I Love Mumbai

I landed in Mumbai past midnight. The ariel view of the city was more than enough to comfort me beyond measure – I have reached home.

Ok, this was what happened. I had some work in Delhi for which I had to take an early morning flight to Delhi, finish up the work and come back same day. I reached Delhi at 10:30 am and since then I was longing for Mumbai till I landed here.

More than anything else (Delhi’s annoying character Vs. Mumbai’s free spirited fun character) I have found that I like Mumbai and hate Delhi for associations -

Delhi – Whatever bad could happen in last 26 years of my life happened when I was in Delhi. For me every tree, every bit of air, every drop of water, the evening sky… in Delhi reeks of sadness – a kind of sadness that makes me nervous, catapults me to the deep recess of my psyche where I could feel my heart stabbed countless times every second and as if every drop of my blood has been smeared on Delhi’s landscape

Mumbai – The best things that could happen to me in the last 26 years of my life happened in Mumbai – getting to know people who changed my life forever, reuniting with lost relationships, and ah! of course the famous Colaba Causeway

I Love you Mumbai for giving me a brother, for giving me a whiff of romance, for giving me another chance to reignite a lost friendship, for giving me a home wherein I stay with a bunch of great great friends, for accommodating so many friends of mine, for instantiating my lost passions, for giving more than enough reasons to enjoy myself and not last and the least – for giving me an excellent colleague who has now became a very good friend ….

O’ Journalism

Ok this is a bit personal. I work as a product manager in one of India’s widely read newspaper. And following is the conversation I had with a friend of mine after reading an article I had done which covers the lighter aspects of life -

Friend: ” …. so this is what passes for journalism nowadays. People die in this country when it rains/doesn’t rain. People die when theres a heatwave/coldwave…. and we have a person (text changed to conceal identity) giving his spin on blah blah mushy mushy (text changed to conceal identity of the newspaper). Great.Where do people publish the truth? anymore… Where’s Gordon Gekko – lunch is for wimps….SIGH…thats all I have time for..”

Me: “Yes, this is journalism. It doesn’t mean that you always have to write about Gordon Gekkos and Human Piranhas. Sometimes we do need to address lighter issues to slow down the readers and not solipsistically laid out stories which ‘we’ like. Nevertheless we just don’t write ‘anything’ which can be considered reader likable unless it is something of great importance. Otherwise my paper would see itself as a tabloid and would be put in the same rank as ABC and XYZ (text changed to conceal identity of the newspaper) who don’t report but opine.

I think the series ‘blah blah blah’ (text changed to conceal identity of the newspaper) is not shroud under flippancy, rather it was a great breather after Srikrishna Commision report, 1993 blasts verdict, Mumbai under siege (monsoon) …..

I didn’t write this because I work in my paper, its because I believe in my paper.”

Friend: “Come on mate, you should be more intelligent than that. Regarding the other newspaper from your company (text changed to conceal identity of the newspaper), the strategy was bad. I think whoever was in charge of the paper should be fired. I don’t say it’s a bad paper. Its good and its got good coverage of stuff which I like. And the readability is miles ahead of fucking ABC. But you would have disappointed/alienated 80% of your reader with the ridiculous sign up process. thats why they had to run like a mangy dog and change that 3 months down the line. But the damage is already done. So you guys are neither there – like ABC and XYZ or here – Like the Indian Express”

All this while I had maintained a saving grace as I was proud to be a Product Manager. But reality bites (a cliche, believe me, I have used after a long time) when we operate a newspaper in an era when it has become a media rather than an information source. Newspaper is now suffocating between information and revenue generation. Also it’s neither a breaking news medium like TV or internet and nor a lazy read like a magazine.

Are newspapers dying?

Let me bitch![Spoiler Alert :P]

So it was like the movie – Sixth Sense … Akshay Kumar, in the end, reveals that he knows how to speak in English and he is not just another “Jat” boy from Punjab… Heheheh! I spoiled the suspense for you … Atleast now don’t go for Namaste London.

Two bad movies in a row and Bania is in a highly peevish mood … F*cking Garden State man! Who the f*ck told me it was a good movie … My a$$ would have made a better movie than that … nevertheless I had to drink half a bottle of rum to drown the movie …

Woke up at 12 noon on Good Friday and lo! I get another freak attack of watching a movie in Red Lounge, Cinemax… ALONE – any movie :O

I picked up Namastey London for the 3 o’ clock show. First of all, that crazy accent of Katrina Kaif – i mean i was confused – is it British, is it Indian, no wait its Tamil naah! The more she looked beautiful, the worst she acted – I mean it seemed that she was giving herself a competition – who can act dumber – Katrina in the previous shot or Katrina now. Combined with the raw masculinity of the crap bag – Akshay Kumar – they were on a mission to vanquish any mortal above an IQ of 100 who went for the movie.

