Travelling by train to work

Today I got up late and had to rush to the station to catch the train. It is important to get the right train, that is, the train starting from Andheri, the suburb where I live. If I miss it, I either have to wait for half an hour or get another train, but a train that will be much busier. So busy in fact that people grab hold of the doors before the train has come to a full stop, so as to ensure that they will be able to get inside. Andheri is also a place where a lot of people get off, so the drill is usually that the train slows down, people at the platform tense up, start moving with the train and when the train has lost enough speed a big rush of people push themselves and those in front of them outside, shouting "hey-hey-hey-hey!" This must be done really fast as the people trying to get in basically close in on them and start entering as soon as they outnumber the people getting out. If you're too late getting out, you're basically pushed back in again. The pushing-in will continue until after the train starts moving again and people will hang outside the doors, only holding on to the rail above the door, or the iron bar that seems to be put there specifically for that purpose. By keeping the pressure on the people inside, everybody slowly shuffles to a position where there is more space until everybody kind of fits in.

I have been in a situation where the train was so packed that when I wanted to get out (which was considered very rude, or, because I am white, ignorant, because you're not supposed to get off at any other station than the last one because it is very inconvenient for everybody...) Most of the people around me looked disapproving, but some tried to help, shuffling to try to make some space for me. There was none, but somehow I managed to get up from the bench I was sitting on (4 people sit on each of the two opposing benches and 3 or four people stand in between them. Because I stood up somebody else could sit down, which creating a small pocket of space which enabled me to edge closer to the aisle. But when the guy sat down again, there was no more space to move in so I was stuck again. Literally, I could not move an inch. Fortunately a guy offered some help, nodding with his head on which side of the train the platform at the Andheri train station would be. Others would shake there head, because they considered it foolish even considering trying to get off there, certainly from my current position. The door was less then 2 meters away from me but there were at least 30 people between me and the exit. The friendly face nodded encouringly that I should try to edge closer. I started moving but we were so compressed that I was basically moving into him, making his smile disappear. I knew I had to go on so I used some force, psuhing myself back from the iron divider into the crowd. As I moved, not more than a few centimeters, a guy at least three or four rows back cried in pain. Our bodies were so tightly packed that my movements caused people at the other side of the compartment to feel the effect!

But as things go in India, when you think there is no way that you can move on and just give up, a current of movement started to take place in the corridor as we neared the station. Those not getting off would start moving away from the door, anticipating a new wave of commuters trying to get in. Others who were getting ready to get out moved in. I followed closely behind. Then the platform appeared and the pressure on my back towards the exit increased. The train slowed down and at that certain point the first people started getting off, quick, quick, me just behind them. The gap in the crowd on the platform was closing fast. I just managed to get through and then looked behind me. The door now packed with a scrambling bundle of people fighting to get in. Their ages ranged from 18 to at least 60. As the train started to move again, some let go, but the more courageous held on tight by just their hands and the tips of their feet on the doorplank.

I raised my eyebrows and then headed for the stairs. I would be home soon...