Transiting

( In Transit

Train stations, airport terminals, subway stops: soulless spaces full of distracted, stressed zombies, or magical sets for fleeting, interlocking human stories?)

This post can be taken as a continuation of an earlier post about the train travel experience.

Almost three and a half years of travels via trains,  which could be summed up to about four hours a day. That’s a lot.

When I started my college, everyone said that college is too far,  which they are right,  and I politely replied ‘You get used to the travels.’ You do get used to it,  the train journey becoming an integral part of everyday life. Leaving college according to the train timing and waiting at the edge of station straining to get a glimpse of imminent train. 

Mumbai Local Trains. They make your life.

But my post isn’t about the trains. It’s related to what happened in 2006. (For full story read here and here)

File photo of the blast. Image courtesy : http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Forking-Paths-Of-Faith/235136

Those terror attacks changed everything. I mean everything. I admit,  from the first day of my college my parents told me to call them when I reach college.  That habit grew old and I stopped it. But it doesn’t change anything.

Those attacks killed common people,  commuters like me.  Maybe they were returning from jobs or from college and they never reached home. And ever since trains are no longer completely trusted.

Authorities did what they could,  and stations still have metal detectors and emergency ambulances standing by and countless measures were taken but the fear is still there.

When I travel there comes a time when I suddenly notice a rather normal looking Bag. Completely ordinary yet it grabs my attention. And I take eschew glances till someone picks the bag up and departs the train. I sigh in relief,  guilty for mentally accusing a person’s innocuous bag as a means of terror and death.

And I’m not alone in this. I have seen people who form groups and sing pious lauds but are very cautious about the luggage. Every bag that seems to be left out is called out. Mostly at Dadar where the trains halts,  commuters calls for the owners of the bag.

The fear is now ingrained. Every train journey there is a nagging sensation that something can go wrong. And the thought scares me.
At that time people who died, were grievously injured were unaware. And now the vigilance in the trains, portrayed by everyone is some assurance.

Everything else in the trains, like fights and cussing,  the rush to grab a window seat or even the stupid couples standing near the door when the train is empty seems natural. Seems a part of the routine.

But the dread of a mishap is not. Don’t get me wrong,  being wary and vigilant is our responsibility. And I will do the same whenever I travel.

And this is what travel is. A promiscuous mixture of kindness, anxiousness and apprehension.

The four hours of life.

Let’s see what others have written :

no parking

In Transit

http://lewellynhughes.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/traveling-with-strangers/
http://alightningbug.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/life-in-transit/

oh, joy

In Transit

http://privyperspective.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/on-fainting-in-a-train-station/
http://musingsfrommyid.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/in-transit/

In transit

Noisy Thoughts on a Train Station

http://thedarkerandshadier.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/last-train-to-home/

At the Gare St. Charles in Marseilles, France

http://macbofisbil.com/2014/10/07/airport-panic/
http://grieflessons.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/3576/
http://geletilari.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/rush-hour/
http://conqueringanthropophobia.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/beyond-the-subway-tracks/
http://myauthoritis.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/terminal-illness/

A Yellow Tale: part ii

http://20000milesandcounting.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/daily-prompt/

In Transit: Daily Prompt

In Transit

Transit Pt. 2

My Secret Thoughts!

Support the GLCC During National Coming Out Week

Love actually is all around

http://wileyschmidt.com/2014/10/06/everything-in-transit/
http://dailymusing57.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/in-transit-daily-prompt/

sometimes hep, sometimes hell

http://fcmiller3.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/train-stops/

In Transit

http://ungiornonellavita.com/2014/10/06/daily-prompt-in-transit/

Transportation

Hello Goodbye

Train of thought

http://corinthialynne.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/the-daily-post-in-transit/

Crossed Paths

http://tidlidim.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/daily-prompt-in-transit/

Moving People

In Transit : Lost and found – Forget me not

http://camembertandchocolate.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/canned-sardines/
http://thegadabouttown.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/sick-transit-gloria-on-a-monday/

I am just another zombie – til you said “Hello”

