Jan 19, 2012

Parallel trains

One thing that absolutely fascinates me in my New York subway ride is the passing of trains parallel to mine in any one direction. I always look for it and have encountered as much as three parallel trains at a time in a four track subway system. I try to look through the trains to the people standing on the far end of the opposite platform.

Someone yawns moving in one direction and someone fondly cuddles her child in another direction and someone is on the phone waiting at the platform for their respective trains and here I am looking at all of them from a passing train! It is quite interesting if you can imagine what I am trying to express here...

This made me relate our lives to these trains running in parallel. We have all taken up on this journey, bound to 'somewhere', some to the North, some to the West, some wherever... Some we travel with, some we only glance at briefly, some we meet at the stations, some we get acquainted by, some we travel along with and some we would never meet. All sharing in the same scene, breath, space and even time and yet many oblivious to the existence of the other; isn't that something?

So many things happen around you that you can't possibly observe every little detail. From the woman who cries out "Good morning New York! Here's your copy of AM New York!" to the guy in front of you who swipes his Metro card for the nth time trying to get access to the station, to the vendors, the homeless, the posh, the not so, the police, the florist, I can go on and on and on and on listing the kind of people I see around. Every one lives a life, has found love, has a story to tell, is on a journey, destination who knows, or even cares...

Now where am I headed? Good question! Actually I have to think about it... I am kind of lost in my surroundings for now. Please excuse me if this post doesn't make much sense to you, I am just thinking out loud, that's all!


7 comments:

KParthasarathi said...

This post made a lot of sense and I was lost in my thoughts about the people I see in my journey.In a larger context, the world is the train and we are all the transitory and busy passengers travelling in different directions but all headed ultimately for the same destination,how long or short permit to Heaven.
A beautiful post conveying deep meaning in your inimitable and pleasant way.

Rachna said...

Oh yes, when I am traveling alone, I dwell on these things too and find it fascinating to study other people.

anilkurup59 said...

Yes, it indeed makes sense . Though I do feel what sense life in this planet in what ever forms make- more for the purpose. Why life? Is there a design? or was it all chance? When we go west, East or which ever direction is it not akin to going around and around?
Now I think , I make it insensible.
It is much wonder to think the way you thought while on the move. Gives one a lot of perspectives.

Bikram said...

Thinking out loud is good, for sometimes others can give a clue tooo :)

Interesting , I thought i was the only one who thought that way , looking at other people especially when i am going ot work and all or anywhere ..

As you say SO many expressions, so many voices..

Wish we had the time to see it alll in our little life

Bikram's

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Good to think out loud. My plants were sick of my doing so, now I have you my blogger buddies to think aloud to.

Amrit said...

In last 14 years, only two times I traveled on train and that is from Amsterdam to Den Hag to and fro.

On the airports and planes, sometimes I try to see how people are behaving and I can guess a lot from there....

Irfanuddin said...

interesting thoughts there....and to me while travelling or else where observing others does give a chance to study n learn so many things....

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