My Trysts With Life

Mumbai: I was returning from my work after quite a hectic day. Cursing the day that had just passed, I waited for the local. Well, the old anecdote came true, “an empty mind is a devil’s workshop”- as I sat there, thinking about what life can be, the missed opportunities, the lost ways. I noticed another fellow sitting there, shouting at the top of his voice to his mother (I can only assume), that he had to do everything by himself and they (his parents) and never shown any kind of empathy towards him. So here we have two young men, kind of cursing their luck (in the other guy’s case his parents) while we waited for the local. Well, as it many times happens, our dear friend, “Mr Life”, nearly always teaches us a lesson when we are not too cheerful about it. When I embarked from the train, now debating whether the guy was right or wrong, I chanced upon a guy my age- by the looks of him. He was sitting on the road, making “Rotis” (the classical Indian Chapatis), using his hands. Hi...

Ville Parle, Mumbai: New city, new people, new things to laugh at! My internship with a company brought me to Mumbai, the city of dreams as they call it. Now Mumbai is crowded- mind you it is! And to no big surprise, people from the northern states are obviously more in number here than anywhere else! So let me describe how the “Mumbaikars” go about their lives. Day starts at about 6 am in the morning, with hurried steps- because water is an issue (at least at some places). Then a quick bath, followed by gobbling whatever edible is in sight, and you are ready for office. Then comes the lifeline of Mumbai- the Mumbai “local” as people here address it, runs through all parts of Mumbai and mind you- is full all the time. So our office goer boards the local for his office, with the monthly pass ready in his pockets. To prevent pick pockets, you are required to keep your wallet and other valuable in your bag and the bag is required to be firmly tucked under your arm. With this done,...