Accidentally, Sincerely Yours

Connect

http://melearningoutloud.com/2014/10/06/disney-princess-philosophy/
http://msbstories.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/eternal-terminal-airport-to-the-afterlife/
http://waywordness.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/silent-movies/
http://alotfromlydia.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/okay-i-know/
http://grieflessons.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/hard-transit/
http://moosha23.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/in-transit/

Transition

http://steve-says.net/2014/10/06/id-never-had-one-that-big-before/
http://yzhengblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/train-rides/
http://petrd1.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/a-tale-of-two-bus-stops/

Daily Prompt : In Transit

http://emotionalfitnesstraining.com/2014/10/06/how-to-get-more-emotionally-fit-an-online-course/
http://ajustmanishardtofind.com/2014/10/06/eau-de-new-york/

The Daily Post

In Transit

http://oartheboat.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/an-airport-is/

The World Moves On

http://katespencer17.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/heartprints/
http://emo1956.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/in-transit-in-a-transit-van-why-do-these-things-always-happen-to-me/
http://lifeisgreat0.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/running-fast/

Inspiration comes in many different places

Joy of Giving in a Metro

Somewhere to be

http://cartervail.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/daily-prompt-crossing-paths/

Transiticity

A sea of Asters

World’s Best Teleportation Device

Most Transitatious

In Transit

http://alisha3cats.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/stuff-to-do-when-youre-bored-on-the-subway/
http://joatmon14.com/2014/08/04/this-time/
http://oh3za.com/2014/10/06/in-transit/
http://inmyruinsthereistreasure.com/2014/10/06/hanging-out-at-the-train-station/
http://theodorazheng.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/in-transit-throwback-monday/
http://jenbrunett.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/morning-state-of-mind/

Daily Post – In Transit

http://threepsandq.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/prompt-in-transit/

A Very Knotty Problem

http://sweattearsanddigitalink.com/2014/06/08/snippet-sunday-8614/

Daily Prompt: In Transit – in Switzerland

P’s woes with customs! Lest he forgets…

http://shawnwingsit.com/transit-ever-ridden-nyc-subway/
http://underthemonkeytree.com/2014/10/06/does-moving-count/

Daily Prompt: Being Magical!

http://marthakennedy.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/waiting/
http://kindlingword.com/2014/06/04/the-days-of-our-lives/

My love affair with Indian Railway

http://youaintspecial.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/the-other-other-other-white-meat/

The Joys of Traveling and Racial Profiling

UP THE MOUNTAIN

A Story in Each Face

http://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/rails-and-ties/

Instant Friendship

http://alotfromlydia.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/the-mta/
http://ettemeyer.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/in-transit-poem/
http://lifeassirli.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/train-station/

Zombies Don’t Eat Breakfast

http://charlafarmington.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/in-transit/
http://soulnspiritblog.com/2014/10/06/fun-in-train-soulfully-yours/
http://moondustwriter.com/2014/10/06/and-i-was-no-where-at-all-microfiction-travel-dpchallenge/

People-watcher

http://suejutakeshi.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/end-station/
http://movingtowardsthelight.com/2014/10/06/angel-at-the-ferry/

In transit

http://geekergosum.com/2014/10/06/in-transit-the-hell-of-other-commuters/

dreams

Daily Prompt: In Transit

ANOTHER LIFE, ON ANOTHER SIDE…

Too many people.

http://sayadpoet.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/wisp-of-dream-daily-prompt/

In Transit: Solitary Reader

http://namelessspaces.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/oxford-circus/

The “luxury” at Shanghai International Airport

http://vexingpoint.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/daily-prompt-in-transit/
http://fibercompulsion.com/2014/10/06/in-transit/
http://badosto.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/daily-prompt-in-transit/

Reblog : Generosity

How to spend 8 hours in an airport

http://guthonestfaith.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/victoria-station/
http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/staying-put/
http://dragoneystory.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/sudden-inspiration-by-music-journey/

DP Prompt – As a new story begins..

http://abozdar.wordpress.com/2014/10/05/highway-to-heaven/
http://abozdar.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/shades-of-last-evening/

TTT

Transitions

Thanks For Reading
Itsmayurremember