This is an old poem reworked. Please excuse the length...
***********************************************************************
It was a trip down memory lane,
My ride on a Mumbai local train.
I boarded the Ladies Compartment
And without much of an argument,
Landed myself a prized window seat.
This in my younger days, was a feat
Only the fleet-footed and the agile
Could, after much practice, do in style.
They coolly leapt into a moving train,
And for the coveted seats staked their claim.
I watched as the passengers boarded,
Most with household provisions loaded.
Each of them had her seat preference,
The train wore an air of deference.
Some chose to play games on their smart phones,
Others chatted or licked their ice-cream cones.
I’m sure many a train commuter,
Would perhaps ask what I was after.
Why was this an unusual trip?
One that I had not wanted to skip.
Well I was able to unravel and find
What appeals to the Mumbaikar’s * mind
Both entertainment and education
For those who kept eyes and ears open
I feasted on the fun and free advice
They doled out on every possible slice
Of life -hot tips on the stock market;
Free lessons on bringing up children;
How to get them to finish homework;
Easy recipes for teatime snacks;
Home remedies for a cough and colds
I soaked up all that my mind could hold.
On the lighter side I did try to trap,
Every interesting morsel on tap.
All the latest Bollywood gossip -
Those who did and who did not make it
To the Bombay Times Page three columns;
The most watched TV soap operas.
I even ate a slice of home-made cake,
Someone had a birthday to celebrate.
I savoured every moment of the trip,
Making a mental note of each tip,
That could be of use to my family.
Not being a regular, I was free
To choose and even participate
In the animated discussions -
From politics to children’s obsessions
Until I reached my destination.
I returned home late in the evening,
Brimming with a sense of satisfaction,
That I was now far better informed,
Thanks to my travelling companions.
* Mumbaikar - a colloquial word for a person living in Mumbai