Trust: psychological reality

               Have you ever seen bags being passed over heads by hands, and at times even babies? Only those who have traveled on the crowded Mumbai locals in the morning would know what I mean (and that too if one travels in the female compartments). I can tell you when I first moved here I was so intimidated that I used to miss 6 or 7 before I could get into one. But with time the crowd started seeming friendly instead of intimidating. I can't imagine anyone just giving up their belongings, or their kids to strangers on a crowded train anywhere else in the world! Trust seems to just be a part of their daily routine.
             I was recently told that I trust everyone and everything and that it is weird or wrong or something. I don't see the need for the cynicism to be honest. I do trust easily and with time completely. It hasn't been an easy ride, just hit a rough patch yesterday. So? I don't think its left me broken. When one adds virtual strangers on Facebook, aren't you trusting them? Or say the whole filling in forms at banks and for these sim cards, one is giving out details, isn't it? Even with the elections, we trust someone with our whole country!!! How is my being a little optimistic hurting anyone?

              Moving to Mumbai was a leap of faith. I didn't know anyone, except for this friend who is too busy in his life to be around much. I today have an amazing group of friends, who will be there for me no matter what. I have some friends with whom I can chill and explore the city till the wee hours of the morning. Even in the locals, everyday I meet people who are friendly, helpful and (at times) the best advice givers. We never exchange names or numbers, but I know about their kids, they know of my dreams, they will even tell you the ticket prices for Essel World (590 fyi), and not care if I am short, fat, anorexic, rich or poor. Its the most non judgmental interaction I have ever had.

           I may thus sound like a fool, and there can be a debate about this; like the spat on Fb between Hindu and Times of India (TOI) on which is a better paper (by the way, I don't know about the better part,k but I do know that TOI is more read, as some people actually asked me what or who is Hindu!); but the reality remains that both viewpoints on trust hold true. If you trust, u do run the risk of getting hurt, and you don't you run the risk of really never seeing some amazing and simple realities of life.