My Mumbai Trip

When I finally arrived in Mumbai, I wondered more about the terrible wait of more than 6 hours at the airport to get to Mumbai in one piece than those two years for which this visit kept getting postponed. I had an excuse every time to not go to Mumbai, but suddenly a few weeks back, none came to my mind. I felt the time was right, most appropriate and well, I could almost hear Mumbai calling me!

I have stepped on Mumbai streets once before, but it was more of a transit than a visit. Shruti took me to Juhu Beach, and although I found it rather clean and quiet – it was 8am when we went there – a lot of people point out that Juhu Beach is messier than slums of Mumbai. Really?

It rained heavily a day before I reached Mumbai. I was given the credit of bringing some sunshine to Mumbai, as raindrops suddenly decided to hold themselves back for the 3 days that I was there. Of course, I stole the sunshine back the moment I took off – or so Shruti claims!

I must admit though, that I hardly saw the city and explored any of its chaos. Within the little time that I had, I could do little things like gaping at the Hiranandani’s buildings, shopping-till-we-dropped with best friend, travelling for exactly fifteen minutes in the Mumbai Local Train, breathing the air that passes through the Western Ghats, gaping at skyscrapers one after the other (it was funny the way I bent to see them sitting in the car as though I had never seen one before!), treating myself to some very delicious food, getting stuck in the Bandra traffic jam etc. And of course, I also met two very dear friends, and made enough time for a few others that I had intended to meet. It was a trip that cannot be called anything less than awesome!

A long list of things-to-do-when-in-Mumbai still remains, and I am sure the next time I visit this city, I will cross a few off.

So, here’s a small plan; why don’t you help me out with my list! Let me know what you think one should definitely do when in Mumbai. So far, I have included these:

• Visit Gateway of India
• Visit (and click) the Taj
• Visit Café Leopold
• Watch sunset at Marine Drive
• Do street-shopping
• Experience a day outside BSE
• Spot celebrity mansions – Shahrukh’s in particular
• Gorge on Moti Mahal’s Veg Kebab platter
• Eat Natural icecream
• Leave footprints on every beach

What do you think I missed out? 

Verses of Innocence

These are some lines that I had scribbled a few years ago. I came across them as I was going through some old files. I felt I should share them with you all...

The first one was an sms reply to a friend with who I was exchanging some impromptu attempt at poetry. I tossed a few lines for him as he was struggling his way out of a bad traffic jam in Delhi...

"Listen to those birds chirping
 Even in the chaos of traffic and noise
 With your heart beating
 In rhythm, and silent poise."

The one below was another attempt, written at one-go, to capture the emotions of love-birds separated by time and distance.

"Standing by the stream,
 He fondly looks at the kids
 As they play and scream.

 Staring at the moon,
 He wishes for the clouds
 To give way to her stars soon.

 Holding the phone,
 She hopes time stops
 To let her forever hear his joyful tone.

 Walking back to her books,
 She wonders if a miracle happens
 And she is with him too in those brooks."

Hope you smiled, just as much as I did while reading them now!

The Wedding Bells

Too many wedding bells have started to ring, and I get excited when I hear the announcements. After a few “wow”s and “congratulations!”, I get down to know the more interesting part. No no, it’s not the preparations! It’s the story of the couple – their story, the tale of their lives, which I am sure each of them will narrate to their grandchildren in great detail and delight. Of course, each version will make the hero look/sound better and each version will be better than all the previous ones! But, they will have a story, and a turning point which would have changed these couples’ lives forever! And what more fun than to listen to all these stories over chat and phone calls…

Carefully avoiding all of the personal details, these stories that I have got to know so far range from college-love to post-college-realizations, to love-at-first-sight and love-at-a-matrimony-site… each one of them whole and honest, and shining like crazy diamonds with love!

A dear friend of mine had once said, “go ahead, make your own story!”. These words ring in my ears even today. (Of course, he is talking about making your story of Life!, at a much broader perspective.) He is also the genius at narrating weddings and at describing with utmost precision the emotions that pour out when you see a dear friend get married and embark on the journey of love. I wish I could make you read each one of those blog posts that he has written! But, I have a better plan. I will make you read the one he writes soon after either of us gets married – whoever’s happens first that is.

As for now, I just wish all these people a lot of happiness together!

Blog: Update - 2

It kills me to write after so long. But, every time I have sat in front of my laptop to write, I found myself at a loss of words. Not only words, even ideas. Nothing interested me long enough to write about. And although I have titled this post as “Update 2” there is hardly anything that I’m updating you with this time. 

It is called “Update 2” simply because my earlier post talks about a series of updates that I was to write for my readers telling them about what all is/was happening in my life – thoughts and incidents that I wished to share with people through this blog. But I suppose there was so much happening around me that I missed a beat somewhere and lost myself. 

I am typing this out sitting in office. I am waiting for the clock to tick so I can catch my cab and go home. After a day’s work (and incessant rain), when sunlight shines through the clouds and makes its way inside through the tiny gaps between the blinds it brings along a feeling of pure ‘niceness’. A friend finds this term completely ‘fb-ish’ or ‘internet-y’, but I couldn’t find a word better suited to my mood right now. It makes me feel that I can go back to doing all those things that somehow got put on hold, and that the emptiness will slowly find itself filling again. 

I was listening to Norah Jones’ Seven Years this afternoon. Perhaps you too should - Seven Years

P.S. I must tell you the ‘updates’ series ends with this post. Tomorrow shall be a new day, a new post and a new beginning.