Land of the Runners....

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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, you then wade your way through the mass of people, find a support (nail, wire mesh, other person’s shoulder) and then hang on for dear life. A better way of traveling in the local is to make a “First Class" pass, but hey! what’s the fun in that!!



Now on the local route map, there are three four dreaded stations where one has to change the local (depending on his destination). When the announcement is made that this particular station is coming, you actually get to see people flexing their shoulders, cranking their necks, preparing for war (read getting down from the local!). That is one sight that I’ll suggest that you should definitely see in your life. You get to see the human resolve, raw courage followed by the euphoria of making it (or the pathos of not able to get down!).  It is a sight that can amaze you and leave you laughing, at the same time!

Well then you reach your office- put on some more deodorant and start your work. Office hours in Mumbai are decided by the time of the departing local. I actually heard two people saying that we’ll start the meeting at 4pm and will finish it off by 5:13pm so that we get the local at 5:15. So it’s basically the Indian railway which determines how much work is done here in Mumbai!!!

Then comes the lucrative weekends- when everyone parties. It is as if everyone is out on the streets, eating “Pao bhaji” at Juhu Beach, or going for the infamous “Bun maska” near the Gateway.  The party finally stops Sunday evening, when everyone just goes off to sleep. And then the cycle starts again.

Come, enjoy life at Mumbai. Statutory warning, this is not a place for people who cherish a serene, peaceful life, strictly for the fast movers!

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