Weird product placements – Spykar Jeans – Mujhe nehi pata tha aap London ke sabse pehle Spykar showroom ki maalik hai … Mujhe Spykar jeans bahut pasand hai … (I didnt know you were the owner of London’s first spykar jeans’ showroom … I love Spykar jeans…) Then they showed Katrina’s parents making a profile of Katrina in bharatmatrimony.com – We never got to see what happened to that profile … and why did they do that …. they did get a guy who showed them grooms in India – but then does bharatmatrimony.com provide such service??? Then comes Western Union Money Transfer – Maine paise transfer Western Union Money Transfer se kar diya.. Ha main bhi Western Union mein khadi hoon … Paise jaldi pahuchega … Yawn!! Rakhi Sawant using Lizol in Big Brother was far classier than this …

Then this ugly bitch – friend of Katrina – who doesn’t want Katrina to get laid or kissed or whatever! (God knows why!!) – and her really ugly smile at occasions when any Indian will protest against any British guy (Upen Patel Vs. Susan’s parents) .. if she is so happy at Indians detesting Britishers, then why the f*ck she attends those parties and goes to discotheques with them … may b she is a f*cking Banshee or something ..

Enuf bitching … but then continuing with the spate of watching movies alone – I am actually enjoying (sorry for repitition)

Namaste London was ok! in certain respect – London .. It showcased very beautifully the prime locales of London – a place I yearn to visit someday .. Probably thats why I didn’t think twice before buying the tickets …

Freedom

Had a wild day yesterday. It was a holiday for me and all of my friends were working. Woke up late and suddenly had this urge to do something new … Ideally would have liked to kill a few people (heheheh!).. Ya, so I’ve decided to watch a movie … any movie.. So hurriedly took a shower and went to the nearest theatre – Fame, Andheri, Mumbai.

I took the best seat – Gold class with reclining seats – they even give you pillows and blankets and also take orders for food ..

Since I had no one near me … it was a great feeling .. I laughed at the silliest jokes and jumped and jostled with laughter … Well I never knew how much people affect my decisions. I felt free. The strangers around me were my company … Well I feel I should be working in a theater ala Nuvo Cinema Paradiso …

The movie was insignificant .. Could have watched anything … For the record it was a hindi flick – Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.

See more progress on: watch a movie alone in theatre

Shelter from the Storm Part 2

>> contd… from last post

She arrived a little earlier … could her questions be answered any earlier? Will the mystery man answer her questions? With no parsimony in expectations she waited with bated breath …. tick tock tick tock … ticking in her mind … ticking in her heart … Shankar didn’t arrive … She called her number … she hated her favorite caller tune …

Now there’s a wall between us, somethin’ there’s been lost
I took too much for granted, got my signals crossed.
Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

She sent an SMS to him – Whoevr u r plz gve my phne else I’ll tell police. U dnt knw da troubl I had. I waitd fr 3 hrs nd expctd dat u’ll b decent persn and return my phne, U r a thief – exactly 160 characters – she didnt want to waste a single character for him … She cried … tear drops of regret … She cursed the moon …She cursed the Nakabandi, her poverty … she doesn’t want her cell phone back… she doesn’t want her cell phone back … she dozed off …

Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount
But nothing really matters much, it’s doom alone that counts
And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Next morning her friend gives Reena her old cellphone and tells her to use it for the time being. After office, she calls up her number… Shankar pics up, “I am so sorry that I couldnt come… you see I got busy with this meeting …” Reena interrupts, “Thats ok, I assumed you’ll be tied up … By the way what do you do? … lemme guess -you are a DON .. (chuckles!) .. no no no … you are a smuggler .. i know your types .. I have seen it all … D, Satya, Company … each one of them” … Shankar laughs with his guttural splendor …”Why are you laughing? You think I am kidding… no I am not… if you wouldn’t have picked the phone, I would have called the police… by the way I am asking all sorts of question … who cares!! Why did you find only me, that day, to share the autorickshaw?” … Silence engulfed .. as if it was a repertoire of lonliness – lonliness that has become a part of their lives .. Shankar said,” hmmm … you have a beautiful voice …” Reena smiled, “How stupid is that … hey one sec! I didn’t even speak to you that day ….” … “Well, you spoke to me through your eyes .. sigh!” … Reena closed her eyes in excitement … “Ok Ok! Don’t flatter … you don’t even know me… So are you planning to return my cell phone ..” .. Shankar grins, “Do you really want it?” Reena keeps the phone …. her heart stops beating … Shankar goes out for a smoke and wonders – Does she love me?

