mumbai local (messy)

those living in mumbai would know what i am talking about... trains here are not the 'normal' kinds... there is nothing like a nice train journey... there is nothing like a peaceful train journey... i know people from other countries specially get onto a train just to get the 'feel' of a train ride in mumbai...

the trains are never empty... they are perpetually stinking... not a day in the history of mumbai railway must have gone by without a fight in one of the compartments... you cannot reach your destination without breathing in the stale air of perspiration of your co-travellers....

and one day long back i had to travel to andheri by train... this happened when i was working... almost 7 years back... i had to meet one of my cousin at andheri... and unfortunately i had to travel at 7 pm... the peak hour... ladies compartment was out of question as i had a male friend (lets call him akshay) accompanying me (he lived near andheri then)... so we decided to travel in the first class compartment...

now i was under the impression that the first class would be better off than the second class compartment... but naah!... no way!!... it was totally packed... we decided to stand near the entrance... because if we went inside, it would be very difficult to get off at andheri... but we never thought it would get so crowded... i stood with my back to the seats... there were hoardes of people around me... i guess i was the only female around... it felt very uncomfortable standing like that... akshay must have guessed that... because he stood facing me so that no one could push me or touch me... he rested his palms on either side of me so that no one could push me from the sides too...

unfortunately this position wasnt good for my system... i knew akshay liked me a lot... and i had a major crush on him (ahem ahem)... and with him at such close proximity it was bound to get difficult for me...

he was tall and strong enough to keep people off me... but i had my doubts about how i was going to keep him off my mind... i wanted to hit myself for not getting into the ladies compartment... but it was too late to change my decision... i couldnt do anything about it... i tried to hold myself away from him... so that i wouldnt touch him even by mistake... but the crowd was crazy... everyone was jostling and pushing... it took all of akshays strength to hold me in place... and then someone pushed him so hard that he literally fell on me... ouch!

his face was so close to mine that if he had dabbed on some aftershave i would have smelt it... his hands tried to gain support from me... i had to hold him by his shoulders so that he would not be shoved away from me... and then our eyes met...

it was as if the crowds had melted... the touch that was supposed to be a support for me became a caress... his body that was shielding me seemed to be embracing me... his hand reached out to touch my hair softly... he bent low and kissed me on my forehead... i looked up at him... his eyes held mine like a magnet... his handsome face close to mine... i did not know how to react... i was lost in the pleasure of his embrace... he bent his head lower... i was sure he was going to kiss me...

and then someone pushed... ouch again!... the spell broke... the magical moment came to an end... i looked away (relieved??)... he moved his lips away from mine... he pushed himself off me as i moved my arms away... we waited in silence... not looking at each other... waiting for the train to reach andheri as soon as possible... till we got off the train and i left to meet my cousin...