Soft drinks, ice creams help dodge rising mercury
A crowded local train in the peak of summer is no one’s idea of fun, but in the first class coach of the 8.57 am Borivli-Churchgate fast, a group of office goers have found an enjoyable way to beat the heat.
A crowded local train in the peak of summer is no one’s idea of fun, but in the first class coach of the 8.57 am Borivli-Churchgate fast, a group of office goers have found an enjoyable way to beat the heat.
Each morning, a few generous passengers bring chilled Rasna, home-made sherbets or even frozen golas for the 15 or 20 regulars who travel with them.
“It’s been a spontaneous, informal potluck which makes us forget the sweat for a while, till we get to our air-conditioned offices,” said Jatin Shah (26), one of the younger members of the group who boards the train from Kandivli.
The sweltering summer heat came upon Mumbai a little prematurely this year and the citizens are giving a refreshing touch to their daily journey while others are taking a different — more pocket-pinching route.
“I just hop into an auto. Standing in the sun in long bus queues and then sweating it out in a crowded, sticky bus is too much to expect in such weather,” said ad professional J. Shaheen, who spends eight times more than her regular bus fare to get from Andheri station to her Four Bungalows office. Usually a night person, Shaheen has been motivated to wake up at 6 am — two hours earlier than usual — only to get to work before the sun gets too harsh.
She’s not the only one rewinding her body clock to dodge the sun. “For over two weeks I’ve been visiting the temple and buying my groceries all before 8 in the morning, or else I will get a heat stroke,” said Geeta.
Mehta (48), a homemaker from Grant Road, and her family spend their afternoons indoors, sipping endless glasses of lemonade and mango-slush. Management student Ekinath Khedekar (25) has cut down on heavy meals and spicy food. The young crowds can be found outdoors, swigging beers or letting their wallets loose on ice creams.
“Our sales shoot up by 60-70 per cent every summer, but it's definitely been hotter this April, since we saw a 20 per cent rise in profits compared to April last year,” said Sameer Nagle, sales manager for ice creams at Amul.