As often happens here, suddenly the clouds frowned and the mood became even more sombre. The breezeless, muggy day, drowned in the din of automobiles and hurrying steps, readied to destress itself.
It started quietly. First a few drops licked the earth. Then they became more regular and brisk.
Invigorated by the water's touch the atmosphere turned hurried.
At the station the trains enjoying the feel of water on their metallic skins arrived and departed languorously.
Inside the railway compartment a man and a woman stood at the exit.
"... This happened in office last week," the man said. Both giggled. Water fell in slow motion on the world outside.
"So, what's your opinion?," he asked.
"Nothing."
"Still...?"
"Okay. Let me think it over."
They both smiled.
He bent down to feel his cheek on her naked forearm.
"Oh God!," she exclaimed. The raindrops tried to intrude their corner. The man lunged forward and slid the doors half shut.
They smiled again. Both were in their late 20s. The woman had black cotton soil complexion. Sharp features, expressive eyes and curly long black hair made her beautiful. More fair, pug nosed and with short-cropped hair the man was of a rotund built.
"It's raining hard," she said looking at the world from the half open doors.
"Yes. There will be more."
The compartment was sparsely crowded. The rain momentarily receded and then returned again.
"You'll be away for a week?" she asked him.
"Yes. But I'm back on 31st."
She said something very slowly and both smiled.
"We've arrived," he said.
"Yes."
The train started slowing down. It passed under the overbridge whose iron and concrete exterior was long swallowed by years of grime. The corrugated canopy never allowed any water to touch the structure. So even though it took the weight of thousands of soles, it was forgotten once they were out of the station.
"Come," the man jumped out and turned around to give his hand to the woman.
She smiled and they started walking slowly towards the overbridge. On the adjacent platform a fast suburban sliced through the squall.
Their steps were joined by several others and were soon gulped by the crowd.
The train sighed and started crawling out of the station. Another morning slowly dissolved into afternoon.
first published:February 14, 2007, 14:25 ISTlast updated:February 14, 2007, 14:25 IST
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It was like any other monsoon morning in Mumbai. The sky covered by a grey veil of clouds was in mourning. The gloom seemed to have descended from the heavens to the rushing multitude below.
As often happens here, suddenly the clouds frowned and the mood became even more sombre. The breezeless, muggy day, drowned in the din of automobiles and hurrying steps, readied to destress itself.
It started quietly. First a few drops licked the earth. Then they became more regular and brisk.
Invigorated by the water's touch the atmosphere turned hurried.
At the station the trains enjoying the feel of water on their metallic skins arrived and departed languorously.
Inside the railway compartment a man and a woman stood at the exit.
"... This happened in office last week," the man said. Both giggled. Water fell in slow motion on the world outside.
"So, what's your opinion?," he asked.
"Nothing."
"Still...?"
"Okay. Let me think it over."
They both smiled.
He bent down to feel his cheek on her naked forearm.
"Oh God!," she exclaimed. The raindrops tried to intrude their corner. The man lunged forward and slid the doors half shut.
They smiled again. Both were in their late 20s. The woman had black cotton soil complexion. Sharp features, expressive eyes and curly long black hair made her beautiful. More fair, pug nosed and with short-cropped hair the man was of a rotund built.
"It's raining hard," she said looking at the world from the half open doors.
"Yes. There will be more."
The compartment was sparsely crowded. The rain momentarily receded and then returned again.
"You'll be away for a week?" she asked him.
"Yes. But I'm back on 31st."
She said something very slowly and both smiled.
"We've arrived," he said.
"Yes."
The train started slowing down. It passed under the overbridge whose iron and concrete exterior was long swallowed by years of grime. The corrugated canopy never allowed any water to touch the structure. So even though it took the weight of thousands of soles, it was forgotten once they were out of the station.
"Come," the man jumped out and turned around to give his hand to the woman.
She smiled and they started walking slowly towards the overbridge. On the adjacent platform a fast suburban sliced through the squall.
Their steps were joined by several others and were soon gulped by the crowd.
The train sighed and started crawling out of the station. Another morning slowly dissolved into afternoon.
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