Better than last year! That is what we claim today. Who are we? A bunch of gullible, having our own idiosyncratic style of optimism reflecting the so called ‘Spirit’. A ‘spirit’ which is stoic but has an insatiable desire to present itself at every opportunity on grab. Arguably we are immune to problems; well the facts would prove that, but actually the truth is we have too many problems. And our cure is the next arising solution to a previous problem or the next arising problem.
Few years back, I was stuck in a row house with my roommates on 26/7, the year; Mumbai saw its worst floods. That didn’t end there, the fear of facing that predicament again stayed in our minds every time the heavens poured down rains. Well, but the cravings for a garama garam chay and some bhajiyas still manage to instill some excitement for the wet season. And of course, Marine drive still looks beautiful in the rains with the soft and cold rain drops caressing the skin, the pacing wind whistling a tune and the sea altering its moods like a woman in love. Then as we inevitably pondered about the heavens next year, we experienced our worst horror on 11/7, the Mumbai train bombings. The damn terrorists tried to choke our lifeline by planting 7 bombs in different trains which exploded in a span of 11 minutes. We did lose our loved ones that dreadful evening but never did once we lose our strength, our mind, our heart and our hope. I was stranded in traffic while travelling back home in a cab that evening but not once did I miss my family. My family was on the roads giving away water, biscuits, bananas, vada pav and a lot of compassion. I understood the true value of life that evening. We can destroy all that we want but life as we know it, finds its own way to smile back, stand on its feet and say “Is that all you got?” You know, the Rawalpindi Express once called Mumbai its second home, but does he think he can cope up with our own Mumbai locals? You sure have the speed my friend but survival is the key here. We all know a thing or two about survival, we survive floods, we survive traffic, we live through pollution, we enjoy the crowded trains and we make strangers our relatives. It’s strange but true. Kem chho kaka, uncle thoda jagah do na, tai aaz lavkar aalis, arey bhaiya jaldi chalao na late ho raha hai. I don’t even know how many relatives I have, but that’s not the point, it’s the experience while making it through from A to B.
It was a great year, 2007, wasn’t it! The economy did well, people got better jobs, better salaries, some of my friends enviably got bonuses, inflation was a concern but people were happy as it was boom time. Consumption of alcohol soared, but the sale of condoms dropped as people were busy working, travelling and partying. Work hard and party harder. Yeah I know we missed a year of action. But hey who is complaining there is always next year. Next year, wow, the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. That year, that incident, that horror, it changed our lives completely. I was afraid again, just like I was afraid of the dark when I was a kid. I was sh*t scared when I were alone in the house, I felt the same now, but outside. They were ten bastards who rampaged through my city, a city that gives hope, a city that makes dreams come true, a city that we call home. Our homes were attacked, our hopes were down, our dreams were held hostage but these parasites could not kill “our spirit”. The spirit that fights, that survives, which is indestructible, indefatigable; it’s the spirit that has taught us how to smile in adversity. The whole country mourned, the world condemned the actions and Mumbai, it survived, it woke up the next morning and hurried upon to catch the 09.00 AM, Borivili slow local, ironical isn’t it! That’s Mumbai meri jaan!!! Hey RGV, why don’t you and your friends visit Kashmir right now, I am sure you will find some stories and some real time action. Or just start making porn movies, that way you’ll make some money and find some more bimbos.
Don’t go, “Picture abhi bakki hai mere dost!!!”
How can I miss the General Elections, it’s the world’s biggest circus. The only difference is that clowns instead of animals perform on the whip of a ring master. And we all need a little bit of humour in our lives, pun intended. I just wish we had more choices as some ring masters didn’t have a clue or least to say, control over their clowns. The jokers that won took a pledge to restore security, safety back in the city and yes some balls in the police force. Well that needs to be seen in the near future but what we did see is a poor rainfall and a lot of water shortage. I am not sure if a different election result would have changed it but nevertheless we had something else to worry about. Water!! Life’s come a full circle, from excess water in 2005, to shortage of it in 2009. It’s difficult to explain the situation but I think recession hit heavens as well. Did God fail to maintain the economic balance? Were the rain gods in debt? We don’t have to worry about it, we have our hands full. Again consumption of alcohol soared, but the sale of condoms dropped as only one of us could have a bath now. But, we are Mumbaikars, we don’t have to worry, we have our “spirit” with us. Let’s drink to that.
But this year it’s different, our own government is putting us to the test. The basic commodities have become expensive, the prices do not stop rising. The common man is finding it difficult to survive; even his neighbours are feeling the heat. Summer heat, heavy rains are no longer the worries it’s the weight of an expensive life which has made a dent in his hopes and dreams. But guess what, the rains are good this year and the lakes are filling up which means Mumbai may not be facing a water shortage this year. It’s better than last year, isn’t it? Or is it, really? Is the water logging situation under control? Are the trains safer? Are our sisters, wife and children safe on the streets? What about corruption? Is it really democracy in our country? Why are we outsiders in our own country? Why do we have to display our religion or caste every time we leave house? Why are we fined to break the law by a person who does not understand or follow the law?
We don’t have to answer the above because we know how to survive and we have. We don’t change, we adapt. We live, let live, we forget and move on. We are Mumbaikars and we have a spirit. God knows what that really means.
Think about it or not.
