Page 11 - Unleashed BMM 2019-2020

MUMBAI LOCAL :

SAFAR KE SAATHI

By Neethi Manoharan

Local trains of Mumbai, aptly termed as the lifeline of the city, have been From far we just see people running here and there to catch a fast local
responsible for ferrying lakhs of people daily from suburbs to the town but there are stories, lessons and memories hidden in each compartment
and back, in a manner worthy of appreciation. Unlike other Indian cities of Mumbai Local” said Swati Nair a 23year old girl who works in a MUD
where people bond at playground, clubs and restaurants, Mumbai has a studio at Bandra.
special class of 'train friends'- commuters who travel in the same railway The groups formed in the train are neither caste-based nor economy
compartment every day grow close and become friends. The overcrowded based. Local trains have lakhs of stories embedded inside it. People from
trains have witnessed fights and friendship, happiness and sadness. all aspects of society travel through trains. It has witnessed hardships and
Train journeys can be tiring and frustrating if you are alone. But with humanity. These train friends are seen sharing with each other, not just
the right company, it can be interesting. Every group have their own seats but also their daily woes and funny experiences. In the local train,
method of passing time. Some play cards, some sing bhajans and some they pray and eat together. They celebrate birthdays by singing birthday
bond over gossips. This bond slowly blooms into an unexpected friend- songs and cutting cakes. ''We do not hang out during weekends because
ship. The absence of your train friend feels like attending class without everybody needs some time with their family and friends. Our only spot
your best friend, boring and exhausting. is local trains,'' said Shilsha Rajan a 23year old girl who works at Sakinaka.
Mumbai trains turn strangers into friends. It easier to approach people These train companions help each other too during their difficult times by
in a local train and make suggesting good offcies,
groups. These groups make new vacancies and more
sure that they catch the job opportunities. In local
same train and sit in the train, they celebrate all the
same compartment. Local festivals. They celebrate
train teaches us to make Diwali by distributing
friends. ‘’We laugh hard so sweets and snacks and by
hard when we see two clicking photos. “During
ladies getting into a catfight Navratri, we follow the
and trust me it is one of the dress code'' said Jagruti a
hilarious parts of local 28-year-old women who
trains as sometimes I feel work at Andheri Sakinaka.
that it can be a stress buster Train friends connect
when we are tired from our through Facebook and
office work’’ said Beena WhatsApp. In WhatsApp,
Patel who works at Dadar. their group name is given
The friendship enthuses by timing of the train. On
the travellers every morning WhatsApp, they mostly
to catch the same train and forward the train updates
soothes them every evening which are very useful for
after a hard, dreary day at other group members. The
work. This helps to reduce NEETHI MANOHARAN group discusses which train
stress. These friends have to catch and who all are
thousands of stories to tell going to be there for that
their fellow companions. particular day. This rapid
This makes their travelling meandering web of trains
more interesting as people that run throughout the city
in the group always cracks perhaps consumes a lot of
jokes, tell gossips, shares the good news, crib about their boss and enjoy time from traveller’s routine.
the journey. This may seem unreal. Mumbai local trains are a huge part of an ordinary Mumbaikar’s life and
“Every day seems to be a monotonous routine as our morning starts millions of people travel every day. Mumbai local trains bring out the love
with a local train and ends with a local train. But this routine has taught affair of the city with its most favoured means of transport. It is not just a
us a few things which no one can learn from anywhere else in Mumbai. means of transportation, it is a lifeline.

11 | UNLEASHED | 2019