Today,
on my way to office, as usual it was raining heavily. Just like all
other days of previous week, today also I was mentally prepared to
report late to the office, drenched in water,with my hair in a bad
state, wearing an over sized jacket that certainly must have made me a
funny sight, and then to wipe off the mud patches on my dress, keep rain
coat to dry on the back of my chair and then finally to start my office
work.
I was no longer irritated by this extra effort that I had to make, thanks to the unending rains in the city. That comes as a by product of living in cities like Mumbai and Pune- you have to face the rain- any time, sometime, all the time!
For the past two days, it has almost been raining continuously. People here are accustomed to it- they no longer get irritated when each time they carry an umbrella, or wear raincoats.
The traffic and the roads are a real sight!
The thirty minute journey is covered in atleast 45 minutes..and what is worse is the risk involved.
Every day, before sitting on the pillion of the activa- I pray that i reach safely, that we do not slip in any pothole, that no biker splashes muddy water on us and that no dirty tyre of the two wheeler brushes by our foot- ruining our dress.
While I am struck in the jam- many thoughts come to my mind everyday.I have a hobby of analyzing people , and am amused at the variety of people on one single road- every person having a story behind him, a destination to reach and some work to attend.
Every person having a different mindset, different
expression, different reaction.Yet, among all the differences, every one
stands on the same road.
Yesterday, I saw a man who traveled with his full size dog on a two wheeler. Girls off course feared to even get near that activa even in a traffic jam, the dog barked whenever any vehicle stood too close to its face and almost bit a biker who dared to evade its personal space. The people around complained, but the pet's owner simply did not care.
There was another person who had to carry a big size suitcase, and chose to tie it to the side of his bike. He was driving at a good speed, when sudddenly the handle of his suitcase broke and it fell down. The vehicle just behind it almost got hit by that suitcase. It could have been a bad accident, thankfully the rider turned lucky.
There was another lady who held a gas cylinder on the pillion of the bike. In the jam, a truck came by the side of that bike, the driver of the truck threw a burnt cigarette out of the window, it narrowly missed the lady carrying the cylinder! Thankfully it did!
In the hustle bustle of the traffic, there were a few people who valued time even more than their life- as they took all possible shortcuts,without even considering the risk involved.They were not a bit hesitant in taking their bikes on the muddy road or even on the footpath. There were one such driver, whose wife carried a very small baby on the pillion. Apparently he got inspired by other bikers, who opted for the footpath and he too followed the suit. Unfortunately, he lost the balance, and both the lady and the kid fell down.The baby fell in the drain and cried uncontrollably. Worse was when the traffic cleared just at that time, and the people around preferred to move ahead, than assist the family on the footpath.
These and many other incidences happen on road almost all the times, especially during rains!Earlier rains were my favorite season.Sitting inside the house, I associated it with joy, the pleasant weather and fantasized about long drives in the drizzles.My friends could never understand my fascination about the season , but now, thanks to my stay in Pune, I also know the other side of a rainy day!
I have seen people getting worried about their laptops before stepping out of office, i have seen people carry extra clothes to workplace, just in case they need it for emergencies, i have seen people get injured due to accidents on the road and many other problems that arise due to rains.
This side of a rainy day is totally contrast to the one they show in movies or in descriptions about the season.
Anyways..Hope the rainy season continues to bring happiness and freshness in the moods of everyone and also the people realize the imprtance of being cautious on roads in this climate!
I was no longer irritated by this extra effort that I had to make, thanks to the unending rains in the city. That comes as a by product of living in cities like Mumbai and Pune- you have to face the rain- any time, sometime, all the time!
For the past two days, it has almost been raining continuously. People here are accustomed to it- they no longer get irritated when each time they carry an umbrella, or wear raincoats.
The traffic and the roads are a real sight!
The thirty minute journey is covered in atleast 45 minutes..and what is worse is the risk involved.
Every day, before sitting on the pillion of the activa- I pray that i reach safely, that we do not slip in any pothole, that no biker splashes muddy water on us and that no dirty tyre of the two wheeler brushes by our foot- ruining our dress.
While I am struck in the jam- many thoughts come to my mind everyday.I have a hobby of analyzing people , and am amused at the variety of people on one single road- every person having a story behind him, a destination to reach and some work to attend.
Yesterday, I saw a man who traveled with his full size dog on a two wheeler. Girls off course feared to even get near that activa even in a traffic jam, the dog barked whenever any vehicle stood too close to its face and almost bit a biker who dared to evade its personal space. The people around complained, but the pet's owner simply did not care.
There was another person who had to carry a big size suitcase, and chose to tie it to the side of his bike. He was driving at a good speed, when sudddenly the handle of his suitcase broke and it fell down. The vehicle just behind it almost got hit by that suitcase. It could have been a bad accident, thankfully the rider turned lucky.
There was another lady who held a gas cylinder on the pillion of the bike. In the jam, a truck came by the side of that bike, the driver of the truck threw a burnt cigarette out of the window, it narrowly missed the lady carrying the cylinder! Thankfully it did!
In the hustle bustle of the traffic, there were a few people who valued time even more than their life- as they took all possible shortcuts,without even considering the risk involved.They were not a bit hesitant in taking their bikes on the muddy road or even on the footpath. There were one such driver, whose wife carried a very small baby on the pillion. Apparently he got inspired by other bikers, who opted for the footpath and he too followed the suit. Unfortunately, he lost the balance, and both the lady and the kid fell down.The baby fell in the drain and cried uncontrollably. Worse was when the traffic cleared just at that time, and the people around preferred to move ahead, than assist the family on the footpath.
These and many other incidences happen on road almost all the times, especially during rains!Earlier rains were my favorite season.Sitting inside the house, I associated it with joy, the pleasant weather and fantasized about long drives in the drizzles.My friends could never understand my fascination about the season , but now, thanks to my stay in Pune, I also know the other side of a rainy day!
I have seen people getting worried about their laptops before stepping out of office, i have seen people carry extra clothes to workplace, just in case they need it for emergencies, i have seen people get injured due to accidents on the road and many other problems that arise due to rains.
This side of a rainy day is totally contrast to the one they show in movies or in descriptions about the season.
Anyways..Hope the rainy season continues to bring happiness and freshness in the moods of everyone and also the people realize the imprtance of being cautious on roads in this climate!
its almost the same at my side to with the oly difference being it rains heavily when i leave from work otherwise its bright and sunny all day long :)
ReplyDeletethe thing about the diversity is true.. ekdum true, i have never seen as much as diversity as i have seen on the indian roads... thought provacative !!