Lifeline of Mumbai–Part 3
(The readers are advised to also go through the previous 2 posts in this series, to get the best of the latent humor. This post should also make a good, comprehensible read though.)
I had finished all my work in Mumbai, and was enjoying the weekend with S. Went to Juhu Beach, Gateway of India and saw the Elephanta Caves. Also managed to see an eyeful of the BIG B, in person, at his residence. At the end of day, S had to go to Dadar, and I had to come back to A’s flat in Malad.
S : Hope you enjoyed the day.
Me : You bet I did.
S : So, do you like Mumbai ?
Me : Yeah, I seem to like the most of Mumbai. The weather, too, is bearable. But I’m still trying to come to terms with traveling in the Mumbai local trains.
S : Well, local trains are Mumbai’s lifeline, and you just can’t do without them.
Me : Indeed, but tell me, do you travel in local trains often ?
S : Yes, I use local trains to go to office & come back.
Me : Daily ?? Isn’t it difficult to go through the torture, daily.
S : (mockingly) Well, we ladies have a separate compartment for us in the local trains, and you know what, we are much more civilized, than you guys.
Me : (bamboozled) Yeah, whatever. But isn’t it troublesome to buy tickets daily, standing in those lonnnnnng queues ??
S : Dear, there is something by the name of a `Monthly Pass’, which saves the daily travelers the trouble of buying a ticket.
Me : OK. But, be it a Ticket or a Pass, I’ve never ever seen a TC actually checking for them. And anyways, its so crowded out here, that it is just not possible to check for tickets/passes from every passenger, in every local train, on every station, on every day, `at all times’. (me feeling proud for having given a good argument) :-)
S : Yeah, you’re right. But they do have random checks. And if you understand `RANDOM’, you should understand that any without-ticket wallah suffers the risk of getting caught, `at all times’.
Me : `Random’ ..…huh !
S : Anyways, I’m getting late. My hostel warden doesn’t allow entry after 9. I’d better leave.
Me : OK. Tell me, Where do I get a train to Malad ?
S : You’ll have to go to platform 5 for Malad train. And the ticket counter is at the end of this platform. “Get the ticket, and then go.”
Me : OK. I’ll get the ticket. Bye.
S : Bye. (looking somewhat suspicious, leaves)
I had finished all my work in Mumbai, and was enjoying the weekend with S. Went to Juhu Beach, Gateway of India and saw the Elephanta Caves. Also managed to see an eyeful of the BIG B, in person, at his residence. At the end of day, S had to go to Dadar, and I had to come back to A’s flat in Malad.
S : Hope you enjoyed the day.
Me : You bet I did.
S : So, do you like Mumbai ?
Me : Yeah, I seem to like the most of Mumbai. The weather, too, is bearable. But I’m still trying to come to terms with traveling in the Mumbai local trains.
S : Well, local trains are Mumbai’s lifeline, and you just can’t do without them.
Me : Indeed, but tell me, do you travel in local trains often ?
S : Yes, I use local trains to go to office & come back.
Me : Daily ?? Isn’t it difficult to go through the torture, daily.
S : (mockingly) Well, we ladies have a separate compartment for us in the local trains, and you know what, we are much more civilized, than you guys.
Me : (bamboozled) Yeah, whatever. But isn’t it troublesome to buy tickets daily, standing in those lonnnnnng queues ??
S : Dear, there is something by the name of a `Monthly Pass’, which saves the daily travelers the trouble of buying a ticket.
Me : OK. But, be it a Ticket or a Pass, I’ve never ever seen a TC actually checking for them. And anyways, its so crowded out here, that it is just not possible to check for tickets/passes from every passenger, in every local train, on every station, on every day, `at all times’. (me feeling proud for having given a good argument) :-)
S : Yeah, you’re right. But they do have random checks. And if you understand `RANDOM’, you should understand that any without-ticket wallah suffers the risk of getting caught, `at all times’.
Me : `Random’ ..…huh !
S : Anyways, I’m getting late. My hostel warden doesn’t allow entry after 9. I’d better leave.
Me : OK. Tell me, Where do I get a train to Malad ?
S : You’ll have to go to platform 5 for Malad train. And the ticket counter is at the end of this platform. “Get the ticket, and then go.”
Me : OK. I’ll get the ticket. Bye.
S : Bye. (looking somewhat suspicious, leaves)
(I go straight to platform 5, and wait for the right train. The train arrives, I board the train.20 minutes later, I reach Malad station. I get down, and look for the way out of the station.)
A calls on my cellphone : Where are you ? When are you coming ?
Me : I’ve reached Malad station. Will be there in another 10 minutes.
A: OK. Come soon. Dinner’s ready.
Me : Ya, coming…. Bye.
(I’m looking around for my way out, and just then, I saw the EXIT gate. I proceed in that direction. Am about to reach the EXIT gate; bump into a gal who seemed to be in hell of a hurry; my cellphone falls down from my hand. She sped past me, no sorry-vorry. I bend down to pick my cellphone up; I pick it up; I stand upright and find a gentleman wearing a black coat & a badge staring at my face.)
“Chalo, Ticket dikhaaoo”.
“Chalo, Ticket dikhaaoo”.
Dumped by styleguy @ 11:54 PM
10 Comments:
Hilarious! I've never travelled by mumbai locals but could still visualize it all. I loved the ending, so tel me what happened next???? Did you pay 500/-?
what happened next style guy?
Anurag u scarin me by such(!!!!) description of Mumbai locals....
ooohhhhh
Woh kaun thi??
I like gals that bump on raiway platforms..they are always cute and bumpy...temme more about her coz I know you got screwd up for not carrying the ticket :)
*wicked me*
:)
@azeema...I thought you had enough wits to figure that out !!
@sameera...take a guess!
@neha....hehe...my pleasure !
@anonymous...ooohhhhh all right....but whooooo ?
@arzoon...smart as you are, wait for my next post dedicated to that cute, hasty, bumpy gal.. :-)
anurag dude
uve been tagged
chk my blog out for more details
Mumbai trains certainly, r well.... what should I say, fascinating? However, I was feeling dizzy after travelling in a crowded one once!
Hillarious...!!
Shoulda heard what S was telling you to do.And topit all even if you dint want to,you shouldnt have lied atleast..mebbe that came back on you.
Would definitely wanna know what happened next.The post is still to be finished.
Bring it on soon.
@sameera....hmmm...my FIRST tag..(Unbelievable, but true) :).
I'm honoured !
@me.....I bet everyone feels dizzy while traveling in mumbai locals...atleast for the first few times. Thanks for the comment. :-)
@cinderella....yeah, in hindsight, I do feel what you say is right. But, no prizes for guessing what happened next.
TO ALL READERS.....Yes, I did part with INR 500. (I hate to admit that, but had you stood in front of that burly, moustachioed, maraathi speaking TC, you would have happily shelled out 500 bucks.) And so did I. Poor me. :(
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