Few years back, I was stuck in a row house with my roommates on 26/7, the year; Mumbai saw its worst floods. That didn’t end there, the fear of facing that predicament again stayed in our minds every time the heavens poured down rains. Well, but the cravings for a garama garam chay and some bhajiyas still manage to instill some excitement for the wet season. And of course, Marine drive still looks beautiful in the rains with the soft and cold rain drops caressing the skin, the pacing wind whistling a tune and the sea altering its moods like a woman in love. Then as we inevitably pondered about the heavens next year, we experienced our worst horror on 11/7, the Mumbai train bombings. The damn terrorists tried to choke our lifeline by planting 7 bombs in different trains which exploded in a span of 11 minutes. We did lose our loved ones that dreadful evening but never did once we lose our strength, our mind, our heart and our hope. I was stranded in traffic while travelling back home in a cab that evening but not once did I miss my family. My family was on the roads giving away water, biscuits, bananas, vada pav and a lot of compassion. I understood the true value of life that evening. We can destroy all that we want but life as we know it, finds its own way to smile back, stand on its feet and say “Is that all you got?” You know, the Rawalpindi Express once called Mumbai its second home, but does he think he can cope up with our own Mumbai locals? You sure have the speed my friend but survival is the key here. We all know a thing or two about survival, we survive floods, we survive traffic, we live through pollution, we enjoy the crowded trains and we make strangers our relatives. It’s strange but true. Kem chho kaka, uncle thoda jagah do na, tai aaz lavkar aalis, arey bhaiya jaldi chalao na late ho raha hai. I don’t even know how many relatives I have, but that’s not the point, it’s the experience while making it through from A to B.
It was a great year, 2007, wasn’t it! The economy did well, people got better jobs, better salaries, some of my friends enviably got bonuses, inflation was a concern but people were happy as it was boom time. Consumption of alcohol soared, but the sale of condoms dropped as people were busy working, travelling and partying. Work hard and party harder. Yeah I know we missed a year of action. But hey who is complaining there is always next year. Next year, wow, the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. That year, that incident, that horror, it changed our lives completely. I was afraid again, just like I was afraid of the dark when I was a kid. I was sh*t scared when I were alone in the house, I felt the same now, but outside. They were ten bastards who rampaged through my city, a city that gives hope, a city that makes dreams come true, a city that we call home. Our homes were attacked, our hopes were down, our dreams were held hostage but these parasites could not kill “our spirit”. The spirit that fights, that survives, which is indestructible, indefatigable; it’s the spirit that has taught us how to smile in adversity. The whole country mourned, the world condemned the actions and Mumbai, it survived, it woke up the next morning and hurried upon to catch the 09.00 AM, Borivili slow local, ironical isn’t it! That’s Mumbai meri jaan!!! Hey RGV, why don’t you and your friends visit Kashmir right now, I am sure you will find some stories and some real time action. Or just start making porn movies, that way you’ll make some money and find some more bimbos.
Don’t go, “Picture abhi bakki hai mere dost!!!”
How can I miss the General Elections, it’s the world’s biggest circus. The only difference is that clowns instead of animals perform on the whip of a ring master. And we all need a little bit of humour in our lives, pun intended. I just wish we had more choices as some ring masters didn’t have a clue or least to say, control over their clowns. The jokers that won took a pledge to restore security, safety back in the city and yes some balls in the police force. Well that needs to be seen in the near future but what we did see is a poor rainfall and a lot of water shortage. I am not sure if a different election result would have changed it but nevertheless we had something else to worry about. Water!! Life’s come a full circle, from excess water in 2005, to shortage of it in 2009. It’s difficult to explain the situation but I think recession hit heavens as well. Did God fail to maintain the economic balance? Were the rain gods in debt? We don’t have to worry about it, we have our hands full. Again consumption of alcohol soared, but the sale of condoms dropped as only one of us could have a bath now. But, we are Mumbaikars, we don’t have to worry, we have our “spirit” with us. Let’s drink to that.
But this year it’s different, our own government is putting us to the test. The basic commodities have become expensive, the prices do not stop rising. The common man is finding it difficult to survive; even his neighbours are feeling the heat. Summer heat, heavy rains are no longer the worries it’s the weight of an expensive life which has made a dent in his hopes and dreams. But guess what, the rains are good this year and the lakes are filling up which means Mumbai may not be facing a water shortage this year. It’s better than last year, isn’t it? Or is it, really? Is the water logging situation under control? Are the trains safer? Are our sisters, wife and children safe on the streets? What about corruption? Is it really democracy in our country? Why are we outsiders in our own country? Why do we have to display our religion or caste every time we leave house? Why are we fined to break the law by a person who does not understand or follow the law?
We don’t have to answer the above because we know how to survive and we have. We don’t change, we adapt. We live, let live, we forget and move on. We are Mumbaikars and we have a spirit. God knows what that really means.
Think about it or not.
Too good, dude! Well said, its Mumbaikars spirit which kept us ON.
ReplyDeleteDay before yesterday only, I had a quick chat on a similar issue with my colleague.
So, njoying Kerala monsoon! or R u back to Aamchi Mumbai.
Keep blogging:~)
I don't know whether it is the SPRIT or whether we are USE TO IT.
ReplyDeleteAs an average middle man - Mumbaikar doesn't has that much of time to actually sit back and think and act on what has gone incorrect or wrong.
This is because by the time one is about to analyzing, & act on the past situation, another situation is about to confront him.
And at the end it seems life is short & problems like these are long lasting.
But good to read this article, so finally it seems you have put your first step in the direction of writing a Whole Book :-) :-)
Aare baba use some simple words yaar – I had to literally open a dictionary to look for means of words like gullible, idiosyncratic, stoic, insatiable, …………….. :-)
And, and what else ……. Good punctuation. :-)
Keep writing :-)