Greying together

These 5 young ladies met in a local train.

As most of us know, local trains form an integral part of Mumbai and one cannot imagine Mumbai without the local trains. Trains are over-crowded, there are accidents, delays, etc. etc, but they can’t replace any other mode of transport.  The trains help cover a great distance in lesser time. Here’s an account of how this train system helped foster a sustainable and very unique bond amongst the fellow travelers.

Their names were Shaila, Smita, Manju, Ulka and Medha. I would call them mavshi (aunt) here. All except Shaila (who is my mom J) were employed in a bank and my mom worked in the BMC head office.

They all were newly married and had come to the central suburbs like Dombivli and Kalyan after marriage, but for job purposes they had to travel to the then Victoria Terminus (now CST) everyday. Being newly married and marred with adjustment problems, they bonded with each other quickly and shared the day to day things each other. Laughing together helped them to beat the stress of routine life and they created an own world of themselves in the train. In the meanwhile the families got extended and they all become proud mothers to son and daughters. Now bickering about in-laws and husbands was replaced by bringing up the babies and getting them to talk and feed and to school. Everybody knew almost everything that was going on in other’s lives. And the bond was getting stronger and deeper.

Children grew up, went to school. Their mothers collectively took them to picnics, movies, parties and the children also became fast friends. Some went to the same school and the same tuition teacher. All occasions, be it birth, death, celebration of a promotion, rank of a child in the school, pre-wedding party for the bride or groom to be, they all got together with each other and were a constant source of support and strength. Years were passing by and their love for each other was increasing in leaps and bounds.

It so happened in the coming years that it was not possible for them to meet every day in the train as the timings changed, offices changed. But they made a point to meet once a month in the same train where they initially met. They got nice, hot, special goodies to share with each other and also talked their hearts out when they met.  Then slowly as the years progressed, Medha mavshi took voluntary retirement and Smita mavshi moved to Pune. Manju mavshi moved to Thane and Shaila aai and Ulka mavshi were the only ones left in Dombivli.

Though the distance separated them now, I do not remember any single occasion which they have missed in each other’s lives. Be it wedding of Smita mavshi’s son or ulka mavshi’s daughter or the naming ceremony of Medha mavshi’s grand daughter or the SSC board exams of Manju mavshi's twins, all the mavshis were always present there, in their best attire and the jewellery and yes the most important thing of all, their love and blessings for the children.  

It has almost been 32 years now and the bond between them is so fresh and strong even today. There have been many changes in the personal lives, which is quite understandable, but that hasn’t brought any change in their relationship with one another. I would also like to add here that these ladies were successful in bringing their husbands together in their group and making it even stronger. Now whenever they meet, they meet along with their husbands. They laugh like small kids when they all are together and I have named their group as “ha ha hu hu group”. They crack jokes, pull each other’s legs, they are always smiling and happy when they meet. They radiate very positive vibrations and one senses a lot of comfort and joy in their presence.

I sometimes wonder, are the bonds of blood stronger or the bonds of heart? I do not have any siblings or uncles or aunts. All I have and have known since childhood are these mavshis only.  Whenever I meet any one of these 4 mavshis or talk to them on phone, I feel as if I am meeting my own mother. So much love, care and attention, only a selfless mother can share with other kids. Now that I am married and settled in Bangalore, I have been calling this gang of girls who are still young at heart and they have always promised me that they would be coming in this year.

I am waiting to see them and want to show them around in Bangalore.

So, mavshis when are you coming???

Let that day finally dawn sometime in near future!