Mumbai locals..
Every compartment looks like a battle field..if you are able to survive..the victory is yours..!!

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Dear Mumbai local trains,
It's been a long time I have not met you. I am really missing you.
I remember I used to complaint a lot about you. I used to get really angry on you cos everytime you came late. We had a fixed schedule of meeting but you used to delay my plans everytime. I used to blame you for this. But no matter how hard I abused you. The next day you would always come to meet me almost always a little late.
I used to get irritated by seeing so many people gathered to meet you daily. However I realised everybody loves you the way I do.
You have seen me laugh with my friends, quarrel like an idiot with some stranger, being sad at your door,tensed for an exam or an interview. You have seen me expressing almost every emotion I have.
I never imagined that you will take a hault for such a long time.
I can never imagine my life without you and I know we are meeting doon once this all ends.
You can come late but I promise I will be on time.
-Your local passenger

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Read the caption for the entire poem.

This incident happened more than five years ago
It was a Tuesday
And I'd gone to office as usual
Which involved a long commute
From Powai to Lower Parel
By the famous Mumbai locals
A typically exhausting commute
Made worse by the fact that it was the month of August
And therefore I had to deal with the rains as well
Something seemed to be off
As far as that particular day was concerned

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All days may not start well
Things may not go to plan
Punctuality monsoon will tell
Start as early as you can
But not always in our hands
Things at the mercy of rain
Is there any place to stand?
In a Mumbai fast local train?
More so when it is late
Leaving you at the hands of fate
Men push, jostle and bicker
Place to stand is a premium
At your expense, they snicker
For a while, it's pandemonium
To and fro, back and forth
Swung for all your worth
Then the train stops when it shouldn't
Getting further late when it shouldn't
When time comes to alight
You are expected to defy gravity
Jumping a moving train with no clarity
Changing over at Dadar is no delight
Later Greeted by grime and muck
Rain at Lower Parel adds to bad luck
Noisy motorists on a narrow street
Make your mind admit defeat
Reaching office is a relief
Your sweat beggars belief
Just the start of long day ahead
A miracle not to lose your head

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Read the caption for the entire poem.

You may think
That going to office on a regular basis
Is not a big deal
However, the reality is as different
As sugar is, from salt
Especially when it comes to a city like Mumbai
Which is defined by its crowd
Particularly in case of its lifeline
The famous local trains

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