I’ve heard newborn babies wailin’ like a mournin’ dove
And old men with broken teeth stranded without love.
Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn?
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Shankar tells Reena the next morning that he will be going out on a business trip and he promises her to call. As any sad story turns out to be .. he never calls …. days, weeks and even months pass by … Reena tried calling him back but he was out of range .. she even called up her service provider to find out if they know where he can be …. But he was not there? Life is playing a dirty trick on you Reena. Everything was perfect for you … I never gave you a chance to complain .. you were so brave that you didn’t even cry when your parents passed away … you were not afraid to live a lonely life .. look now what happened .. you don’t even know his name … hey! why didn’t you ask his name? Are you a fool? Why do you like him so much .. you saw him only once and spoke to him twice .. are you out of your mind? Oh! I know why – those kind eyes .. I see! those kind words … I see!! He will come back Reena … he will ….

In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes
I bargained for salvation an’ they gave me a lethal dose.
I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Shankar had no way of escaping the doom … How can they shut me up … I didn’t do anything … It was all his fault .. I never wanted to do this … I wanted to have a decent life … I had no one …. no one by my side … She came in … Her beautiful voice … her melody .. her questions … If my mother would have been alive … she would have asked me with such curiosity … How can I escape this hell ? How can I go and meet her … I want to return her phone … this precious phone … hahahah! they can’t take it away from me … they can’t !! hahahhah

Well, I’m livin’ in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine.
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

3 months and 12 days … Shankar saw day light … they released him … they didn’t find anything that Shankar could give them …

9819772440 … dialing … dialing … it was her 104th try … Oh! God … hope he is alright … he never told me it would be so long … wherever he is, he…. beep! Somebody picks up … “Hellow!” Reena – “Is it you … is it you …. I am Reena .. remember Reena .. my phone .. autorickshaw … …” Shankar started weeping … .. he kept weeping for minutes … Reena’s eyes started watering too … Shankar gather himself and told her to come to the same place in an hour … he had something very important to say … “I am so sorry Reena .. I’ll explain everything … not just my disappearance but more …” Reena didn’t think twice … She set off from Worli in an auto rickshaw …. She reached Phoenix Mills and asked him to come to Noodle bar. He obliged. Her eyes moved from corner to corner to find him … but he was nowhere to be seen … she calls again … That is my ring tone … wait that phone looks like mine … but the guy is different … probably its not mine … Wait I’ll keep the phone and call again … What! it stopped ringing … Why is that guy not picking the phone? Why is he startled? Why is he looking here and there? …….

“Are you Reena?” the same kind voice …. but not those kind eyes “Yes, I am… Do you have my phone?” … “Oh! Reena and he hugs her …” She releases herself from his clutches and embarrased, “Who are you? Where is he?” … He looks down, “I am he!” … “What do you mean? You are not the one who took away my phone!“

He looks at her eyes, “No, I am not Shankar – the one who took your phone … I am Suresh – the one whose voice you are familiar with“

She is puzzled … she grabs a glass of water and drinks it … He picks up her glass and drinks the remaining water … She looks at him in confusion, ” I don’t understand … what is going on?” Suresh makes her sits down with an assuring gesture, as assuring as his voice, “Shankar and I are flat mates… We came to Bombay for jobs and we got ourselves into trouble… Shankar found bad company and I got dragged in … That day when you called on this cellphone for the first time, Shankar took off and he never returned ….“

Reena closes her eyes ….. All these days I was in love with the voice and not with those eyes …. Indeed not all roses are red ….

Reena took his arm and rested her head in his shoulders … “Suresh let us go…“

Well, I’m livin’ in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the line
Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine.
If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Shelter from the Storm Part 1

‘Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Reena never had seen a white rose and she always wondered what good a rose is if it is not red … She was more concerned about how soon she can sleep so that she can wake up early in the morning and catch an early train to avoid the rush … Forget monotonicity … Forget mundanely concerns .. just a step taken to make life easy …

8 am sharp she catches the Andheri local to Mahalakshmi, so that she can catch a bus in time to Worli. Hurriedly she occupies a seat next to the exit and dozzes off….

