When I would grow old(hey I am still young) and look back retrospectively, I guess my tryst with Mumbai would mark an epoch in the initial sculpting and chiseling of my life. Yeah, I used those piquant verbs intentionally since I liken my stint in the dream city as a potpourri of sweet and bitter experiences. To be very candid here, it was an excruciating journey that lasted a full 9 years (well almost) and left behind scars as well as love bites to put it that way. The intention of this post is not to enumerate how good or bad the city is since that would be too judgemetal and I hate being one. I just thought to pen down a few thoughts as a farewell note to the city that never sleeps.
I landed in the city on November 15th 1998. The scenic beauty enroute Mumbai from Trivendrum(after my initial training period in my first company TCS) was I guess nature's way to enrgize me for facing tougher times ahead. The first two years were really afflictive and inconsiderate - how could I forget the famous(or infamous) Mumbai locals and the daily grind I endured through for close to two years. The exact sequence was - catch an auto to Malad station, catch a local to Borivali (without alighting there since the same locomotive becomes a Churchgate fast on its return journey), reach Churchgate in 70 minutes around, catch a share cab to Cuffe Parade in Colaba and report to office at 11th floor(2 hours almost since the start). The return journey was even more painful since now you had to literally wade through an absolutely phlegmatic and cold crowd to catch a Borivali slow, never mind risking your life for it. Mumbaites call this circus as the indomitable spirit of the city(which basically refers to the common man getting back to work after any tragedy which strikes the city every now and then). Though I do salute the Mumbai janta for this so called 'spirit', I really would like to ask this question to the Mumbaites- a clerk who resides in Virar and has his office in Churchgate - does he really have a choice but to report to work the very next day after such a tragedy? Dont try to equate spirit with helplessness of common man. I may again be sounding too judgemental here but lets not try to fool ourselves. I guess I can go on and on but I am calling it peace here since I feel it really does not make any difference beyond a certain point(Mumbai has gone past this point way too long back).
Back to my story, I do feel proud being associated with Mumbai inspite of all the above. Infact, this very uncanny charm is something no one has been able to decipher about this big bad city. The sheer size of the city and the fast pace of life dwarfs you and makes you feel special even when embraced in its badly littered streets. The first 2 years is when I got acquainted with the length and breadth of the city(courtesy the nature of my job!) and was convinced that in a likely scenario of loosing my IT job, I would surely be able to have a career as a city guide!! Raheja township in Malad and J B nagar in Andheri were couple of my addresses I stayed at. A turning point came(and so did a break from the grind) when I was deputed to the States for around 2 years. When I returned back in 2002, the city hadn't changed much(the JVLR link road was still under construction and it still is, I guess its completion would coincide truly with India being declared a 'Developed' nation). This time, I made Thakur village as my home. I guess I will always have a special liking for this place. Its a city within a city and its hip population gives you a high naturally. I guess I would miss this place the most in Mumbai. The next 2 and 1/2 years were memorable for 2 reasons - I spent good amount of money(since I had it in excess for first time in life !) on friends/socializing (even though I am not a a very social person naturally). I remember I once took an impromptu flight to Banglore during a weekend to catch up with a bunch of old college buddies...wow those were the days!! And the second reason is an obvious one as its this time in my life that I got married and started life on a new note. Together as a couple, we got a chance to explore lot of places in and around Mumbai - Daman(the return journey from here would best be forgotten), Goa(delayed honeymoon), Khandala, Lonavala(the company guest house here is the most romantic place in the world), Pune(a good city to visit), Sanjay Gandhi National park(hehe, I almost got thrashed for the last one!!) etc. I did start liking the city atlast!! I got another break from the grind when we went to US of A for a long term deputation. It was almost after 1 and 1/2 years that we were back in Mumbai. The trip would always be cherished by both of us.
The post US stay(Jan 2006 onwards) in Mumbai was a busy one since it brought in a lot of new experiences in life including Chiku and life was never the same again. We left Mumbai after a lot of deliberation as to whether the move would be worthwhile and whether we would ever feel at home in any other city as we did in Mumbai. But I guess the writing was already there on the wall. Several factors including monetary ones made us take the final decision of calling it quits and we bid a tearful adieu to the city of dreams in July 2007, after 104 long months!! We made some of the best friends for life, met some of the most amazing people, had some of the most memorable and cherished events of life and matured up learning some of the toughest lessons in life in the eventful journey. The city would always find special place in our hearts and who knows may compel us to come back to it at some of time in future. Till then, all I can say is - 'Salam Mumbai!!'
