As a Mumbaikar, I’ve always found the concept of ‘local train friend’ rather endearing. Your daily commute during the morning rush hours and the tiring evening hours can get too mundane. So having a bunch of people who go through the same route and experiences as you can be quite the bonding exercise.
Commute friendships are so amazing, aren’t they? Here you are, two people who are utter strangers, with only your travel route as the common denominator. And with only that, you manage to build an entire strong friendship out of it. You share your life with each other, even celebrate special occasions and festivals, and even become BFFs sometimes!
And then, there’s friendships like these, which Twitter user @AsiaChloeBrown talked about in her tweet, that make you realise that commute friends can be made in the most unexpected ways!
This Indian man and I have an identical commute, but we have never spoken to each other. Like we get on at the same platform spot and everything. I worked from home yesterday and today he jokingly said, “Where were you? I was lonely!” It was a joke but I almost cried lmao.
— Asia (@AsiaChloeBrown) June 21, 2018
They’d never spoken to each other before, maybe just acknowledged each other’s presence with a random glance. And yet, Asia never realised that she actually had an unlikely friend to whom her presence mattered!
Incredible, isn’t it?
What’s more, now they’ve become cool buds too!
We talked about Bourdain this morning. 💜
— Asia (@AsiaChloeBrown) June 21, 2018
I know it’s just one tweet but it was such a heartwarming story that Twitter couldn’t help but gush!
Twitter is such a sucker for this kinda mush, I tell you!
It’s PERFECT!
THIS IS LITERALLY THE PERFECT COMMUTE FRIENDSHIP THERE ARE TEARS IN MY EYES RIGHT NOW https://t.co/L8XSR0l12V
— Chukwuma, onye ọrụ ugbo Taoist 🇳🇬 (@ChukBartholomew) June 22, 2018
Don’t we all?
https://twitter.com/joaniemaloney/status/1010155110427586560
These kinda friendships are amazing, no?
AWWWWWWWWWWW that's so cute….sometimes you make friend ain the most unusual and random way…and not everybody would notice someone doesn't come like that….that was incredibly sweet https://t.co/3JaeLNXSSS
— •Joanna• (@klarosun) June 22, 2018
Indeed, someone who just silently looks out for you….
You never know whose life you touch each day or how. That stranger may just be a quiet friend. https://t.co/3jZ24H2UTl
— Summer Graves (@summerluv727) June 22, 2018
It’s not just your co-passengers, BTW. Sometimes, if you catch the same bus every day, the drivers and TCs know you too and will watch out for you!
I had a identical commute with someone I only said hello to while waiting for the bus. My job changed my site location and for two weeks I wasnt working. On my first day at my new site I got off work, and the lady ask me where I been because our bus driver havent seen me. Lol https://t.co/5rdBXyowrK
— crae (@OGCrae) June 22, 2018
From commute friends to BFFs! That’s some journey!
My ma met one of her best mates like this. They got the same bus to work every day for years. https://t.co/IgsWrV4dJs
— Premier League Champions. (@JadoreLesRouges) June 22, 2018
You don’t always have to friends or WhatsApp group-level BFFs. Sometimes, a simple acknowledging nod is reassuring too.
I've had a commute acquaintance for 7 straight years, but we pass each other going opposite directions everyday in the mornings and evenings. Occasionally we nod and say hi. https://t.co/ZUQ5oW7DGT
— .##…##. (@ArtemQuetzal) June 22, 2018
This can be super fun, running into these friends unexpectedly outside of your commute and remembering them after all the time!
This reminds me of my commuter buddy lady friend. Known each other for more than 4 years now. In betwn, she's had a baby, I got married, had a baby. We don't see often anymore though. Saw her in the market in April & we literally hugged & she said "aww… you've had ur baby".. 😄 https://t.co/qbMLkG3u1U
— Ayaa Oba-Rohkea💕😙 (@Ms_Mariaah) June 22, 2018
It is so comforting!
https://twitter.com/TwristN/status/1010313556741574656
Living in a big city can get a little lonely sometime, doesn’t matter if you live with family or away from home. And when strangers like these look out for you, it can be such an incredible feeling to know you have a friend!
Here’s to all commuter friendships that start at the most unlikely places!