Romancing The Maximum City..

It was 2 am when I set my foot in this city for the first time. And, believe it or not, I spotted taxis plying on the streets!!! And no, they were not the lone, scary, one or two sleepy & creepy ones that you spot in other places!! I fell in love with her.

There is something about this city that holds me back. That does not let me return to Kolkata. That makes me miss her when I go there for vacations. The ‘never-say-die’ spirit? The safety I feel here? The big bucks? The romanticism of the Queens Necklace?  I am yet to place my finger on the exact cause. But whatever it is, I am unabashed and totally shameless in displaying my love for this city.

Just look at the monsoons here. The very feel of it is so refreshing. Trains get delayed, I reach office late, there is muck and mud everywhere, yet I wait for the monsoons eagerly. The continuous downpour enthralls me. Just look at the way this city leads a normal life in heavy floods!! Inspiring, I would say.

I simply HAVE to mention the local trains. My essay would not be complete without it. The first day I went to Kurla Station, I was like, “Why the hell is everyone running?? I mean, you get a train every 5 minutes, right?!!” Then, my train came. People spilling out of the compartments!! Will I ever be able to get inside, I thought. Well, believe me, I didn’t have to do anything at all!!The crowd pushed me inside..and got me out at Dadar!! Phew! I survived, I thought. And today, I get up in the morning, and think, “Damn!! I’ll miss my 9:15 local!!” JJJ I run in the platform, I jostle, I push..to get into that particular compartment in that particular train that I avail every day. J J J I love Mumbai. The city has taught me the value of 1 minute. J

And ‘1 square foot’!! Those 3-bhk and sprawling flats & bungalow owners back home, did you ever give this word even the slightest importance when you built that fancy ‘balcony’ in your spare bedroom? No? Then come to Mumbai!! This is a city where you cough up 80 lacs for a 1-bhk flat. Yet, people are buying spaces for themselves. I love this spirit. The first thing that any Mumbaikar will invest in is a space of his own. No matter how small, no matter which location, but his ‘own’. Tell, me, do you not find it romantic? This urge to struggle, to make a mark in a city of billions, it has inspired so many authors to write about Mumbai.

And Marine Drive. Ah!! Go there in the wee hours of morning or during midnight. I assure you, you will rejuvenate yourself. No fancy spas, no oil aroma mumbo jumbo. Just plain air. Plentiful in the lungs. And the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Its amazing!

But the best part of Mumbai is its ability to take every misfortune in its stride. I was in my ninth month of my pregnancy when the recent bomb blasts happened. I had a tough time returning home. Trains were packed. Rumors were spreading fast. There was chaos everywhere. Yet, people helped each other. That day, I did not feel I was alone and stuck in a crisis. It was like the entire city had come together. People helped me getting into the train. Some offered to drop me till home. By the time I reached home, I was exhausted. But, the next day, I packed my bags and set out again. Life did not stop. Not for me, not for my fellow Mumbaikars.

This city is loveable. More so, for its people. The other day, a lady had fallen down in the railway tracks. Every single person in the train was eager to help. The train was stopped, 2 people (not railway officials, mind you) got down in the tracks, brought the lady out, made her sit on the bench and stayed back till her family members arrived. This is an example of solidarity. During my entire 9 months of pregnancy, every single person I have come across has helped me in some way or the other. Some offered me their seats. Some helped me get a taxi. Some have protected my unborn during rush hours in the trains. Rickshaw drivers were eager to ply me to my destination. Some, if nothing, had given me just a warm smile, acknowledging my physical discomfort.

It has been almost 4 years since I moved into this city. And every single day, my love is growing in leaps and bounds. And so is the mystery. Why do I love this city? Perhaps, for the same reasons that a bird would love the sky. Or is it something else…I am yet to figure out.