Ride&Rebel

Electric poles stand the hill side, like Autobots, rusted from the Deccan humidity. My train paces along, moving to and fro the excess number of women in my compartment. Traveling alone to Pune, for the first time, I am overwhelmed by pretty much everything. The train, the passing landscapes and the jostling women, who regularly take this three hour journey from Mumbai to spend their weekends home in another city. They have taken up the luggage rack above us, like in all other boogies, and are now arguing over booked seats. I sit amused and a bit afraid of being challenged for the half smirk that is pulling on my lips. The aggressive woman upstairs has splayed herself on the rack, shooting arrows of warning to those attempting to climb up for a seat. While the others put away their guns and bring down their flags, another contingent of colonists approach unaffected by her glares or her size. The haggling ensues. I can see that the new leader is winning. Her comebacks are quick a