Autophony

Why ladies-log you are coming in general dabba on Sundays only? You are making the gents-log to behave extra carefully, and not to using maderchod-benchod language which is very unnatural for us. Over and above ji, your gents-log are becoming extra-aggressive and you couples are taking so much place where everyday 4-5 men are standing only. And what is really sad is that ji all the tight jeans-wali ladies are going in ladies compartment only and only burkha and behenji type ladies are coming in general dabba. So lukkha-type boys are hanging from footboard only to make distance from you, and they are blocking us decent gentleman-type gents from boarding and getting off the local and that is causing very much tension.

Sunday morning, on a walk with my dog. Avoiding the middle-aged, fit and not-so-fit joggers and the senior citizens stripping shrubs bare of flowers are a murder of crows, pecking a dead pigeon apart. One is trying to strip off the flesh from a wing as others attack the meatier, juicier bits. The joggers are careful to give them a wide berth, while trying not to step on the discarded condom lying alongside, for who wants seed stuck on the sole. I cannot quite 'avert my gaze', for a horrified fascination takes hold of me, watching the crows feast on a rare treat. They are careful not to go near the condom too. The gentle morning breeze, with the fragrance of fresh blossoms and the songs of the magpie-robins and sparrows, playing with the fallen, yellow autumnal leaves and the soft, warming sunlight in the cold air: do they add to or subtract from the ambience? I don't know. Like the joggers, I sidestep and walk on.