In my short lifetime till now, I have been fortunate enough to spend time with some awesome people, live in awesome cities and work on some awesome things. And I have somehow always been able to pack my one backpack, collect my books, say adios to friends and move on to the next adventure. I have spent the better half of my life in hostels and rented apartments at Kota, Chennai, Pilani, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Mumbai and now Pune. But my love affair of 17 months with Mumbai was enough to convince me that she is the one. The one I can finally settle down with. The one I will always love and be loved back unconditionally.
I know that she’s the one who will embrace me at any point of my life, in good or bad; because that’s what she does! And she does the same for lakhs of others, every day and every second. Sure, she gets angry at times and throws unexpected tantrums of bandhs and riots and bombs .. but she redeems herself the next day and carries on the work knowing very well that the world doesn’t know how hard it is (or doesn’t care?) to be Mumbai.
She is expected to embrace Parsees, Marathis, British, Hindus, Muslims, Bollywood stars, Slum dwellers, Immigrants and treat them all the same. Make space for everyone on her small island and keep everyone happy.
Are you surprised that given her way, she can be a mean little moody bitch?
She has made me smile with warm happiness when random strangers invite me for a beer and random conversations. She has made me cry with desperation as I fought to get into local trains. Made me cry with embarrassment as I tried to avert my eyes from the slums around the tracks. She has made me cry with irritation towards beggars that crowded around my auto.
She has made me mad with jealousy when I saw kids drive past my auto in their AC cars, hating them for their good luck of being born into richer families than me. And after all that, she has made me cry all over again in shame as she reminded me of the beggars on the street and what they probably thought of the lucky guy in the auto . All in all, like a true lover she has made me tougher to face the evil world outside her range.
She has given me a lot. My career. My best friends and my identity. And she will always be someone that I need, want and take. And I know she will give the love, not expecting anything in return.
Mumbai vs. Pune
This is an interesting debate which I have had with countless Punaikars till now. But my love still stands for Mumbai. Sorry Pune, it’s not you! It’s me. I just have too high expectations. You are awesome just being yourself. And just like every other city in my past, I will one day soon realise why you are awesome. Till then, help me find the best place for missal-pav in Aundh.
