Last weekend I was watching a hindi movie late night. It was a story picturised in Mumbai and as usual it was shot all around Mumbai. There happens to be a scene at Vile Parle station, for a moment my experiences in Mumbai came across my thoughts.
Mumabi is one city which every Indian talks about. Simple reason, “ it’s in news”… That’s Mumbai!!
Mumbai has the wealthiest industrialist residing, the most happening Bombay stock market exchange, Master Blaster Sachin resides here, it’s the place of world renowned Dabbavalas who follow six-sigma, how can I not mention shiv sena and marathi manoos , Mumbai is well known for its superb night life – in fact the real Mumbai awakens only by night and above all the most happening glamorous world BOLLYWOOD is in Mumbai!!
In other words it is the commercial capital of India. Each and every citizen on this country wishes to visit Mumbai atleast once in lifetime.....sounds like a pilgrimage desire!!!!. That's Mumbai!!
There was a time in my life when I never wanted to visit Mumbai. The reason, Mumbai is always full of rush, ppl are always on run!! This happened during my final year of graduation, there were talks at my home whether I should pursue my studies at Mumbai or Bangalore. But, I always wanted to stay in Bagalkot or probably go to Puna, not any metropolitan cities. It was my Dad who said, “ Why do you get scared? You are grown up, it’s time you start visiting different places and learn to be independently handling things. Only then will you gain confidence, which will take you long way in life”. It’s then I opted to move to (safer) Green Bangalore in 2001.
As life moved on I too became a busy metropolitan. Always wished to visit Mumbai atleast once. Till recently about 16 months back I got an opportunity to go abroad, on an official trip twice. Having visited half of Europe, still the thought of visiting Mumbai always remained on my mind…..“ I have seen Europe but not Mumbai yet !!!!????”
Couple of months back I was told by my boss to visit Chennai on an official duty. Instantly I told him, if Mumbai were the place I would have loved to visit – as I do not like Chennai. This dialogue came out without any deep thinking. For which my boss was totally non-agreeing. After few weeks I received a mail from our HO stating that they need me in Mumbai…. Yahooo...!!!! Had not expected this pleasant surprise.
On the previous night of my flight to Mumbai, I was almost awake whole night. Hardly slept for 2 hrs or so… after a hectic day in office!! Next day after boarding KF flight, when it started accelerating on runway….. I thanked GOD for loving me so much!!
After landing at Mumbai, I rang my friends to inform that I reached safely – they were shocked as they had not yet reached home after dropping me at BIAL – I had reached Chatrapati Shivaji Airport, Mumbai – exactly by 1 hr 05 mins!!
I started moving out of the airport to find a person holding a placard of my name at the exit. I told him we need to hurry up fast, I have lots of work to do. The moment I checked into my suite, at Parle International, Vile parle I changed and was out in 10 mins towards Vile Parle station. At the entrance I stood infront of the notice board noting down the details of local train arrivals, the station names and the platform number. After studying it for almost 10 mins I decided to go to CST - Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus. I took the ticket and proceeded towards the platform, I saw couple of crowded trains coming on other platforms. Jam packed in EACH BOGIE!!
I stood at platform no 2 towards CST, confirmed with ppl around about the train to CST. Took information about the number of stops to CST. In the mean time a train arrived jam-packed , by the time I was thinking which bogie to get on – zoooommm it as gone. The next one came in 5 mins unbelivably packed . The moment it stopped, people rushed out as if they were storming for a fight, on the other side, people were rushing in to grab a place . I was stunned!!! dint even move a inch, for a moment a shivering chill rushed through my body thinking“ will I ever get in??” Ppl around me got into the train casually!! Finally I mustered courage and told myself “let this train pass away, I’ll definitely take the next one”.
The next one too came in within ten mins. Looking at the approaching train I thought “GOD – why are you testing my guts!!” The moment the train stopped, I just managed to hold the bar at the entrance, the train started moving, I took my hand off the bar....... to see 5 more men managing to get onto the moving train. For a moment I was like CST will never happen today. Finally a train came with manageable crowd on board as compared to the earlier ones. I safely hopped on and reached out for a handle to stand– I was the first one to get in that bogie and of-course the last one too!! J By the next stop which happens to be Santacruz, ppl hopped in like small children – now I need not hold on to the handle for support anymore…. J in out and out packed bogie !!! All I could feel was the odour from men around me – A smile emerged on my face…“Welcome to Mumbai”.
