The Metro train and me......

I have recently found a charm in travelling to office by Metro train. Honestly speaking, it was rather a compulsion than a personal choice, as I was forced by circumstances--the heavy rains for it.

The recent heavy downpour in Delhi proved to be a blessing in disguise for a person like me, who gets just 15-20 minutes to think about rest of the day or the strategy to deal new challenges the next day.

The heavy rains stuck my motorbike twice. The rainwater makes it immovable, as the water enters the piston (read engine) which takes almost 12 hours to dry on its own.

No ordinary mechanic or Puncture wallah can help in that crisis! I remember dragging my 99 kg bike 21 kilometres on the first day when it rained cats and dogs in Delhi in August. Thanks to a few nice souls who pushed my bike every now and then up to half way (10 kilometres). Rest was a harrowing experience at past midnight!

But, as it is said, it's never too late to make a good beginning; hence I have started travelling by Metro train from Sep.10, 2009. It is my third day on trot but I find myself like any villager or stranger who has entered a different planet where he is actually lost and has to learn everything by hit and trial method.

The Metro experience is quite interesting for me these days. Everyday there is something stupid done by me. Be it de-boarding at wrong stations and then going blank or naively calling my friend Rajesh for directions (that I haven't followed as yet) or just approaching anyone on the platforms or inside the train asking basic things like any villager in city.

There is unique joy being like that but it involves slightly nervous and embarrassing moments too.

Recently, I paid a fine of Rs.50 for de-boarding at two stops ahead of where I was expected to as per travelling coupon. I didn't know one has to get down at Kashmere Gate for Inter State Bus Terminal stop (I.S.B.T). I asked one or two persons but they didn't tell me clearly. That's how I travelled two stations ahead.

But when I approached the coupon counter for my coupon's up gradation, as was suggested by friend on the previous night, I was charged Rs.50 as fine. It's a new rule introduced a week ago and not many people are aware of it.

My entire joy of the day that I have saved Rs.200 of travelling to my office by three-wheeler vanished, as I a total Rs.82 on that night to reach my residence at 11.40 instead of 10.00 p.m.

Even if it takes an hour-and-a-half to two hours each day on one side from my home in Malka Ganj to R.K.Puram (21 km), instead of 25 to 30 minutes on motorbike, still I am exploring its full joy. I am trying to make myself comfortable with it.

Besides disallowing me to work in office beyond almost eight hours, it gives me enough time to think, to relax and to learn anything what i want. I am just starting to like it.

I view it as something 'new' happening in life. It's after opting to travel by it routinely, with initial hesitation, that I am exploring the scopes and joy of it. So many people, so many talks, there is just so much in Metro, I think I have missed for a long time. It's been probably six years when Metro was introduced in Delhi, but after once or twice travelling like a kid accompanying elders, I had a chance to travel by it with friends. That too on much reluctance and their insistence I agreed.

Now, I am beginning to feel what it takes to travel by Metro. I look forward to be more comfortable and actually be able to enjoy the hidden joy without nervousness.