Metrolympics!

The sports fever is becoming an epidemic with the London Olympics kicking off today. And as a warm up today's Express (Washington Post) (07/27/2012 Friday pg. 8) has an article titled:
Medal in Metro.

In a self-centric world, the journalist makes a statement about the audacious metro riders in Washington DC. Basic idea being that ‘riding on Metro must be an Olympics sport for all the efforts it takes!’
Bitch please! Wait till you see the Mumbai locals!
1.       When you say doors in the Metro close pretty fast; are not like elevator doors; and you need to get in before they shut on you, how about getting on a train with forever open doors and if you are late, you can still manage to catch it by running after it? (PS: though the doors are open, you could be up for a wall of human bodies).
2.       When you say you need to make your way through an entire school band that is clogging up the doorway, how about people pushing you to literally shove you inside?
3.       When you say maintaining balance while holding to anything requires core muscles of steel, how about the crowd so dense that scratching you own @$$ seems like an impossible feat? Or for that matters the BEST bus?
There are many more points which can be mentioned as to why the local trains are an adventurous yet mundane facet of Mumbai. And I am confining myself to making a very general statement.

And with all of the struggles for a 6”x6” square to stand on, you see that fourth person on a seat for three; you see couples standing against the side walls; you see the opening human wall with the sight of you running in after the train proving to be the magic words ‘Simsim’! You see the abuses and the calls asking people if they are blind, while the simple gesture to seek forgiveness if your feet touch them! And the festivities, and music, and the smell near the luggage car, it is quite difficult for someone observing it, but for someone inside, it is full of life! You may go away from it, but it can’t be taken away from a true citizen of the city!

As far as the Olympic game status goes, bring it on! It’d only bring some better hopes for Gold for India!!!

Survival of the Resilient

I looked out of the window to see the torrential downpour still there. I decided to keep my bags there, so I got out of the office with just an umbrella. Just seconds had passed since I’d stepped out and I was wet through! Looking beyond the road, I saw the waves hitting the path to the island durgah and as usual, the sea tempted me. Wet anyways, I shut my umbrella and started walking towards it. Kids and oldies all alike, men n women from all faiths thronged here. They were showered with smiles!!!

I observed multifarious people but still remember a family; a couple in their mid 30s perhaps, and a kid of around 10.

“Kitta pani honeka nai? Baba! Tum to poora bhiga honeka.Aur bhi badhta kya pani?”

“Aur nahi to kya? Wo Salim bolneka ye rasta bhi poora pani ke neechu jaata hai!”...

I later met them at the bus stop. I waited for the bus because I knew the trains would never run on time in such rains. The guy came up to me and asked, “Miyaan, Dadar station se Kurla janeku train milenga na?”

I replied with a nod. A bit of chat and I learned that they hailed from Hyderabad and were here at his brother’s place. And he learnt that I too was supposed to go via Dadar. Few more minutes flew by. But no sight of the bus. And now his kid had started to shiver in the cool breeze of the evening blowing over the sea. He called for a taxi, offered me a lift, but I convince him how I won’t get a place to sit in the bus if not for that stop! A shake of the hand and they left with smiles on their faces!!!

I looked at my watch. 6:52 pm. I was going to be late. Wife would be crazy again! I made a mental note to buy her favourite mogre ka gajra on my way home!

Just the the silver lining appears on the horizon- Bus # 385!!!

Slow moving traffic, wet clothes, shut windows! But nothing can prevent me from a good dose of music!

It was some time later that my cell phone rang which got me out of my trance. It was her.

“Haan dear bolo! Aaj bus se aa rahaa hoon.”

A concerned sound of hers asked me if all was right! I confirmed my well being and it was then that I came to know that a serial blasts have rocked the city again just about 10 minutes back. Three places, one of them near Dadar station. My mind started racing, taking me to a different world! The very fact that I could have been there, and how I had escaped it by a whisker. Then the thoughts of the Hyderabadi family. It was too much of pain to imagine the smiling family to be amidst that debris. I could never find out what happened to them...

I logged on to FB for updates. It was being flooded with angered comments.

Taking a deep breath, I plunged into thoughts. The aeni mentis.

Tomorrow I’ll read of the blasts as a thing of the past. Yet another black Wednesday, just like the other black Tuesdays or Fridays.

Then I’ll see the resilient Mumbaikars getting back on track and hear of their heroics and bravery. And the famous Mumbai-spirit!

And the third day, it’ll be back to the scams! Nothing would change. Not till the next attacks. But that too would be just a couple of days. Nothing will change even then.

I had just survived a bomb blast! It could very much have been the last ride of my life had I taken it!

Survival! Strange word. Even animals survive. I’m no animal, I’m a human! I want to live!

So do the many around me. I don’t want to be tagged as resilient or brave; I need to be away from this. Just because I deserve to live! A peaceful night’s sleep is all I want, without having to fear whether I’ll survive the next day.

