So I came home. Parked my car in the sub-basement and I was pleasantly surprised that there was this elevator waiting just for me. Well this is going to be one lucky day. In my building to save on energy or maintenance only one or at the most two elevators would be working. In off peak hours it takes a painfully long time for the elevator to come or go up to one’s floor. So it’s a delight to see one waiting.
I got into the elevator and checked myself in the mirror. If there is no mirror in the elevator cubicle, I feel cheated. I want my money back or the ride should be free. In the mirror I could see one or two grey strands of hair showing up. Am I getting too old too soon? Didn’t notice the elevator doors closing behind me and that it’s going up.

Up comes the basement floor, to my surprise there was this ‘sweet something’ that comes in and presses penthouse floor (24th floor in my building). Normally I am not so lucky. I have grandmas or service personnel with tool carts, delivery guys with big packages or some smelly old guys muttering to themselves as my co- passengers. Well, this time it was different. Just me and her. But that was just for a moment.

Up comes the ground floor, a motley crowd jostle and get in while leaving behind a few unlucky ones. Now I and she were pushed to two corners, she was out of sight and I pushed her out of my mind. Now that my floor was approaching, I maneuvered through the crowd, reached for the exit.

Wait, what happened! It’s not stopping at my floor but keeps going up. Oh, Shoot! In my ‘self reflection’ and a very brief ‘romantic flight of fancy’ I forgot to press my floor number. Couldn’t show my disappointment but cursed my stupidity, while standing near the exit. Just then a lady in the crowd motioned me to either make way or get out. I was in her way. I had to get out and get in at almost every floor when someone got out. By now the crowd thinned out. Finally it was just me and her again on the 24th floor. Did I notice her getting out with a smile on her face? I don’t want to tell you.

Anyway on my return trip first thing I did was to press for my floor. On the 19th floor I could see that it is stopping. What for? A young boy was waiting but wouldn’t board. He requests me to hold as his mom was coming in a ‘sec’. Well, now I had become the elevator attendant holding the doors open. A good thirty seconds pass and no one came and this lad disappeared (probably to fetch his mom). Couldn’t decide whether to stay or move. Just when I decided to close the door, I could hear steps fast approaching. The boy barges in and yells at her mom to follow soon. Here she came at last and I resumed my journey.
It stopped again on the 16th floor. A guy with his dog steps in. Then again on the 14th floor. Luckily this time it was a couple who were ready to come in. But there is only one problem: they were trying to move in a heavy package. I got out first to let them in lest I may be squeezed into one corner.

A few more stops on the return trip and finally my floor came. Breathing a sigh of relief I got out. It was a long journey but a memorable one. Can’t complain when it is free.