Local train passengers who get down at Bhayandar and their entitlement: A rant
Not looking for any sympathy or acknowledgement. This post is simply a means for me to write this down somewhere and get it out of my system, as I haven't shared or spoken about this incident with anyone close to me.
29, M. Was 28 at the time. Used to work 6 days a week at my previous job, with the worst possible daytime office hours of 11 to 8. Pretty much spent most days getting ready in the morning, commuting 2 hours to work, spending 8-9 hours at work and then spending 2 hours getting back home to have dinner and sleep.
Lived near Naigaon, and the job was at Jogeshwari. Decided that it was worth spending a little extra on a monthly AC train pass, as it would be easier to board at those hours. Was not new to the usual remarks and verbal abuse from people who would create a scene over someone even brushing their arm against them. Had learnt to simply ignore such incidents and move on. That was until my unfortunate encounter with two middle-aged, crass men from Bhayandar.
I have, over the years, accepted that most people who get off at Bhayandar station don't wish to follow the Mumbai local etiquette of asking the person in front of them whether they are going to get off at [station name]. They firmly believe that, being from Bhayandar, everyone will just make way for them. These two uncles felt the same. I had made my way towards the door as my station was approaching, and had a bunch of people standing in front of me who I knew were getting down in Bhayandar because I asked them, as any regular local train commuter should. These two uncles behind me did not care to ask. As the station approached, they started pushing everyone aside, including me, shouting, "If you didn't have to get down, then why are you standing here??" I managed to move and stand on the side of the doorway to allow people to get down.
Now here's where they took offence and where I might be at fault. I didn't get off the train to allow the people behind me to exit the train and then get back in again. Also, one of the many local train etiquettes. In my defence, nobody was unable to get off, and neither did anyone get injured or lose time. The two gentlemen, however, chose to waste their time staring at me in anger for a few seconds before one of them started verbally abusing and berating me. It initially didn't register, and I had earbuds playing a podcast in my ears. Could tell that someone's mother and sister were being abused, but didn't know those were directed at me until the man said, "We know you can hear us, don't pretend you can't hear us with your earbuds"
Had absolutely zero idea about what to say or do in this situation. In fact, I said nothing at all as the other man also chimed in and said, "Very bad attitude, you have no shame at all"
Just like everyone else, I was trying to get home, trying to listen/ watch something on my phone before going home and then straight to bed after dinner. I was well aware of my surroundings and didn't really cause anyone any real trouble despite having earbuds in, but that didn't stop these men.
The first man exploded at this point since I wasn't really reacting to him, and became a little less coherent due to frustration, saying things like, "we're not fucking shits"
Yes, this whole one-sided conversation happened in English.
What left me disturbed after this for a few days was the fact that they were as old as my parents. All I wanted was to go home and rest after a really long day at work.