Metro

Right from the time I had arrived in Delhi two years ago, I have been travelling to most of the places through metro. I remember the first month of my stay here-Delhi metro was so new to me, and so fascinating that I actually enjoyed sitting in the same seat like a dummy for almost an hour-the time taken for travel to and from school. Through the months and eventually two whole years, I find myself deeply attached to it.

Metro travel is not easy. To arrive at the college in the stipulated time, you have to rush, as the college is far. Entering the train is pleasant indeed, as you get immediately the whiff of cool breeze of the air conditioner. When you get a place to sit, you consider yourself lucky as you imagine the situation inside the train after just a few stations-the number of people increases tremendously and so quickly that you cannot help feel like it's magic. And what a pleasant journey it becomes then, when without a seat you have to stand and feel not just claustrophobic, but unable to stand properly or even move any part of body since there are millions inside the train. It seems the people that surround you always forget to apply perfumes-strong body odour of these people cannot escape you. The best possible situation arises when your head is positioned under someone's armpits, which are given a free licence to publicise their smell when the hand moves forward to get a support. You try to breathe through your mouth but find yourself unable to do so-you've just got to accept it and wait for your destination. This, incredibly, happens more often than not. Needless to say, you are impatient to reach Rajiv Chowk and escape the train.

You, however, still have to wade through an ocean of people wherever you go, since there would again be millions travelling with you in yellow line(the separate route of metro). At Central Secratariat, you heave a sigh of relief as you have finally succeeded in protecting yourself from stampede. On the way back in the afternoon, it is a similar story, but the train, packed to the core, gradually lessens its burden this time.

But even when you get a seat at the metro, you crave for a companion since it is so boring standing or sitting like a statue at the same place.

Boarding and deboarding is a separate worry-there is always an extensive pushing and shoving while the train opens its doors at a particular station. At Rajiv Chowk the amount of people is enormous, and hence the officials have mentioned a specific way of first letting people deboard from the middle, and then allowing people to board from the sides. They have tried their best to explain time and again about how it saves time and eliminates discomfort and stampede. Actually the public is not so cooperative, so there will always be a huge struggle at the doorway of people trying to come out and those trying to go in. I personally sometimes feel I could get crushed anyday. But that's life in India-that's metro travel in Delhi.

Although Kolkata metro is a lot less congested, I, inspite of all that happens to me everyday, have developed an unexplainable emotion towards Delhi metro travel. It is a part of my life for a long time now, and I dread the days ahead, when population of this country would manyfold within no time. But I still do like it. That way I'm not practical, but I cannot blame myself:everyone is peculiar in one's own way.