My Romantic Affair

Aabha, 19, Mumbai, India

I've been traveling in local trains for the past 5 years. The city's train travel has made me independent and given me a myriad experiences while exploring the length and the breadth of the city.

The working men and women who've been traveling together for years share laughter and grief over morning snacks and desserts. People travel with their individual groups every single day developing a strong long lasting bond with their train buddies. This unusual social gathering is usually accompanied with the melodies music of 'manjiras' on  'Vithoba' (local deity) bhajan. 

There other exciting advantage of train travelling is picking up language. I started speaking better Marathi after listening to the women speak the language fluently. Language also helps you draw cliques with fellow travellers. 

The continuous tussle to get on and off the train is a mandatory practice. Admits all the chaos I sit there silently filtering in every single experience. My romantic affair with the local trains is immortal.