Shankar was a sharp student … a student of political science from Madras University … But his aspirations were far from what his father had planned for him. He despised society .. He hates the current state of affairs with the same passion as his mother makes idlis in the morning … He wondered how good education is if it is not put into use for the betterment of society, prevent corruption, improve judiciary and above all for the safety and betterment of his countrymen. His ideals and intent was right, but his steps …

Reena and Shankar met that day under very weird circumstances … It was one of those days when roads get blocked for some reason beyond anyone’s comprehension but since they have to give it a name, the call it Nakabandi… All roads were blocked except for one … Reena was lucky to get an autorickshaw and Shankar was lucky to find Reena …

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I’ll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Shankar needed refuge from them and Reena could see that urgency in his face. She allowed Shankar to come in and share the autorickshaw. Ideally she would never do that … but she was speechless … everything happened all of a sudden … blood, dust and Shankar’s imploring eyes … She did something like this for the first time … the 20 mins ride was spent in silent curiosity and ofcourse pounding fear for Reena … Shankar asked for her cell-phone to make a call and all of sudden he asked the driver to stop … Reena didn’t stop him and he left with her cell-phone … He looked back and gave her a warm smile and a nod that he will …..

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved.
Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Reena couldn’t recover from it … She wanted to call her cell phone but was afraid … She couldn’t concentrate … She needed to know why he disturbed her? why he came to her life all of a sudden? was she chosen? ….. “why do these questions bothering me? …. indeed it’s not my cheap cellphone”

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail,
Poisoned in the bushes an’ blown out on the trail,
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Earlier, Shankar would have finished his task of peril with great agility … but today he was exhausted… He felt tired and lonely … “why am I getting this feeling that something bad is going to happen? … these bastards had never had an one-up one me … I am tired and I need rest … somehow I feel I need to give myself some rest … and God! what could I have done without her … why do I feel that I need her? Do I need her to help me in my quest? ….”

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair.
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns.
“Come in,” she said,
“I’ll give you shelter from the storm.”

Reena always needs closure. For her, the world is black and white – just like the red roses … She called him up later in the evening – “When do you plan to give me my cell- phone .. you know I don’t earn that much to finance your calls and I’m sure you had made enough STD calls … you know my credit limit is ….”, Shankar starts laughing, “Meet me near Phoenix Mills at 7 pm and thanks for your help … you see I am not a bad guy or a criminal running away from police… the blood and my torn shirt was because of an accident …”, Reena interrupts, “Thats ok! Hope you are ok now… Did you apply ointment and …”, Shankar sighs, “Thanks ….”, Reena whispers, “Reena … ok will meet you and don’t waste my money”

Colaba Causeway ….

Colaba Causeway, my wallet, a few beads, a few cheap shirts and a SMS…. How can I forget May 23rd, 2005?

After exactly 1 yr and 8 months (co-incidence), I heard the same words …. was relieving and well my happiness knew no bounds …

Co-incidentally today, I have worn one of the shirts I bought that day, checked that lovely SMS when I was going to office, my wallet is inseparable from me, (well the beads are not with me though) and passed by Colaba Causeway today. I saw the bead makers at work. Somehow remembered the exact location where we found alphabetical beads. I smiled at the vendor (wasn’t sure if he was the same). Then I halted near the shirt-guy and generally browsed through the lot for old times sake. I also found the wallet shop … the shop where they kept my wallet in a glass covered wall mounted shelf. I still remember those words, “Which one is better … which color.. this one or that one? … Ok! this is for you….” I crossed the road for a taxi and then I saw the juice shop where we had juice. It was living May 23rd, 2005.

On the way back, I heard “Agar tum mil jaao, zamana chor denge hum” – a song that was played in Bombay frequently those days and which I liked … all this had a multiplier effect on my memory. I didn’t feel sad. Somehow I felt very happy to have gone through those days … still the memories of those day make me happy – warm and reassuring.

As for me:

I have matured as an individual, my happiness is not very high nor my sadness reaches abysmal lows. It is indeed a good feeling to have controlled my emotions. So when I re-heard those words today (only difference is – this time it is in gtalk), I felt great and happy.

A toast to you…. no matter how harsh the world is, I find comfort in your words, happiness in your sight, and reassured when everything you do makes you happy. I don’t care about anything – the way the world looks at me, you and everyone I know. All relationships are special and shouldn’t be categorized as boyfriend-girlfriend, friends, teacher-pupil, husband-wife ….. Each relationship is unique including ours ….