Catching the running train

So I travel to work daily by train on a second class ticket. My friend has a first class pass and today she had my handbag with her. Like everyday, she got on the train easily while I had to struggle, as naturally mine was a crowded compartment. The train almost started and I was waiting for the last lady to hop in on the running train and, I was contemplating whether I could catch it! Thoughts cascaded as I stood hesitant and bewildered-- "ok I will have to call her and ask her to wait for me, as I will have to catch the next one. I won't like that, so let's try to catch this one only..." and all these thoughts rushed into my mental space when I could clearly see the train accelerating speedily and it was time to make a choice! I finally noticed the lady who was calling me "Aga chadh, ye!!" She extended her hand and suddenly that gushing stream of contemplation ceased to exist. Now I could only see her, wanting to help me catch the train. I reached out to her and with a jolt I was finally on the train with all the ladies staring at me, eager to offer me words of wisdom. Gasping and smiling, I thanked her maybe twice or thrice XD. "Don't catch a running train ever again like this" - said one of them. I said, "aunty ka confidence dekhke, main chadh gayi" (with a grin). And that was it. ❤️ She cheered me up when I felt stuck in a panicking dilemma; got me to try one last time and I made it!! How often do we hear such unsolicited friendly yet anonymous voices of support? Just in a bit, we spontaneously looked at each other and shared that victorious laughter, the reminiscent proud one that one enjoys after a crazy roller coaster ride. It seemed like we both felt the tiny joy of teamwork!

Such ladies are not run-of-the-mill. I remember being this lady to another lady once. It's fun. It's nice. 

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