It is the similar feeling that Konkana Sen had from Wake Up Sid, when she writes first time about Mumbai.
As soon as we are born in India, Mumbai becomes an obsession for all the Indians due to the typical Bollywood Syndrome. Remember, Amit ji singing "Eee hai bambai nagariya, tu dekh babua" from Don.
Seriously, Amit ji have always had a deep impact on all the Indians.
I would also like to confess that I'm not that typical nomadic person who loves to see places, but
recently, I was just hymning the "Mumbai" song. And, as greatly quoted by Paulo Coehlo, "
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
And, Mumbai seemed a reality.
Apologetically, since Mumbai was a dream destination, I created a mess in some friend's life I confided in and asked so many questions. The good part about a Mumbai person is that they are eager to suggest places.So, my list was made and we were ready to go. Surprisingly, I was so excited that I ended up sleeping for only an hour.The great part of being in a state of happiness is that you are completely devoid of sleep.
That first step on CST Mumbai was such a heroic moment. I have visited Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune.. Mumbai has been added to my list. The first time I entered Pune, I found it slow and rather empty considering the fact that I had seen an immense crowd during my entire life.
Mumbai, on the other hand, had lots of people. For God's grace, we traveled on a weekend and found the crowd less.When you enter CSTM, you find a wide variety of food joints at the station itself.
Ignoring those as we moved forward, I found a bunch of people surviving their livelihood by polishing the shoes. And, there was this Sethji types person whose shoes were getting polished.
I could not resist commenting.. OMG!! this is where that famous Amitabh Bachchan dialogue came from:
" Main aaj bhi phenke hue paise ni uthata...haaiiiiieeeee".
Next, we were very clear about spending the whole day roaming in South Mumbai. So, we got outside to get some commutation for ChurchGate. Do you remember, most of the old movies where Mumbai was pictured with so many black and yellow taxi... Yeah, it was that WoW moment when we sat in one of those and moved to church gate.
Some feelings in the world are just epic. Even words can't describe them.
Although, there was a low moment in middle of those fancy taxi rides , when I saw Santro being utilised as another taxi. Only, a Santro owner can understand the agony behind. And, a brand new Ford is now already getting on my mind. Doesn't really feels good when you know Mumbai uses Santro's as Taxi.
#Typical_Me !!
From Church gate, we decided to roam here and there and reach GateWay of India.
The thing about roaming on streets is that once you start moving, you witness a thousand places you didn't intend to see. We reached Bombay High Court, took some photos and moved on. Searched some spot to feed our crying stomach which was only served liquid diet from quite sometime. We kept walking, bought a few things, definitely moved in some wrong directions. Traversed Mahatma Gandhi Road, reached Rhythm House ( we even went inside :P ). We reached The Bargain Book Hut and ended up not getting any of the books I needed. Amitav Ghosh should be knowing that his books aren't in the stores at all.
To our great surprise, we were walking for like hours and still haven't reached Gateway of India. Perhaps, the excitement was too much and in-spite of the humidity, we kept walking.
Finally, on reaching the Gateway of India, the only thing which I spoke was India Gate looks better.
And, of course the Great Taj Hotel. Haven't it for Kasab, I would not get to know, there was something like a Taj Hotel.
The best part was the seaside near GOI. We longed for a ferry ride. But,after spending some auspicious minutes standing in the sun we moved to Starbucks near Taj.
Some moments are super cool like entering Starbucks for the first time. :-)
Mumbai Starbucks was indeed crowded. We were terribly tired and in no mood to talk.So, we consumed our drinks and were ready for Crawford Market.Indeed, I assumed that Marine drive and Crawford are neighbors. Ended up in a drastic failure, they were poles apart.
So, now we were moving in Crawford market. And, Seriously we didn't really find much shopping stuff much to our surprise. The bargain capacity was already gone after long tiring walk. But, some enthu. came after seeing a pretty white Wedding Gown wore by that mannequin.
Time was running and we still wanted to see Nariman Point, Marine Drive and Chowpatty beach.
This time no taxi entertained us.. so after some half an hr struggle we got a taxi and reached Marine Drive.
I have always seen seas in movies. The brook was the only real thing I have seen in reality or the rivers as viewed from the Trains.
This time the sea was real.
The waves were not very high but were a sight to look at. The best thing about Mumbai : Marine Drive was that you tend to find people of all age groups. The sea was wide and the waves were high.
We were drenched of our energy but how can we miss the beach. So, we started walking.
The best part of the day was experiencing the waves at Chowpatty beach.
Mumbai made me love it and that too at it's first site. And, I got to know that Love at first sight does happen.
There's something in those waves, a feeling my words aren't really able to describe. It's sheer simplicity and a sense of inner peace. The waves rose and fall. There was a small child throwing pebbles at the wave and running away as the wave came to confront him.
You know that thing about seas, they can consume everything..just everything and might even forget it.
Such profound knowledge these little interactions might give you. Smiling at the very thought.
So, finally our day ended and we were heading off. So, while in Mumbai can you miss the Mumbai Local.
No, you don't.!! The Mumbai local experience was good. It was not way crowded as I saw in The Wednesday and Saathiya. May be that was a Saturday Peace.
Our one day was huge and the second day brought us to Bandra.
Bandra..Link Road and we were into shopping. We showed the signs of a typical shopaholic.
Bought a lot, really not a lot but still. Roamed more. I will skip the shopping part.
Personally, I loved Mumbai for all the things the streets had to offer.
Our time actually flew away in Link Road itself. So, we decided to spend some few minutes at Bandstand.
From Bandra to Bandstand, we were just in front of Mannat.
SRK did want to meet us, but we were in a hurry. Dear SRK, don't worry. Next time for sure. :-)
How strange is this life. I actually, never imagined myself atleast roaming about in Mumbai and here I was at Bandstand.The waves were mighty. Sometimes, it feels those vividly high waves can anytime take you away with them. Bandstand was a superb place. Thus, our journey came to an end.
So, Mumbai visit was a happening one. Sometimes, we love the place 'coz of all things it tends to offer.
Mumbai was new but it didn't really feel like a New Girl in the city.
Bidding Adieu.. Hoping to see the waves again and experience what you call Serenity in disguise.
