Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The Ladies Coupe'

I am sorry to disappoint all my readers, because this is not a book review of ‘Ladies Coupe’. This is my experience in a ladies coupe. And there were more than five ladies in the compartment. A lot more.

I was off to visit my uncle’s place from college with two of my friends. All the other compartments were jet packed, thanks to the bi-elections about to happen in Tamil Nadu. So we thought we would get into the ladies compartment, in spite of the Soumya murder case. We were quite pleased we did that. Or at least I was.

There is always that sincere, loving and caring smile on a lady’s face when she sees a member of the same sex. Probably because only a lady understands another’s worries and pain. Or maybe, it is just because it saves them from the usual stare they get from the opposite gender. And so there were several sincere smiles at us, greeting us like we were their long lost child, providing us with the tiny little gap between them and the nearby lady to let us sit. They spoke to us like we had left their homes for the day and we were back together and were filling each other with the day’s work and fun. Personally, I felt like I was at home talking to my mother or grandmom. I felt at home.

Even the vendor lady busy selling vegetables were smiling at us. Trust me, that is not an everyday sight. She was sure to have a huge money to care back home in the ladies coupe. I loved the journey in the special compartment reserved for us ladies, and given a chance again I would probably visit my fellow ‘travellers’ soon! 

4 comments:

Saru Singhal said...

I did that in Mumbai locals and it was good. But my experience of travelling in Delhi Metro Ladies compartment is not so good. Your post brought back those memories when I used to get tips for adapting to Mumbai from fellow passengers.

Writing Bee said...

@Saru Di: Even I used to get tips on how to travel in a ladies compartment after the murder case. But it was fun :)

Sujatha Sathya said...

their smiles, small gestures, the way they move to make a little place for you - its all endearing

Writing Bee said...

@Sujatha Di: Very true