A day in the locals of Mumbai

I am and will always remain in love with Mumbai. And also with the Mumbai Local. when my outstation friends ask me what is my most preferred mode of transport in the city, my answer without any hesitation is the local. And over the past 7-8 years... my experiences in the local have grown diverse...

I generally keep to myself in the train.. except the occasional purchase or two, i genrally dont fight for a seat or get into an argument with anyone... but this one time, it was morning.. and there was a group of women singing bhajaans and shlokas in the morning.. and all those were the type every kid in an indian household would no.. so even I started humming them along and i must admit i felt so good about it... to this day, i dont have any 'train friends' cuz i dont commute regularly... but that one time, it made me realise, its that community feeling and that bonding which is so strong in our families.. that morning no one was fighting in the train, all people around were simply humming the bhajaans.. kids, elderly women, young professionals, the lady who is selling some wares.. everyone was smiling.. ad it made me smile.. how deeply rooted is the Indian in us...

Another time, I was in the train with a few friends... we were in the gents compartment and there were some 'street-kids' with us in the train... and in our compartment was an old man with small square pieces of paper.. and that old man's hands were simply magic... turns out he was a master at origami and made stuff like talking lips, a flower and leaf, a pencil and things beyond imagination!! It was simply amazing!! the kids were in awe and so were we... he ended up teaching us how to make the talking lips... when that man left, he gave me a whole bunch of papers to make stuff... I must've made a dozen of those lips till now.. and even to this day, that incident makes me smile..

Locals may be crowded and tiring but they are also fast, convenient, available most of the times in the day and reliable. but more than anything else, they amaze me every time with something new making me realize I am just a small character in this big drama called Life!! It makes sure i meet new people and it makes sure i rarely have a boring travel time.. it gives me my space and gives me company when i'm alone. it makes me feel human and helps me relish this life some more. To anyone who has ever smiled in the local, you know what I mean.

Rains

It is one thing everyone is eager for

The farmer, the children with eyes sore

When the heat simply gets to you

Pleasing the rain gods, you pursue

And then comes a shower to make you smile

The first rains and the earth smells divine

The smile on every child’s face

The relief on a farmer’s tired gaze

The farmer prays for good rains

His life depends on his grains

He may have a good year’s harvest

And afford his wife a bangles set

The child wrestles through the summer

His school reopens with rains bumper

Its new books, new classes and a new timetable

Rains mean a new year, new friends and a new fable

And we try to get to work dry

Enjoy the delicious bhajia-fry

Romantic are those long drives

Get soaked in the rains on Marine Drive

The Europeans hate it, but they don’t know

India loves the rains and the chaos that follows

For us the green is prosperity and boon

We simply love our very own monsoon

Some things that run through a girl's mind when she's buzzzzing!

1. Gosh the guy on the next table is soooo cute.. would he mind if I say a hi? ;)

2. Can I have more fries? They taste soooo awesome ryt now!!

3. Should I completely stop texting my ex-boyfriend? Does he like me.. or is he still an idiot!! Need a drink to stop thinking abt jerks.. Conc. on the guy on the next table.. he looks well dressed.. Mamma's boy.. no doubt!

4. I'll do that assignment tonight! How much will the answers change after I am drunk.. Lets see!! And let the marks go to hell! :P

5. Is my nail paint better than the chic on the next table... Is that guy looking at her?!

6. Damn I cant make-out with anyone ryt now! (applicable to ones w/o a date!) Will that cute guy even look at me once?!!

7. I am definitely thinner than that one sitting there!

8. I should give up this material life and live like a hippie! Will the guy in the next table like a hippie?! Damn yaar.. but hippies are so not in fashion ryt now... Bah.. leave it!

9. That was my last drink... but wait.. I feel good.. I feel a nice buzz.. whats the harm in another one?! ;)

10. Can I sing this song out loud?? Its like my fav song ryt now!!

11. Screw the cute guy.. all guys are dumbos.. Looks are so freakin deceptive.. The last one also was like that... idiot!!!

12. Adios Amigos... I feel too sleepy to do anything good for myself!!

Untamed

One gushing wave simply stops it all
A fleeting instant and inside I fall
The silent sea shouting at me
There’s no other place to go or flee

Waves upon waves just come and go
My eyes complete the follow through
Together, they all create such a noise
Individual identities subtly poised

That salty smell fills my body
The entire experience one deep melancholy
Filling my veins, my body, my soul
A sense of completion, a part of the whole

The untamed nature is where I belong
A tear in my eye and a smile comes along
And a sense of tranquility envelopes me
I close my eyes and everything I can see.



P.S.: Inspired @ Bandstand

Silent Conversations

You’re a stranger, you stand so far

And our eyes meet in the corner of a bar

You look tempting and awfully good

The sort on whom girls continually brood

I like that drink in your hand

And your choice of song to the band

I notice you notice me some more

Those piercing eyes never seen before

A fleeting smile across that face

Adds so much more to that naughty gaze

A tilt of your head by my side

Or was it for the bitch beside? ;)

The band changes the track, just like our story

Our dates come back and we dance away to glory

And like the songs we dedicated to each other

This silent conversation remains in memories forever.

Nostalgia

It all comes to me in a sudden rush

Like waves that touch the rocks at the sea shore

Time moved on, and so did I

But memories stay longer than ever before

Those times when life seemed carefree

And the biggest worry was the pending homework

The days and the evenings were playing sport

And not the games people play at work

And being a rebel as a teenager

Friends were above what parents said

Learning and discovering what life is

Being an adult was all in the head

Come graduation, we knew it all

The world awaits us, is what we thought

Heart and confidence both took some beating

Anything and everything could be bought

No regrets in life is the best option

We did what was best and made us wiser

Mistakes are made by one and all

We pick ourselves after we fall wherever

Those tough times made us who we are

And a clear sky never makes a good pilot

Blocks were there to make life colourful

Black, white, red, blue and violet!!

