So, when I finally decide to cater the writer-somebody side within me and hold a pen wondering what could be that blockbuster thing to get started with; I end up with: How about I write my take on what it feels to be a Mumbaikar.
Yes there would be some ‘paach shey bavees’ articles/ blogs/ stories on the similar topic, yet I convince myself that mine is different!
On the thought of what it feels like to be a mumbaikar, you’re bound to have a visual slideshow of the sea, a mad and unexplainable rush, Bollywood, local trains, festivals, monsoons…and so on.
You realize your love for the city has grown deeper when you’re away from it. You are bound to miss the place, the humidity, the space crunch, the maddening traffic and everything else that had been a part of your life till date.
What amazes you the most is the steep contrast in things. There are exclusive international designer outlets and well of course, their similar duplicates as well at the linking road. You still can get away with “kya bhaiya, kal hi meri friend same shoes 100rs. me leke gayi thi” and actually get it for a 100 bucks.
You realize it is a Chaturthi when there is a queue that stretches to kilometers outside the Siddhivinayak temple. There would not be a single soul to point a finger at your weird dressing if you call it fashion. Here, in Mumbai it is you who has to take the pains to convince the rickshawallah to go to your desired location.
You are a Mumbaikar when you proudly know both the importance and the difference between The Taj, the Leopold Café, an Irani restaurant, the Udipi restaurant, and the Khau galli.
It’s all one Mumbai, be it the city or its outskirts. Well of course, the ones who firmly believe this philosophy are majorly the ones who belong to the outskirts.
So much for the pace and continuity of this city that people walk themselves to the tracks onto the next station when a local breaks down.
Here, Sachin is God, a bollywood actor zooming away in his plush 4 wheeler is the Usual, the ganpati dance at any said festival is Acceptable and roads flooding after the first shower are Okay.
Last but not the least a Mumbaikar will use this distinctive lingo which will qualify him to be a true mumbaikar. How did I qualify myself? It was the day when I replied to my aunt’s question at my native “Aur beta bambai kaisa hai?” with a “bhaari”!!!
