Is it Us or Them?

Ok, just to update you guys on the big time shit I'm in now, I've 4 exams to sit for in the wk after next and I've just started revision tonight. And the situation defintiely doesn't seem too hopeful with the next few days wasted on projects and lessons. Been wanting to post this entry for some time but never got down to, so now I'm gonna summarize it in a few sentences.

I came across this Indian guy in his early 30s on the train last week and he obviously seemed quite cranky with his exagerrated movements and mannerisms. And many ppl were eyeing him with disdain, some even bordering on contempt. It was as if they were saying 'whats up with this weirdo'. When he finally squeezed onto a seat between a middle-aged woman and a mom with an infant in arms, I noticed a series of interesting events. The woman glared at him from time to time cos of his occasional exaggerated mannerisms that irritated her somehow; whereas the mom did not mind his presence the least bit. In fact after a couple of minutes, he ended up playing with the baby cos the baby started to playfully touch his arm initially. And the mom, who was with her husband on her other side, didn't the least bit mind this cranky nut interacting and playing with her child. Of course, by now everyone was staring at the crank and probably the mom too, and wondering why the hell is the baby playing with the crank and why the hell is the mom not minding it.

This episode somehow really stirred my thoughts and has left an indelible mark in my head. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm guilty of being initally wary of the crank and if I was the middle-aged woman I'd wished he didn't choose the seat beside me. But as time went by, the wonderful bond that formed between baby and crank and mother and crank really evoked a paradigm shift in my perceptions. Really, are these cold, indignant, judgmental, yet normal people on the train (myself included to a certain extent) any more sane than the crank himself? Perhaps, Mr Nutty is the only sane being on the train, and all of us are the ones who are mad.