They say, you can never really find yourself, if you haven't been completely lost at first.
This is an ode to a city, a lifetime and a parallel universe which transported me, more than just over miles.
To a life which I could see my self leading and to the people who I can see myself loving through the years.
'What am I even doing here?'
was the first thought that crossed my mind when I sat down in a broken cab who's driver used beautifully degrading words at everything that passed by. But being the ever ready tourist that I am, seeing new things and staring at different people gave me an incomparable joy- Everyone in this city seemed to walk steadfastly, everyone had somewhere to be. You could dance in the center of the road and do the shimee to everyone who walks by, but they've probably already seen someone like you before. Hah.
The notion of being a small town girl came and went, especially everytime I gazed up at the sky scrapers and counted the floors of the building, trying to match them to the ones back home. The existence of multi-storeyed hotels and chawls, in perfect harmony is what makes Mumbai so different (among other things). The city never really sleeps, Carter Road and Marine Drive always seemed to have enough couples at equal intervals, no matter what time of the day or night you visit them.
Documenting even a day in Mumbai would be impossible. There's so much to do, so much to see and SO much to take in!
The tourist expression never really left my face, Srushti said. Well, it is true, if I had to choose to get lost anywhere in the world, I'd choose Bombay. No kidding.
Among the sight seeing and daily doses of fascination that I managed to do pretty well alone, this trip would have been nothing (N.O.T.H.I.N.G) without those brilliant, warm and gorgeous people I met. That
was, one of the things I was looking forward to the most. Putting faces to the BBM chats and random conversations. And pheew could there be better faces than that? :P
This trip was a wild one, even for someone like me. I came to the city knowing barely 2 people, making a mental note not to call family for help and support. My Graduation trip turned into a work experience, and strangers turned into soulsisters, if I may say so (read: Behnas). My,What a whirlwind ride it has been...
I had a roomie for the first time in my life! And after the initial 'how do i behave here' phase, we realized that we were pretty much the same person. Where were you all my life Mehndi? :)
From midnight escapades (never had those with a girl :P ) to digging so deep into each others lives that it was impossible to get out, you Ms Iyer, were just what I needed from this trip.
Kalyani, the super efficient Guju perfectionist with this
strange craving for food and Nadiya, the hyper little cuckoo bird with so much to say and so much love to give to everyone. Just what we needed to complete that mixed bag of creatures that Prithvish had picked out so carefully (LOL) And yes Mr Uppal, no matter what anyone says, you'll always be mine first :P All rights reserved.
Just those certain moments, here and there, between all the rush and the confusion were enough to keep me going through those 2 weeks. Putting those into words wouldn't really do justice to what I've felt. I've felt a plethora of colourful emotions, all at once; Severe doses of happiness and excitement were what caused those major headaches, if you're wondering. The final product of our efforts was evident. Couldn't have been any prouder.
Mumbai, you turned this averagely normal girl into an item who sang lame songs in an unknown city at the top of her voice. You made her believe that she could swim her way through troubled waters and reach the shore without any harm.
You taught her to dream and believe in the dreams that she dreamt.
You showed her that hard work DOES pay off, and there will always be those who will recognize what you do.
You brought back a side of her, she had lost somewhere along the way.
In you, she found herself. In you, she found a reflection of everything that she is and everything that she wants to be. In you, she found infinite hope for a brighter day after, because sometimes, even tomorrow can be a little hazy.
You accepted her, with open arms, just like the people of your wonderful city and made her feel like your own. It's not a surprise that everyone who leaves you, will always feel personally towards you, 'Aamchi Mumbai', how apt.
But we aren't done yet, there's yet another rendezvous to be completed, lots of things to be lost and found and so many things left to taste and feel (Yeah, I didn't get to eat enough)
Nevertheless, it's been one trip worth making. Worth every experience, bad, good and beautiful.
You lived up to my expectations Mumbai, I hope I was good too.
