Bombay.
Mumbai. Whatever you want to call it. For the last two years, I called it my
city. The monsoons, Worli Sea Face, Dadar station – it was all part of my city.
So when I
got a chance to re-visit the place after a six-month gap, I jumped on it.
Bangalore had been great the last few months, but it just couldn’t compare to
Bombay. The excitement I felt in the days building up to the trip was quite
palpable. The whole ride in the plane I was thinking – I’m returning to my
city.
Then the
plane landed.
And in the
words of Russell Peters, it turned into your city so fast…!
For
starters, it took me a while to get cell phone reception, which left me quite
flustered. Then the humidity hit. Next, the cab ride to Powai (chosen specifically
because of its proximity to the airport) took over an hour because a pipe burst
on a road causing a major flood and an even bigger traffic jam in the middle of
all this heat.
Basically,
by the time I reached my friend’s house, the first words out of my mouth were “What
is wrong with your city?!?!”
I should
admit upfront – I had a great time in Bombay. I met several friends, and spent
most evenings in a less-than-sober state. But while one of the major reasons
for visiting Bombay was to meet old friends, a big chunk was also because of
the city itself. Mumbai had charmed me. It was the place where I had known
genuine freedom, the place where I could sit for hours by the sea and feel the
wind, where I actually found the weather pleasant. So unlike Toronto, which I visited
over the summer, this trip was not just about the people. I wanted to feel that
wind again, hear the waves, sit by the sea, and feel at home.
All I felt
was sweat.
It was hot. And
humid. And would rain randomly like crazy. And continue to be hot and humid
when it stopped raining. To make matters worse, Worli Sea Face had no wind. The
tide was low. The waves minute. The air stifling.
Basically, I
think the city was showing me its worst side, and it made me realize something.
As a kid, I had visited Bombay several times. Each time, I hated the city. Then
I lived there, and I fell in love with it. Now that I came back, it was as a
visitor. And so, the tradition had to continue.
I am just a
visitor to Bombay now – and it’s no longer my city. That’s a rough pill to
swallow for me.
Anyone who
knows me well would know that I strongly resist change. I try to hold on to
what was until the last possible moment (that’s probably also the reason why I
haven’t switched to a smart phone yet). These last few months, I’ve spent so
much time missing Bombay and comparing it to Bangalore that I think I might
have missed out a lot of moments in the present. The fact is, I don’t live in
Bombay anymore. I’m just a visitor. And I need to let go.
And since
life likes to whack you in the head just to make sure you’ve got the message,
my farewell from Bombay was as warm as my reception. I had collected a few
posters over the last several years that I absolutely adore, and was desperate
to get them from Bombay for the last six months (I like keeping old stuff,
remember?). I went to Bombay. I picked them up. I held them in my arms. And
then I forgot them at another friend’s house just before leaving for the
airport. If I wasn’t standing at the check-in counter at the airport when I realised
this wonderful fact, I might have actually punched myself.
But with the
urge to smash my head also came the realization that…I guess I really do have to
move on. Focus on life here. Accept that Bombay is no longer my city. And
possibly go buy some new posters. (That doesn’t mean I’m switching to a smart
phone).
******
Learnings
from the trip:
·
Do not visit Bombay in October. Or April. Or
May. Or the monsoons if you don’t like rain.
·
Always carry an umbrella. Because you never know
when the monsoon will decide to revisit. Just for the heck of it.
·
Have a shower often. Or don’t. You’ll be
sweating within five minutes regardless.
·
Prioritize your day. Happy hours go on the top.
·
Be thankful for the meter – and for drivers that
actually use them.
·
Hanging your tongue out like a dog does not
actually help you cool down. Nor does it look very attractive.
·
Put your posters in your bag, not next to it.
