ATMs, Piggy Banks and me

I jingle the coins in my pocket, I know I have only a few.

Is it going to be an ice-cream or the new locket; definitely something new!

Such moments are very rare, when I have little money to spend without a care.

Times have changed and how! It's nothing like only adults can handle money.

I see a toddler clutching a wallet, his mother is trudging far behind.
His hands can barely reach the slot. But he knows what to put to get cash in hand!

Stands at the atm slot next to me, can't believe what I see. Punches in numbers faster than my eyes can fathom; raises his toes, gets cash in a jiffy and is out before I'm done!

Shopping!! (Train Travels ...)

Her feet are sore, nails chipped, bangles tinkling.. baby at the back! She can balance 3 boxes on her head; one above the other. She has a train to catch.. Only there is no destination. She has to get her earnings for the day.. else her baby goes hungry. so does her family back in the hutment.

Hundreds of such women throng the Mumbai local trains for their livelihood. Selling trinkets, junk jewellery, hair clips, clothes, table mats, railway pass covers, cosmetics and eatables. One can find anything from a safety pin to a salwar kameez being sold in the trains. It is amazing how I cannot find the right coloured hair clip in the best of stores.. but sometimes manage to find one in the train!

Office goers, housewives, collegians, students and the self employed, there is a mix of all age groups, all professions who bump into each other on Mumbai local trains. A woman and shopping goes hand in hand! This common interest gets all of them together and the lady selling wares too. Even if you don’t buy.. it is interesting to watch. Bargaining is a common practice. And you are a fool if you agree to pay the price originally quoted! :) Generally, you can shop for something if you have 5 rupee coin with you.

Love Mumbai trains for the train shopping!

Train Travels...

Am descending the stairs at top speed! The train screeches to a halt. I rush in. The train is almost empty. I don’t realise this. I still make sure I get a seat. So does a lady in green, child in tow and a toddler dragging himself. The only support to his nimble feet: tugging at her pallu.

I generally read a book, also have earphones plugged. I hear my music loud. I usually cannot hear a thing being said by fellow passengers. Perhaps silence is the best way to observe what sound does not reveal.

The saree is untidy. The kid is dirty. The baby is muddy. Baby cries. Toddlers sniffs. But wait! Its not sadness! Baby is active, his eyes darting from left to right! He is hungry. So is the kid. Out comes a bundle of loosely wrapped newspaper. In it is the favourite snack of Mumbai people. "sukha Bhel".

It’s interesting how as a kid I would have excitement flooding my eyes only if I was given something really special. This kid has the same amusement, sparkle in the eye and happiness stuffing his face with bhel. He drops it down, there is sev all over the place. He chuckles! He smiles! He holds it out to me. He wants to share.

Mother is having bhel, occasionally pops some into the baby's mouth. Can you feed the baby bhel? I wonder.. He seems to be enjoying it though. He has stopped crying.

I look around. All seats occupied with glum faced travellers. None is smiling. Expensive looking sarees, leather bags, jewellery and perfumes. No happiness on the face.

The mirth I saw in those kids was unique and incomparable to the stoic expressions of the others in the train. It takes very less to make this trio happy. Mother is smiling, baby chuckling, kid laughing. Bhel is over. Time for them to alight. Saree blurs, baby is hoisted up and that is the last I see of them.

I smile.