My never ending affair with Bombay a.k.a Mumbai!!

Bombay has always mesmerized me...it started with Bollywood off course but I still remember the first time I stepped into the city...I was 10 years old...all excited to finally see the place I'v been watching in movies...I had these random thoughts running in my mind like may be I'll spot an actor or two...click a picture with them...take an autograph...I had even planned to tell stories to my friends once I was back :P 

 But as we started to explore the city...even as a kid I could feel that there's more depth to it than what we watch in movies...Bombay or present day Mumbai is not just about the glamour...the soul of the city lies with its people...its culture...its love and acceptance for everyone who wants to live in this city.I know it sounds romantic...a white lie...a rosy picture...but isn't it how you feel about the one you love...you see all the positives and you just try and get along or ignore the darker side ;) 

As I grew up I hoped and prayed that once ... at least once I should get to stay there...and experience the life...and I have to mention...this dream of mine was further nurtured by movies like - "Wake up Sid" - the way Konkana Sen sharma decorates her beautiful lil flat...the ease with which she stays there even though all by herself...the whole calmness amidst the crazy rush in the city...and Mumbai rains...I mean that movie just made you fall in love with Mumbai and for someone like me...It was an assurance that whatever I had imagined so far is going to be just like that.

Well so June 16' 2012 I landed in Mumbai again and this time to stay...it was a tough period for me emotionally and I was looking for some respite by living my dream - living in Bombay...all alone...a nice lil place for myself with a lovely window to look out...my building was on a busy road but I didn't really mind the traffic noise through the night...Infact I used to like it...it gave me this comforting feel that I could go out anytime...there was no "Sannaata" to fear...Mumbai was moving 24*7 and I Loved it :) Morning time..sipping tea/coffee sitting by my window...I still can't get over it!!

The best part about this city is that there are so many people who have come from outside that you never feel like an outsider...its like everybody around you is the same...some people know the city better and are eager to help you with exploring it and others like you are equally naive and wont mind joining you. The real beauty is that even if you are on your own...the city takes care of you...it will never make you feel lonely...the people around wont stare at you if they see you eating alone..like some lunatic....or like an outcast..and that's such a relief as that simply relieves you of the social pressure to be with people all the time.

Also, a lot of people associate Mumbai with the hep night life...the raving parties etc etc..well yeah thats there too..but its not just about it...there's so much more...I think the calmness...the depth this city has, has been lost under this glam image . The amazing beach side cafes...eating joints...they are crowded yes but at the same time they give you your own space...so you never feel like loaded with people around you.

And if you like solitude... just go to Marine drive and sit there...sip a cup of Chai from a local tea vendor....read a book...click pictures...talk to people around you if you feel like or just take a stroll...nobody will bother you...I mean that's like heaven as compared to other cities in India at least if I go by my experience.I used to love watching the sunset there...the orange sky covering the beautiful city and the sea reflecting it back...I'll always remember this scene in my mind as one of the fondest memories of Mumbai!!

It's been 3 years since I moved back...2 years since I last visited Mumbai..and all the crap I hear from people who just hate it or have 101 things to say against it...I just have one one thing to say..you'll never know the magic unless you let it happen to you...unless you let go of your pre assumptions and look at the raw beauty of this City. 

From the all Red "BEST" to the beautiful rocky beaches...the glam 5 stars to kick ass wada paaos...crazy traffic jams to soothing long walks... club it with insane plans with friends at midnight and lets not forget the cooking experiments ...this city grows on you.

As Yash Chopra said: "Mumbai is Infectious. Once you start living in Mumbai, I don't think you can live anywhere else"and well even if you manage to live (like me)...you'll always miss it like that long lost love...wondering what if it could happen all over again... :)

The Choice of BEING HUMAN!

"Being Human is given...But Keeping our Humanity is a Choice"

Today I experienced what this really means.I have just started my new journey and as a part of that we had gone for a community visit today with a task - To help/serve people in any which way we can. It seemed quite simple...I mean who doesn't need a hand...and I will not mind if somebody comes and helps me with my work :) Infact M sure we all just hope and pray to get some help at work...in college for those crazy assignments...in School for crappy homework...I mean whatever age we are..Help is always welcome :D

But, today I experienced exactly the opposite...So when I tried to offer some help to 2 kids who were filling 2 big gallons of water...they jus ran away with their gallons as if I'm gonna steal it (not sure if they were scared by my looks :P)...for a second I thought ok.. what did I say...I thought I was just trying to help... anyways I moved on and tried again...this time it was a elderly lady making garlands to be sold near the temple...so I asked her agn.."Hello aunty...do u need any help with your work?" and She said No...I was like blank..and then I felt like really weird but I had to help someone...it was the task :P....n it literally was turning out to be one hell of a task as nobody was willing to take help...

