saw frustration on each and every face that stood there waiting for another train to come. I saw people cursing government, railway administration and every other person who they could blame.
To decrease the level of anger and frustration among people, the railways showed the indicator as 0.00 ST. So that you don’t judge how late the train would be and they would announce it as a special train coming your way to help you in your difficult times. However, it did not look like people were comforted even a pinch by that. The platform was getting more and more crowded and congested. There was no space to step around let alone walk around.
And then, after 15 more minutes there was an announcement which said that a fast train is expected on another platform. Even before the announcement was done, people started jumping on the railway tracks and started running towards the opposite platform. I could see hundreds of people on tracks all at the same time. They were crossing the railway tracks which is by the way punishable but who would go to tell them don’t cross the tracks. No one could even dare to go near those people for if they smell advice coming out from you they would smack you then and there. And at that time even I was not surprised for seeing so many people breaking the rule. In fact, I saw people helping each other to cross the tracks. I saw people standing on the opposite platform and giving hand to others to get on the platform. It was such a beautiful view to watch, I swear. I saw people who don’t even know each other were readily helping each other to break rules. They were helping to get them the train for which they were waiting for hours. I saw ladies crossing tracks and they were not able to get on the opposite platform. Other people came and pulled their hands in order to get on the platform. It was such a wonderful view. I had never enjoyed the view of people breaking rules as much as I did then. I forgot I had an exam to attend. I was lost in the happiness I was feeling at that time. I could feel a sense of unity among everybody who was present there. I could sense humanity. I could sense empathy. I could sense heaven on a railway station. It may seem exaggerated to you but it was not for me. I have a knack of finding happiness in the minutest thing in the world. So, if this incident was a minute thing so be it. I was happy that people still care for each other. Who said that there is no place for love and empathy in today’s world and that nobody is any ones’? I wanted to show every cynical man in this world that see, there is a place for love and care and humanity here. It was a treat for my eyes and my mind.
And, if by chance you want to know what happened to my going to the exam centre all alone? Well, I had to wait for 10 more minutes for another train to come. And before the train could come to a halt people started pushing each other which made my leg land between the platform and train. I had to scream with all my guts out which made people to stop pushing for a second and a lady before me to pull my hand to get me in the train. In other words, I had to fight for my life in order to give my exams. My exam went good so I was fine at the end of the day as the saying goes “All’s well that ends well” :-)
I had no option but to wait for the 10.35am train. The 10.35 train did come after 10mins but the only problem was; it was so crowded that by the time the train left, only few were able to get out of the train and no one was able to get in the train as far as I was able to see from where I was standing. I saw frustration on each and every face that stood there waiting for another train to come. I saw people cursing government, railway administration and every other person who they could blame.
To decrease the level of anger and frustration among people, the railways showed the indicator as 0.00 ST. So that you don’t judge how late the train would be and they would announce it as a special train coming your way to help you in your difficult times. However, it did not look like people were comforted even a pinch by that. The platform was getting more and more crowded and congested. There was no space to step around let alone walk around.
And then, after 15 more minutes there was an announcement which said that a fast train is expected on another platform. Even before the announcement was done, people started jumping on the railway tracks and started running towards the opposite platform. I could see hundreds of people on tracks all at the same time. They were crossing the railway tracks which is by the way punishable but who would go to tell them don’t cross the tracks. No one could even dare to go near those people for if they smell advice coming out from you they would smack you then and there. And at that time even I was not surprised for seeing so many people breaking the rule. In fact, I saw people helping each other to cross the tracks. I saw people standing on the opposite platform and giving hand to others to get on the platform. It was such a beautiful view to watch, I swear. I saw people who don’t even know each other were readily helping each other to break rules. They were helping to get them the train for which they were waiting for hours. I saw ladies crossing tracks and they were not able to get on the opposite platform. Other people came and pulled their hands in order to get on the platform. It was such a wonderful view. I had never enjoyed the view of people breaking rules as much as I did then. I forgot I had an exam to attend. I was lost in the happiness I was feeling at that time. I could feel a sense of unity among everybody who was present there. I could sense humanity. I could sense empathy. I could sense heaven on a railway station. It may seem exaggerated to you but it was not for me. I have a knack of finding happiness in the minutest thing in the world. So, if this incident was a minute thing so be it. I was happy that people still care for each other. Who said that there is no place for love and empathy in today’s world and that nobody is any ones’? I wanted to show every cynical man in this world that see, there is a place for love and care and humanity here. It was a treat for my eyes and my mind.
And, if by chance you want to know what happened to my going to the exam centre all alone? Well, I had to wait for 10 more minutes for another train to come. And before the train could come to a halt people started pushing each other which made my leg land between the platform and train. I had to scream with all my guts out which made people to stop pushing for a second and a lady before me to pull my hand to get me in the train. In other words, I had to fight for my life in order to give my exams. My exam went good so I was fine at the end of the day as the saying goes “All’s well that ends well” :-)
khairun....its good!!....keep writing!!on blogs and let others gt to knw...tht there is another side to view or see thngs..and get happiness out of it in life.....!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHehehe all I have to say is "I have been there, I have done it" its true for all the ppl staying in mumbai crowded trains, traffic and breaking rules is a part of the amchi mumbai(middle class mango man's(aam admi) mumbai) life happens every day but we still dont forget our humanity in all the rush and push there are always ppl helping u cross the track helping u get in and out of a crowded train. These small acts of humanity is wat is keeping mumbai together, yesterday some one helped me in a train, today i helped someone tommorow someone helped someone else and so on. It goes on and on without ne one noticing it. its like we all subconciously know that we are in this big hotch potch of urban life and the only way out of it is by lending a helping hand.
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