train dreams

What do I want to remember about today? 

A train which was an hour late in the morning and another which was few mins early in the evening. One that was near empty, and another that was packed so tight that one had lean forward to not get squeezed. 

Everything covered in green, after a season of heavy rains. It is like one of those movies with post apocalypse storyline, where humans don't inhabit cities anymore and it gets overgrown with moss and vine - I guess Keralam is like that most of the time. Like the peepul growing on top of a bus shed or abandoned houses taken over by bush or empty land looking like a mini forest with nothing but a broken well in the middle. I try to click a pic from the speeding train and it is like a blur of green each time.

A girl reading "I am Malala" and the mother periodically stuffing her with snacks and drinks. 

A boy with a big head full of curly hair falling down to his shoulders, looking like 80s rockstar. Another wearing a Metallica tshirt. 

A world weary old man in a bus stop, looking worried with furrowed forehead, lush white hair but the ends of it colored in a magenta sort of hue that I had never seen before. How I wish I could have taken a photo of him? How did he get that colored hair? 

A fisherwoman with bobbed hair who got on the bus with her large aluminum charuvam, empty now. She was in generous mood - gave 100 rupees to a boy, must be from her neighborhood, and asked if he needs more. He asked if the business was good today, she said yes.  

Good people all around. Auto drivers, private bus conductors - trying to help an old lady get down, waiting patiently for a girl calling for the bus from far, joking with people, helping them with directions to the beach or market. Bus decorated with party lights inside, blasting songs many I hadn't heard before, but the conductor was humming along to. 

An evening, colored in grey/green, like looking through a tinted glass. Threatening to rain. 

I can be at home here.