While travelling in a public transport if you take a moment to look around and notice others you will find you are surrounded by very interesting people. I happen to come across a girl last evening who had a unique dressing sense. I say unique because I believe every person has their own style and sense for dressing. Now this girl would be in her mid-twenties and shy kinds, for she was sitting with her head down in one of the corner seats. She had braided her hair and decorated it with small butterfly clip ons in all possible color. While I gave her a second glance to take a proper look at her, I noticed more than few curious glances in her direction. Every one was smiling looking at her. Just then  I saw the lady on opposite side pushing aside a girl. I wondered who is she looking for but then I realize she wanted a better look at this girl. She was so curious about the girl that she decided to move people just to get a proper look. She was accompanied by her daughter who was embarrassed and hushed her ma.

The girl obstructing the lady's view looked at me, our eyes met and we burst out laughing. That's how I met AJ my companion for the journey. She is a very interesting girl. Full of life and with very optimistic approach towards everything in her. She a second year DU student who is also learning Mandarin. Most interesting is the reason why she is learning this particular language, for she wants to appear for UPSC exams. Its a very unusual choice, people I have met generally opt for more conventional subjects. But its a strategy for her: she feels very few people learn the language and fewer might attempt to get into a graduation course. The possibility for appearing for UPSC exam is almost negligible. Which leaves her with a high probability of qualifying.
Well I loved her thought process and wish her all the best !!!

Metro to India International Trade Fair (IIFT), Pragati Maidan

Nothing at Metro platform seems to surprise any more. Remember Karina Kapoor saying in Jab We Met, "Sab Kahte hain, Mumbai mein crowd bahut, par crowd toh humse hi banta hai", (Everyone cribs about crowded Mumbai but then we are the people who make it crowded). But it may be worth while to note that one should avoid taking these routes at rush hours. The other day I heard announcements at Rajiv chowk about a little girl being lost. Though the metros are generally crowded on weekends and public holidays too.

Metros are exceptionally crowded these days and I often see people complaining about the rush. There are always people pushing their way in and out of metros. 

The International Trade Fair starts from today which attracts majority of people from Delhi and NCR region. I have to make a note to avoid metro travelling over the weekend. Metro has increased the accessibility of Pragati Maidan resulting in close to a lakh people taking metros for IITF each year. So on weekends or post lunch on weekdays one gets to see scores of school kids, mummy-papa with beta or beti travelling to Pragati Maidan. I remember when I was a kid we used to walk for kilometers all together for car parking. This is not common now, scores of people use metros to reach the venue. This also makes sense because people can now  get down at pragati maidan metro station and take the entry from Gate no. 4. Parking venues are very fun and a lot of walking would be required. 

There is a straight connection from Noida and Vaishali routes. If you wish to know more about Metro Routes, please visit http://www.delhimetrorail.com/route-map.aspx

Thank God its Friday!!!!

Fridays are always welcome, last day of the week for 6:00am alarm. Everyday I struggle to get out of the bed. With winters setting in, its going to be awful. Choosing between Yoga and fifteen minutes of sleep is always tough. Going by my flab, for me its Yoga by choice. The rush in metro security line (20 people in one queue) tell me there no chance of getting a seat. So I might as well relax and walk patiently. I see women hurrying around the security checks. Scowling at the men who interrupt their baggage screening. Women never seem to understand that there no board saying "ladies only" on screening machines. 

The platform has people standing in small groups at various spots. I could see people bending over to see the approaching metro. There must be some logic but I fail to understand the need to look. As the metro approaches people forget the queues and starting push. I have often noticed people standing on a side to let people in before stepping out.  

A group of college girls board the train. Its there examination day and they are already running late.  One of them in pink shirt has completed the practical file last night and need teachers signature. She know its going to be hard, so her friend volunteers. She will sign two practical sheet and rest can be done by the teacher. Every one looks unwilling. Not exactly the right thing to do. My college days were similar, last day file completion and then pleading the teacher for signatures. I don't know if she got her signatures for every one in group was scared of the thought. They got down at Indraprastha, still discussing the issue. They seem to be caught in conflict. I am still wondering if they are worried about ethical and unethical or is it a thing of past !!!

Why this blog?

I have been thinking of writing a blog for a long time now. Been travelling in Delhi metro for almost 2 years now. So many things to write for a journey which takes up 2 hours every day in my life. To think of it, its only because of metro that I travel for 2 hours every day. Every day is a different experience, for I hardly get to see same people twice. In fact I have never met the anyone twice. Metro has evolved in all these years. There been extensions and developments. Commuters also have learned the art of making queues at least till metro arrives. After the metro is stationed chaos rules. I still wonder how people manage to get inside an already packed metro. For me its a matter of patience, I miss at least 3 metros in general before I board. Or may be I am still scared of being pushed around. Everyday I get to see different people and hear different conversations. Its fun for me, I enjoy every bit of it.