Commute is a double-edged sword

For five years, I had a hectic commute to and from college.

I have used Mumbai locals for all of those five years because it was the fastest mode of transport.

Conveniently, after I graduated, I did jobs that didn't require a commute that would tire me.

However, I just started working at a new job and anticipate some commute for the first few months.

I say commuting is a double-edged sword because it has all the ingredients required to make you feel irritated.

The heat, the crowds, which are a default in most Indian cities, can get to you.

But one of the things that stayed with me because of the five years of commuting in Mumbai's local trains was that it's the best time to actually feel quiet in your head and just pick one thing to do.

I would listen to music for the first two out of five years. For the next three, I had a new book or two to catch up on. I also did my best reading for class during that commute.

It used to feel like I was in a pod with only a few necessary things - the essentials.

Regardless of how tough the crowd was or how much I had to push and shove to get into a fast local to Churchgate, the moment I got in, I had to do very little to get into the pod-induced trance.

On some days, I would eavesdrop on fights taking place and catch up on sleep if I found a place to sit. But most days, I remember either reading or listening to music.

As I get back to commuting for work, at least for a few months, it feels amazing to get back to the pod-induced trance.

Do you have commute rituals?