Bhaiyya mind!

Took a rick from Sakinaka to Ghatkopar station yesterday evening. On eavesdropping a bit, realized the driver was a 'Bhaiyya' - A slang used by Mumbaiwallahs to address the UP-Bihar migrants in Mumbai. Actually, Bhaiyya is a tortured soul at the hands of Marathi manoos esp. the Thackerays. Everyone seems to hate them. Mumbai these days is polarized on two things:- Bhaiyya and non-Bhaiyya!

But how Bombayites identify a Bhaiyya?? Well here are some..

• When the person has a nasty oil (probably Chameli ka Tel) applied on his hairs and boards a jam-packed local train. Then the person drops something, bends down to get it and in process rubs off his oily head on our trousers. Believe me no Ariel/Surf Excel can get that stink off your pant. You have for sure encountered a Bhaiyya that day.
• A road-side panipuriwallah who mixed the paani with his left hand (also used frequently by him to scratch his underarms, pick nose etc..). The KantaBens, Geetaben who like their paanipuri extra spicy can be overheard saying to bhaiyya with a puri in their mouth.. "Aur theeka chahiyee"(I want it more spicy). God bless their poor husbands. ;-)
• The pot-bellied panwala who wears a white trouser and a over-sized shirt with all but 2 buttons open flaunting his family pack.
• Scores of channawallah (peanut vendors) who rule the roost in local trains and platforms in Mumbai suburbs. no one can make better cones of paper than them.
• etc..

Well, coming to point, I happened to ask the Bhaiyya his opinion on Raj Thackeray. His curt reply was that he endorses Raj Thackeray Maharashtra Navnirman sena (Manse as ppl call it). I asked him the reason as Bhaiyyas hate him the most for his No-Bhaiyya-in-Bombay agenda. I was pleasantly surprised by his answer.

He said, 'Saab, joh jyada kaanoon thodtha hain, uske haat mein kaanoon sambhalneko deneka. Sudhar jaayenga' (Giving the responsibility to the bully to maintain law who frequently tends to break it)

It made perfect sense. Make the rowdy guy in class as the monitor, He will come in line automatically. Hats off to that Bhaiyya for his thinking.

A brilliant Bhaiyya mind!

Friday train accident

Yesterday was a horrible day for most of the commuters who are dependent on Mumbai's only life line 'The local train'. A bridge (the one supporting water pipes) between Thane and Mulund collapsed on a train killing motorman, Ramachandran Iyer (age 43), a fellow resident of Dombivli. He got crushed under the girders that fell on the train.

My heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr.Ramachandran.

His life could have been saved had the rescue operations acted swiftly. His hands and legs had to be amputated to get his body out. ;-( The rescue team came on site after 3 long hours after the incident took place.

Would this lethargy had happened if a Marathi Manoos was battling for his life?????

Had a harrowing time reaching home. Left Sakinaka in car @ 8pm and came to Thane battling hell lot of traffic. Had to coax the driver to take us till Kalyan as the train service had come to a halt. He reluctantly agreed. Else had to cool my a$$ on Thane station. Took the Bhiwandi-Kalyan highway where the traffic refused to move even at snail's pace. 10...11..12...1.. Finally reached Kalyan station at 1.10am. Took a rick from there to dombivli which made me poor by 100 bucks.. ;-( Finally reached home at 1.35am..

total travel time: 5.35 hrs... but realised 'Thank god its Friday'.. oops Saturday..

wonder if life in Blore was better..... ;-(

image courtesy: rediff.com