ALONE IN THE CITY #yqbaba #yostowrimo #iamaloneinthecity I had an interview scheduled in a big city. Two days to go and there was hardly any time left time to finish packing and saying my goodbyes to all the village folk. I arrived with trepidation, bewildered and feeling lost. Taking a bus to the lodge arranged for my stay, i thankfully secured a window seat where i plonked myself so that I could take in n absorb the sights outa the window. The smell of sweat hit me as a frail women came n sat down beside me. The buck toothed lady took my attention away from the sights outside the window as she flashed me an engaging smile and struck up a conversation. The one sided conversation flowed easily. She was ekeing out her living by selling bangles and other paraphernalia necessary for young girls. Her market was the daily crowded local trains of Mumbai. Today, she was going to meet her married daughter who was unwell n needed her help in managing the kids. Well, the bubbly woman narrated how her 9.00. to 9.00 job in the locals had kept the train of her life on tracks after she had landed in the city, alone and all lost, like I am feeling right now, how the city welcomes everyone with warmth n how it grows on you. I was especially taken in by her narration of the honesty displayed by train cummuters when she would leave a part of her wares with them to let them pick and choose whilst she traveled the length of the long compartment looking for more customers, how her trust in commuters ensured all her items were accounted for and dutifully paid, how she would let them take their pick and even agree to accept payment another day for these were the regular train commuters and her business thrived on their honesty and her trust, how Mumbai smelt good despite its squalor n sweat, how she too soon began to smell like Mumbai. She was 'maushi' to the train commuters in the ladies local and they were her smiles.
