Metro was crowded, rather over crowded, as
usual. Tired faces looking at each other to believe worst is happening with
someone else. People sitting were saving their sight from someone deserving
that seat more than them. I was among the ones standing and undeservingly
waiting for the seat closer to me getting vacant at next stop. Next to me were
standing two girls, decently figged up. Trendy bags clinging around their
shoulders, the girls gripped the passenger support strongly. To me, they
appeared as office going girls who represent the new generation women;
independent and self styled, tired like all of us after days hard work and
frustration but not to sell it on their faces. The board above the seats near
us read, ‘Reserved for women’ and the youth occupying those seats seemed
cursing the reservation façade of this country, as if they were to vacate the
seats for them! Never did the girls even bother and the boys kept avoiding the
sight to satisfy their conscience. Silent, as the girls were at the outset, in
no time turned into a cheerful chaffer. Keep two women together and silence
fades like vigor in old age! ‘You got a beautiful dress’, said one lady to
another. This was enough for the two to start a conversation that seemed to go
beyond the last station. Unfortunately, the stations didn’t last longer for
them but something more interesting did. One of the two ladies, with a more
charming face and cheerfully involved in the lively discussion, constantly
smiled looking at people around or as it appeared and a guy sitting diagonally
opposite didn’t take much time to catch it and reciprocate. This continued for
a while. Smiles exchanged and stations passed and then came a station when one
of the two girls bid goodbye. Girls hugged and hope of meeting again expressed.
For the lucky guy, the smile continued for few more stations. The announcement
for next station to be Patel Chowk was raised on the speakers. The lady quickly
moved her hand into the bag hanging around her left shoulder and started
searching for something very important without looking towards her possession.
Immediately, she takes out something that left everyone around awestruck. She
unfolded a walking stick and started searching for a door. The doors opened and
she walked off briskly, guided by her stick. The guard on the platform guided
her towards the lift and we all had our faces turned that way. Completely lost
in thoughts, we had one of the greatest lessons of life to learn.