The secret behind the spirit of Mumbai is not its brave citizens. It is the hunger which craves and forces them to work. If they don’t bounce back, they’ll not survive. They’ve turned to animals who walk blindly. And that is why they survive.

I want to live.

Note: It’s time to take off the mask of tolerance. We are a peace loving nation, a responsible one, which has not started a war on any foreign country in the living history of over 1000 years. Agreed! But how long can we boast of that? We’ll have to survive to do that...

A must read article:

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/dear-pm-i-can-no-longer-be-resilient-and-strong-41195.html#disqus_thread

Love is a Monsoon!!!

Love is in the  air  rains!!!

The flooding skies had forced him to wait under the broken shed. He held his helmet as he checked the status of his wet clothes. He loved the world around him. Kids had returned from schools and were now jumping in puddles; a couple standing under one umbrella, sharing a bhutta. Such bliss! Unmatched!

Now the rains had diminished to a drizzle. He wanted to keep savouring the eternal bliss, but he had just 5 minutes left. So he rode the remainder of his journey.

As expected, he reached on time. But more unexpected outcomes were coming his way. First: He heard the words: “Yes sir, we have a table free. No waiting list!” He actually took out his cell phone to check: Sunday, June 12, 19:03. Just then another shocker arrives. His phone rang- it was her!

“Where are you dear? I’ve reached the security check!”

“Ok. I’m getting a table for us.”

“Ok sweetheart, I’ll be there in a jiffy! Mwah!!!”

Again he checked his phone. Just 5 minutes past scheduled time? Not quite a normal her!

A snap of fingers in front of his eyes got him out of his dumb daze.

”Hello! What are you thinking about?”

Without much thought he said,” Your cherubic beauty is augmented each time I see you!”

“Oh, you are such a practised liar!”

And she walked to the table. As they sat, he felt the urge to ask her if everything was good because the punctual her was something really new for him. But before his thoughts could turn into actions, she started:

“You know what? I’d been to Marine Lines with some friends. The place was full of couples, but even among them was a stand-out one! They were like, old, but mind stuffed with youth. They were like, standing on the pavement, and facing the splurging waves. I couldn’t resist the temptation so I joined them & later, so did my friends.”

“Excuse me sir! Would you like to place some order?”

He cursed the attendant, but said, “A frappe for me and...” He motioned at her.

She asked, “Anything special for the rains?”

The attendant replied, “Yes ma’am, we’ve got a range of hot chocolates especially for the monsoon lovers!”

“Fine, get me any one from them, the best you think.”

He interrupted, “Make it two, and cut the frappe out”

She continued as the attendant left, “So where was I? Ha. Later when we sat and chatted, they told us how they’d first met and how the first few meets were just a coy smile and how shy both of them were to initiate the talks. Finally it was her who asked him out for a walk on the Marine Lines, in the rains, and it was the 50^th anniversary of that walk! Would you believe that? 50 years!!!”

(A waiter set the chocolate on the table and left.)

She continued, “And they were just 15 and 17 then! I couldn’t help but ask them the secret to it. And the grandpa says, ’just have something to love in your life and you’ll have a great reason to live for!’ I felt so jealous I tell you! But I’m happy with you because I know that I can make it through with you alone.”

She raised a toast (chocolate mug actually) and said, “With you, my Buzz Lightyear, TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!” He followed suit.

All he did all the time was smile. He remembered the days when they were ‘just friends’ and how they talked on matters ranging from politics and sports to mythology and philosophy. He had his own eisegesis and exegesis which he could talk about for long hours. But ever since he discovered his feelings for her, he couldn’t speak word when she spoke. For he never felt like, for all he wanted was to keep looking at her. And even now, he was staring at her smile.

Some more time and she got up with her bag and said,”I’ll make it real fast now!”

He posted a big smile as she left, and sipped in from his mug. He smelled it as he did it.

Life-time is a full year! With three seasons, it has its variety. Love is your chocolate. With life starting with monsoon rains, get your chocolate heated up to enjoy life. Make sure you have the right mug. It doesn’t need to be the best looking one, a cracked one too can keep it warm. It just has to be yours. Blow it a bit as you drink. Don’t gulp it. Sip by sip. Savour the sweet smell. When it gets cold, don’t worry! Just warm it with your hands. Yes, the winter will come, but the frost will go away.

And when the summer of your life sets in, you can still enjoy your chocolate, now cold, for it has still not lost its sweetness. Love will not be any less sweet. You’ll love life!!!

Don't let the monsoon go away dry. It's the monsoon that makes the chocolate worthy!!!

He saw her coming back and called for the check. She came and sat to finish her chocolate. He paid and they prepared to leave. But as she got up, he held her hand. “Don’t ever leave!”

Teasing him, the movie buff in her said, “Saiyaan, Baiyaan chhod na!!!”

He didn’t care! All he could do is smile!!!

P.S.: Title to the post is borrowed from a poem. Please listen to it too.

Love is a monsoon!!!

Love is a Monsoon (on Youtube)