Itisjust7:00inthemorningandalreadytherearetheearlybirdsatthesubwayandbusstations.Notwantingtobecaughtupintherushhour,theyriseearlysoastobeaheadofthemadcrowdswhowillsoonappearfromalldirections.Quietlytheygetintothesubwaytrainandthebusesandleanbacktocatchupontheirsleep.
Withthehandsoftheclockpointingat7:20,theexcitingscenehappens.Outofnowheretherearethousandsofvehiclesontheroad,cars,motor-cycles,taxis,busesandbikesflytheirwaythroughstreetsandlanes,horningateachotherandcursingthetrafficlights.Therearealsopeople,smartlydressedofficeladiesandgentlemen,uniformedworkers,nurses,teachersandstudents,rushingabout,nowandthenanxiouslyglancingattheirwatchesandblamingeverybodythatblockstheway.Schoolchildrenseemnevertowalkbutruneverywherelikeaswarmofbees.Totherushmassnothingismoreimportantthangettingintimetotheirdestinations.
Thisisthemetropolitanrushhour.Butaboutanhourlater,theroadsarefreeofheavytraffic,peopleareseenwalkingslowly,vacantseatsonthebusesarewaitingforpassengers.Themadrushforthedayisover,butitwillberepeatedatthesametimethenextday.
