Last week I was going home in the evening by train when an incident happened that was a funny yet sad commentary on how terrorism has become a part of our lives.
The first class compartment had 5-6 occupants as usual. My attention was drawn to a woman sitting on the bench on the left side of the compartment because she was staring with a frown at the lady who was sitting next to me reading a book. I found her stare to be totally unwarranted and frankly, quite creepy. It was apparent that the woman was somewhat mentally unsound.
Of course, much to my relief there wasn't any trouble till the woman decided to get down at one of the stations. She reached into her bag and pulled out an orange that was very evidently not fresh. Then as she got up to leave she very casually threw it on the seat that she had been occupying (no one else was sitting next to her). Those who have traveled even once by Mumbai's local train know that it is best not to confront your fellow travelers - unless of course your life depends on it. So I just watched the whole thing as was the woman sitting on my other side. I turned to her, smiled and said that it is people like these that the Swachh Bharat tax must be levied upon instead of burdening the entire populace with it. She smiled as well and said that since the woman had been muttering to herself the whole time she probably wasn't mentally sound. The implication was that you can't expect anything else from her. True in a country where even sane people are known to litter. :-(
While she was talking my mobile had beeped twice because of whatsapp messages. I am afraid the beep sounds rather like the sound of a bomb ticking as shown in old Hindi movies or CID :-). Since I was talking to the woman I ignored my phone. But she was alarmed and asked me where the sound is coming from. I said it was my phone beeping to indicate incoming messages. It was comical, and sad, to see her relaxing visibly as she said that she thought the sound was coming from the abandoned orange.
We both laughed at this but I couldn't feel bad about the kind of world we live in. :-(
The first class compartment had 5-6 occupants as usual. My attention was drawn to a woman sitting on the bench on the left side of the compartment because she was staring with a frown at the lady who was sitting next to me reading a book. I found her stare to be totally unwarranted and frankly, quite creepy. It was apparent that the woman was somewhat mentally unsound.
Of course, much to my relief there wasn't any trouble till the woman decided to get down at one of the stations. She reached into her bag and pulled out an orange that was very evidently not fresh. Then as she got up to leave she very casually threw it on the seat that she had been occupying (no one else was sitting next to her). Those who have traveled even once by Mumbai's local train know that it is best not to confront your fellow travelers - unless of course your life depends on it. So I just watched the whole thing as was the woman sitting on my other side. I turned to her, smiled and said that it is people like these that the Swachh Bharat tax must be levied upon instead of burdening the entire populace with it. She smiled as well and said that since the woman had been muttering to herself the whole time she probably wasn't mentally sound. The implication was that you can't expect anything else from her. True in a country where even sane people are known to litter. :-(
While she was talking my mobile had beeped twice because of whatsapp messages. I am afraid the beep sounds rather like the sound of a bomb ticking as shown in old Hindi movies or CID :-). Since I was talking to the woman I ignored my phone. But she was alarmed and asked me where the sound is coming from. I said it was my phone beeping to indicate incoming messages. It was comical, and sad, to see her relaxing visibly as she said that she thought the sound was coming from the abandoned orange.
We both laughed at this but I couldn't feel bad about the kind of world we live in. :-(
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