I was travelling by metro to work the other day. I was completely engrossed in reading something on my cell phone. It was then that I heard a voice next to me, "Could you please let me sit? It's a request." And the lady next to me promptly got up.
When I managed to tear myself away from my cell phone, I realized that the voice belonged to an old lady who definitely needed the seat more than any of us.
So, why didn't I offer my seat? One simple reason: I didn't even see the old lady. Chivalry is based on one basic premise: You need to observe that somebody needs your attention. Only then can you expect your better nature to take over and do what is necessary.
We are all so busy catching up with life while travelling that we are not even aware of our surroundings. We are listening to music, reading email, chatting with friends, checking Facebook, consuming news and sometimes preparing for the 9 o'clock meeting. With all this going on, do we even see what our eyes are resting on?
I wonder if we will outsource this activity to travel journalists and read about it on our cell phones on the way to work? I wonder if we will see the slow death of a truly Mumbai phenomenon called 'train friends'? I wonder if the famous words will still remain relevant "Life is a journey, not a destination". I wonder. I wonder.
