I have started zipping over Chennai city in the metro train again. It felt so comfortable and amiable like a forgotten acquaintance, that I immediately got into the groove of things. It was especially useful during the brief spell of rains we faced last week. I almost pray that it remains this way for years to come, which could happen considering the manageable crowd that commutes by it everyday.
The other day, as I clattered down the long flight of steps that led to the Shenoy Nagar station, I saw a man ahead of me who had just an umbrella in his hand and looked like he was out for a stroll. Why did that observation interest me, you ask? Well for one, no one really goes out for a stroll at 3 in the afternoon, I think. Secondly, I was going out in the afternoon too and I had a huge tote bag and a water bottle nestled in my hands. The lack of any such baggage on his person stumped me a bit. Why would he pay anywhere between 35 to 45 rupees for a stroll? That was expensive. The lovely road around the Metro would have been a good place to start walking if he was so inclined. It got me thinking if perhaps he was going for a lunch with someone? Perhaps to book a ticket or two at Central Station? Pay his phone bills? I had to control the urge to run up to him and play the nosy Indian lady.
For any of the above, I would normally have a bag or a heavy wallet in hand with probably my keys (both home and car/bike ones) in a bag, even if I were to be wearing pants like he was. Most days when I am off to work my bag is bursting at the seams. You will find a wallet or purse, a small notepad, mobile phone, spectacles, a small towel, wet wipes, lipstick, lip balm, a brush or a comb or both, a book because nothing can replace that, compact case, a couple of pens, a water bottle and on that day...an umbrella. My poor bag. And the planning I do to remove things from each compartment with minimal fuss and distortion of existing placements would put any management expert to shame. First I had to slide the bike keys and the parking ticket neatly into the back pocket, without opening the whole bag. The metro card is also in this pocket as I don't want to open the main zip before boarding the train. Good intentions that, but somehow I do end up opening the main compartment for some weird reason or the other. Anyway, in go the parking ticket and the bike keys and out comes the metro card... in one smooth movement, while keeping eyes open to the slippery floor and navigating the security and bag check. Shoulder the bag, walk down to the platform in time for the train and plonk down into one of the empty seats of the ladies compartment. Now I open the big zip to pull out very carefully because it is all such a tight fit, my book. That done, without the contents of the bag spilling out, I close the zip and settle down for twenty minutes of uninterrupted reading.
After that it is opening the main compartment to slide and shift things around till the book settles in its slot and I am ready to get off. The metro card is in hand now ready to be swiped and then I clatter down the steps to find an auto that would take me to my destination. Just narrating the sequence is wearing me, but the whole process is perfected as of now. I have never once used my lipstick or compact or even my spectacles as I seem to be able to read without them in the well lit train. But do I keep it back home? No. I have got so used to carrying this burden around me.
However, seeing this bald man in his tucked T-shirt and loose pants sauntering down with just an umbrella in hand, I feel like an overdressed girl at a beach party. I have decided to downsize the bag somewhat reduce this baggage I was carrying around. It reflected somehow of my life choices, you know, of stocking up and collecting clutter around me...for wasn't it what I was doing with this small space that I was taking with me everywhere?
So now I know what to do. I shall take my first step to de-clutter with leaving my umbrella behind.
The other day, as I clattered down the long flight of steps that led to the Shenoy Nagar station, I saw a man ahead of me who had just an umbrella in his hand and looked like he was out for a stroll. Why did that observation interest me, you ask? Well for one, no one really goes out for a stroll at 3 in the afternoon, I think. Secondly, I was going out in the afternoon too and I had a huge tote bag and a water bottle nestled in my hands. The lack of any such baggage on his person stumped me a bit. Why would he pay anywhere between 35 to 45 rupees for a stroll? That was expensive. The lovely road around the Metro would have been a good place to start walking if he was so inclined. It got me thinking if perhaps he was going for a lunch with someone? Perhaps to book a ticket or two at Central Station? Pay his phone bills? I had to control the urge to run up to him and play the nosy Indian lady.
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| My poor bag - like a beast of burden |
After that it is opening the main compartment to slide and shift things around till the book settles in its slot and I am ready to get off. The metro card is in hand now ready to be swiped and then I clatter down the steps to find an auto that would take me to my destination. Just narrating the sequence is wearing me, but the whole process is perfected as of now. I have never once used my lipstick or compact or even my spectacles as I seem to be able to read without them in the well lit train. But do I keep it back home? No. I have got so used to carrying this burden around me.
However, seeing this bald man in his tucked T-shirt and loose pants sauntering down with just an umbrella in hand, I feel like an overdressed girl at a beach party. I have decided to downsize the bag somewhat reduce this baggage I was carrying around. It reflected somehow of my life choices, you know, of stocking up and collecting clutter around me...for wasn't it what I was doing with this small space that I was taking with me everywhere?
So now I know what to do. I shall take my first step to de-clutter with leaving my umbrella behind.
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