Ivy

Maybe

 If it wasn't for the person tapping on Benny's shoulder asking him to pull the glass down; he would reach his college half drenched in rainwater coming through the window. He was awake now wiping the water from his wet cheeks. It was particularly cold that day and Benny didn't even realize that he was fast asleep on the local train. The compartment was filled with men and women alike put together in a human sandwich. He was lucky enough to get a seat next to the window. This particular section smelled of sweat may be from people who ran to catch the train. Benny had other things bothering him other than the smell. It was his first time traveling in Mumbai local and back in Kerala he had heard nasty things about the locals here. He was worried that he would miss his station or had missed it while he was asleep. He couldn't really ask anyone. So he kept looking at his ticket, and it spelled 'Bandra Return'. Bandra was the station he needed to get down. 

As his eyes were getting heavy again, the announcer said, "Next Station Bandra." Without even thinking he leaped onto his feet and lost his balance. As he straightened himself out, he could hear people murmuring in Hindi. He couldn't care less what they were saying as he walked towards the door which was packed with an army of men facing towards the right side exit. Benny logically turned to the right side. Few men made a line behind him. Again a man tapped on his shoulder and asked something in Hindi and Benny instinctively nodded his head. He didn't know if he nodded in agreement to get kidnapped or robbed. But he just nodded and that seemed to have satisfied the man. The train seemed to slow down, and he could see heads of men getting down to the platform. Before he could prepare himself to mount down, he was thrown out because of the push from the man behind him. Maybe he nodded to get pushed by the man. He would never really know.

He followed everyone as they headed towards the stairs. He climbed down towards the west side as the college showed its location towards the west. As soon as he was spotted, he was immediately crowded by a group of auto drivers in brown and white uniform all screaming one thing "Band Stand' and beckoning him towards their Autorickshaws. He walked past them shaking his head. Only if he knew Hindi he would have said no in a more human way. But shaking and nodding was his go-to. It's not like he didn't know basic Hindi but he preferred the shake and nod. Benny was just figuring out how to walk towards the college when a rickshaw pulled next to him, the driver asked him something. Benny unintentionally said,

"St.Mary's College."

The driver bobbed his head and with a gesture asked Benny to get in. Benny didn't even realize when he had reached the college gates. He was distracted by the tall buildings, beautiful lanes filled with small shops, wall paintings etc. People were walking their dogs, and old people were moving their hands forward and walked briskly like they are off to do something important. Back in Kerala, he lived in a bungalow and there weren't many apartment complexes or so many people on the street at any time of the day. Comparing the two and he found Mumbai much more lively and bustling with life. As he was wondering how much to pay just then the rickshaw meter displayed in blood-red numbers "22." The auto sped away towards the road ahead of them.

There were a bunch of girls and boys talking to each other on the way to the entrance. Benny drew his earphones out and plugged them in and walked towards the entrance. As he walked by there was a glossy building separate from the main college building which had colleges initials in burgundy attached to it. To the side of it was a dimly lit canteen from where he could smell Maggie and other food items. Mother Mary's altar opposite the shiny building was very beautifully adorned with flowers and vines giving it a shade. Benny prayed a little under his breath and rushed towards the receptionist who was seated in a corner against an aesthetically tiled wall.

"Where is the SYBA class?" he asked adjusting his hands a little.

A pair of two strained eyes looked up to him through thick glasses. She looked like she was about to give him a piece of her mind. But she just pointed towards the stairs behind her and said.