The Ladies Dabba

From the time I became a regular on the Mumbai locals, I wanted to pen down something about them, specifically the ladies coach. That is because I believe this is the only place where you get to see drama which holds your attention more than any saas-bahu soap ever can, pure action without any fake special effects unlike the Hollywood action flicks, jaw dropping adventure better than the adventure shows on National Geographic and comedy which will tickle your funny bone more than F.R.I.E.N.D.S did. In my daily commuting on the locals totaling to 2 hours I get to see all of this - LIVE and EXCLUSIVE.
I never understood the reason behind the chaos created for getting onto the locals. One of my friends rightly said that people struggle so hard to get on, as if every train is the last train from India to Pakistan. The generally quiet, saree clad, middle class working women suddenly become superwomen. They actually jump into a running local, struggle past the entire rush, fight with other such women to secure a seat for themselves, and all this is done in a saree.
People run to get a window seat, if not that then the second, third or the fourth seat, if not that then a place to stand between two parallel seats, in the aisle or near the doors and finally if not that then just any place to stand. So in conclusion, they are always running.
Once settled, the various activities include gossiping, knitting, celebrating birthdays and festivals, singing and many such other activities. But the number of people settled is much smaller than the ones still struggling. Now if by any chance one ends up touching or mistakenly hurting another lady, then the profanities these ladies use can put the goons from U.P to shame. Amongst all this, vendors sell various articles and occasionally you may also find a lady with a basket full of live crabs, which are about to fall any moment.
But it is in this very same ladies dabba that you find, the same girl who had won her window seat gives it willingly to a pregnant lady or an older woman. Its here that you find the same loud and quarrelsome ladies rushing ahead wholeheartedly to help anyone in need.
Traveling in the locals has become a way of life for these women, whether they like or hate it. Still they smile, celebrate and thank the very same chaotic, crowded, sweaty local everyday for the service it is providing to them. Loud, funny and little loony, it is only them who can enjoy a long and tiresome journey in a jam packed local.