The Runners- does not in any way refer to the the ancient postmen/women. These are a select breed of people who are tireless in their 'running'. I have found them on railway stations, bus stands, metro stations, roads etc etc etc.
Their daily schedule generally goes like this..they get to the desired metro station and do not wait for their mode of conveyance to completely stop before getting out of it. They then start running towards the metro station, jump over the steps, run through the counter. If there is a queue at the counter they are the ones who put all their strength into pushing the queue to the other side of the counter. The moment they clear the counter they are running again, and they run and run and run and reach the escalator. All this while you can see bodies being thrown out of the way to make way for the 'runner'. Yes bodies...meaning stupid slow people like senior citizens, pregnant women, toddlers and me.
Since their speed is generally more than the speed of the moving stairs they somehow do not realize it is moving and they keep running on the escalator. I prefer to take the non-moving generally deserted stairs during such emergency situations. So now that they are running on the escalator they hear the announcement 'kripaya darvaze se dur khade ho jayein' 'please stand clear of the doors'. To these runners its like a death knoll, they can't lose, now that victory is so close. So they increase their speed and finally get to the platform and run into the the metro while narrowly missing the closing doors. The thrilled victors are now grinning and panting and looking for a seat, when the CISF guard comes and says' udhar jao yeh ladies compartment hai'.
Don't you just love them!
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