Then just walking along the road I came across a another lady..almost my grandma;s age...she was carrying a stick and looked very fragile...So I thought may be I can assist her with walking her back home...(Like i mentioned I had a mission to "HELP")...so I just asked her - "Aunty...do you need to go some where? I can help you :)"...and she said No again...n I felt like shit...but then I just decided to stay back and talk to her...so It started with the casual questions like Do you come here often? and she replied ...Yes, I stay near by....I like sitting here in the evening and watch people passing by :) she had this really infectious smile..I mean the cute one with no teeth..it resembled a baby smiling...so I continued talking further..and again the "HELP" part popped in my mind and I asked her If i could by her some fruits or tea from a near by vendor...Yeah ...u got that right...I was not ging to give up on my mission :D but her response surprised me...she said No...I don't want to eat but why don't you come to my place...I'll show you my house..and I was like quite stumped about ok.here I was trying to do something for her and she's offering me to visit her house instead...this is not how this is supposed to be going..but anyhowI went ahead with her...

We entered the place which was a small room with a bed and a small table fan on the side...but I have never experienced a more welcoming place in my life..The feeling was beautiful like I could feel the love she had for a complete stranger that I was for her...and she took out a small box of biscuits and offered me...I felt so overwhelmed by her gesture that I didn't know what to say...and on top of that a relative of her's got a cup of tea for her and she told her to get another cup for me..and she held my hand and just started looking at me and had tears in her eyes...and I was like completely taken by the love I could see in her eyes...like such a pure emotion and for me who she barely knew for like last 10 mins...Wowww! When I left her place...I couldn't exactly comprehend what exactly was I feeling..I knew i got emotional and almost was about to cry...Cry about the whole irony of the situation and the feeling I just experienced...a realization that helping others is not necessarily about work...it can also be about giving your time to someone who needs it... a simple smile to someone who probably doesn't have anyone to talk to.

We see so many strangers who come to our place and we are always suspicious even if somebody is talking nicely cos we are so sure he/she has an ulterior motive...we are so scared to trust people that we have forgotten how to relish the simple pleasures in life...and that was what I experienced today...I dunno If i could help her in anyway...the only thing I could feel was that she was happy to see me to come and talk to her..but what she made me feel today I'll remember for life...its one of the most beautiful memories I have made and I know it will make me smile every time I think about it :)

Mom's Magic

"I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know.” —Mitch Albom

Mom's the word - if u ever find yourself low, alone, sick....one touch of her hand...her voice.. can soothe you like nothing else in the whole world. 

I have been the one and only child of my parents and a very possessive child when I was young :) didn't like my mom loving any other kid...often referred to as a typical trait of "single" childs!! I dunno if that really holds true for everyone but yes I was like that...may b I still am...just that i can mask it better now :P so I always had her attention...I remember waking up at night and telling her I'm hungry and she made parathas for me...making me sit on the kitchen slab and then making sure I sleep well :D 

Remember birthdays in school...when all we wanted to do was look the best in a new dress and distribute the best of sweets...and how many tantrums we had for selecting a dress...and I seriously wonder why did our mom tolerate them....I dunno if I can be that patient with my kids (if I have any at all)...My mom says..when she had me...all she wanted to do was keep me happy...and I hear the same story from my friends who have babies and all my aunts and I Believe it has to be something magical which changes in you once you are a Mother...like you suddenly get an ocean of love and patience towards your child and nothing else matters.

I have stayed away from my parents for quite sometime due to studies and then work...the first time I left home..I was quite excited to be "FREE" and my mom had come along to make sure I settle down comfortably...I still cannot forget when I dropped her at the airport and I was on my way back to the hostel...I cried like crazy....cos thats when I realized I'm going to be living without her for good 2 years now...no early morning waking up...no amazing food...no chit chat sessions at tea time...I think that was the first time I realized how much she means to me...

A similar but a more intense feeling came when I got married...Like i mentioned above...u miss your parents when you stay away but somehow you are still together...but after marriage the whole equation is like revised like nothing before....you may be staying like 2 blocks away...but you still just cant hop out of ur place and go and stay with her anytime...and that pinches...but when you do finally get to stay at your mum's place..its like HEAVEN...and I can bet all married girls agree to this :P and in my case i get flashbacks...like when I see my mother in law making something for my husband...like his fav dish or something...it reminds me of my mom doing the same for me...and I miss her terriblyyy at that moment...you do get used to it...but marriage gives a whole new dimension to the word "MOM" at least for girls :) 

No matter how old we get...we still need her...and it's a blessing to have her around us as that form of Love is something nobody else can share with us :) it's pure bliss - Mom's Magic!

Music = Magic = Life :)