Several of a kind

Their hands move to their hair as they alight from the train. Men whip out their combs and the women quickly preen in the nearest reflective surface.. The footover bridge is inundated with people when the train leaves the station. Their eyes are locked on the ground below. But a dissenting person might look up and notice a sea of bobbing heads. The Indian Auto-bahn.. They use an inelegant hook. Its a S-shaped piece of stainless steel. One end is attached to a rail on the window and the from the other is slung a polythene bag. And then the owner can swing alongside.. The men have clubs to play cards. Some sing devotional songs.. Women celebrate Gudi Paadva and Makar Sankrant. They sit on the floor boards in crowded coaches.. Street children rent the air with popular renditions. Other children travel to school in the midst of motherly advice from strangers..They stick ballpoint pens in the outer grill to make the fan work. They huff and puff to open jammed windows and doors.. They develop an intimate knowledge of the system over time. For instance, this particular train runs slow. It's because the train follows a Malad train that goes into the yard at Kandivali and another Borivali train that languishes ahead. And they are always glad to share their esoteric information.