Damn the Life!

Well, after looking at the title don't think I am going to commit suicide or something. For me life right now is happy-go-lucky (touch wood!). But I do get initial pangs of frustration. There are also times when I feel like a dead wood.
Anyways, I was thinking about my job and stuff (usual thing I do when in local trains at night) when suddenly a Gujarati family came and made themselves comfortable around me. With legs crossed, chappals on seats (eeeow!) and opening their chatter boxes, the ladies made it impossible for me to enjoy the rains outside and the wonderful breeze inside the compartment. I quickly changed seats to find solace elsewhere.
I realised that my new companions were quite different from what I usually see. They had heavy make-up applied with large eyes almost popping out but neatly bordered with kohl. It was a bunch of six ladies, all decked in make-up. It didn't ring any bell initially but only when one of them spoke on phone about her pregnancy did it strike me. They were bar dancers! The one who was talking about her pregnancy kept saying, "Aaj toh koi collection hi nahi hua. Sangeet teacher ne bhi kaha. Sirf 200 rupees kamaiye. Chalo, aane jaane ka kharcha toh nikal gaya." Her name was Kajal and she complained that one of the doctors in Mira Road advised her to abort the baby because during pregnancy she is not supposed to take any medication. She was taking some pain killers and still the doctor advised her on not taking the pills. She was given pills worth Rs 3000 to abort the baby I guess. (I am not sure about the purpose of the pills)
The ladies also kept saying that because their collection was so low today, they will not go tomorrow. I cannot recall all the names but there was also one named Rosy.
All this while I was totally shocked to have sat beside a bar dancer. But as stations outside went by, my fear and initial shock was transferred into curiosity and sympathy (a perfect combination for a journalist). Indians have this craze of English medium schools and convent education. The ladies were also worried about their children's admission and education. It is heart-warming to know that after undergoing such hardships, they want to dream a nice career for their children.
But what surprised me the most was the fact that bar dancers have full-fledged families. It reminds us of the fact that no matter whatever the circumstances a mother will always think of her child first than anything else. I guess I am done for the day with this!