LOCAL TRAIN TURNS INTO VENUE FOR BABY SHOWER

Twenty-eight-yearold Netra Rode, who is seven months pregnant, was in for a pleasant surprise on Friday morning. A group of around 30 women commuters, with whom she commutes to her workplace daily, organised a baby shower for her in the local train.

The women commuters, who have been travelling by the CST-bound 8.02 am Kalyan local every day, decorated the compartment for Rode. Some of the commuters went all the way from Bhandup to Kalyan only to decorate the train compartment. So, when Rode boarded the train at Kalyan, she was given a warm welcome.

Rode who was stunned seeing the preparations said, “I have no words to express my joy. It was like a homely celebration inside a local train. I was greeted with flowers and was given yummy delicacies to eat. They decorated the seats with flowers too.” “It was fun experience for all of us. I will always remember this day,” added Rode.

“We all have busy schedules, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy,” said Dr Swati Saxena, who is a member of the commuting group. “It is our way of showing her that tradition and fun can go hand-in-hand. We are happy we could make the day special for her,” she said.

Megha Saxena, 33, who is also part of this commuting group, said, “We have been travelling together for so many years that we now treat each other like family. We interact with one another and even share snacks. But today [on Friday], we planned to do something special. We organised a baby shower for Netra, munched on snacks prepared by commuters in our group and also played games.”

“A commuter from this women’s group who no longer travels by this train as she has left her job also joined us for the day. Netra was surprised to see her,” said Saxena, adding “The celebrations went on until the train reached Dadar, where most of the group’s members alight.”