Pain

One lesson life teaches in vain

There is no gain without some pain

Like the pleasure to look tall with painful heels

You silently wish they had two wheels

The pain when someone stamps your foot

You regret having not worn your boots

But the docs found cures for all this shit
it’s the heart where you are worst hit

The agony of a backstabbing friend

The trust for the world then instantly ends

When death takes a loved one away

Sharing the pain seems the only way

Heartbreak is the hardest to bear

Makes you cry and makes you swear

Love seems the worst idea ever

Life begins to look like ‘Its over’.

The world looks like an unfair place

When all the pain is in your face

Fear of pain is worse than the real

Transcending the painful to surreal

The strength to bear it is given by the Lord

A wiser us is the ultimate reward

Some pain makes the reward more sweet

Lets be aware and mistakes not repeat

Grey Area

I stand confused and bewildered

All day long I sat and wondered

How it all began is a story

How it will unfold now is a mystery

You are more special than someone else

You seem what I prayed for at wishing wells

Transcending on to an all new level

From earth to sky to a paradise heaven

My heart and my head seem still unconvinced

My 100% to you has a tiny wince

We’re not just friends, I know that too

This grey area gives me no clues

I want to buy more time and age

To check if its an oasis or mirage

To know you more and give this a chance

To look in your eyes without a second glance

I am sure of your friendship and affection

But the love is wandering in random directions

I wish the future I could see

Friendship or love, what are you worthy…

Friends Worth A Lifetime (4) : Pooja

Some of the most memorable times with Pooja :)

Me and Pooja have been friends for the past several years... I dont even remember exactly when did we actually become friends.. but we became close friends in std 10th.. Mahesh Tutorials.. Part of the gang of girls who hated Prasanna sir!! Niyati and Sana completed the scenario... Life moved on.. college came along. But our friendship stayed.. It helped that her parents loved me and my parents adored her. It was like both sets of parents have 2 daughters. Yess.. She was more than just a friend.. a sister.. a guide.. a companion.. a friend.. a mirror.. a pillar of strength.. a shoulder to rely upon.. always there.. smiling..

There is no particular thing that I love the most.. The whole package is simply awesome!!
She's patient and always lends a ear to anything I have to say anytime. She can anytime manage to make me smile. We share the same values and thoughts in so many different things that its difficult to keep track of. We have cried with each other, we have cried for each other, we have laughed like crazy, we have done crazy things and always been glad that the other one was in it too.

Some relationships in life cant be expressed with just words.. Given any day, I know that I'll definitely have one person to fall back on whether i need a hug or convince my parents about my choices in life. Luv you Pooja for being that one person. Have a great bday!! (yeah.. its her bday today!)

In your head

It happened with me, recently. I was shit scared of something and then it happened!! And I was cursing my luck!! How cud it be so bad!! And I spent the next few days, to come up with some way to get out of it or some loophole. But it was not meant to be. And finally I embraced it. (As if I had an option!) But it didn’t turn out as horrifying as I expected it to be… the resultant feeling will make sure the next 4 months of my life wont be as cruel as I had earlier thought them to be.

Which got me thinking… anticipation is such a punishment. We build up something in our head and stay in that impression for the longest time. In reality, things may not be as horrific or rosy as we anticipated them to be. Sure, this expectation is a result of experience, gut feeling and a lot of communication. But till we don’t give it a shot, we’ll never know if we over/ under estimated things.

More than events, this is applicable to people.  For instance, I hate smoking. I try to avoid people who smoke.  But I am friends with people who smoke. (I still don’t approve of the smoking part!).  Had I not known those people, I would’ve hated those people all my life and lose some friends. We are humans. We mirror the opposite person. If we don’t start positive, chances are that the end isn’t positive too.

Let that little voice in your head say, we’ll like each other and this will turn out to be great! You just raised the odds in your favour.

10 Things You MUST DO In Mumbai

1. Watch the sunset at Marine Drive
2. Walk all the way till the end of Lands End at Nariman Point
3. Sit on the front seat of the top of a double decker bus and roam in the city. Preferably route no. 138.
4. Take a nice long look at the majestic Taj Mahal Hotel.
5. Travel by local train. (if you are daring enough.. then in 2nd class and if even more daring then at peak hours! :P)
6. Play cricket in Shivaji Park (for that matter any road will do)
7. Watch Sachin play in Wankhede/ Brabourne (Basically in front of Mumbai crowd)
8. Walk all the way to Siddhivinayak
9. Get drenched in the rain at any sea front (Marine drive/ Juhu/ Bandstand/ Worli sea face)
10. Drive on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link

Yess... Its Magic... Yess.. Its Mumbai! :)

Changing Times

One touch and the world is alive
3 year olds are no longer naive
Life is in the fast track lines
We live today in changing times

Connect and communicate with all
Have fun on the facebook wall
Billionaires are created online
We live today in changing times

A tablet is no longer just a pill
Too much comfort making us ill
Credit card limits keeps on flying
We live today in changing times

A walk in the park needs Nike shoes
LCD, LED and technologies new
BB Pin is the identity tonight
We live today in changing times

Mercedes and Audis on the roads
Amazon and ebay being no frauds
Unwinding demands a Smirnoff lime
We live today in changing times

Roti, kapda, makan and cell phone
24 x 7 connected and still alone
I miss the morning chirps and chimes
We live today in changing times

Office Boredom!

My creations @ the office... Yeah.. there are times when I get bored!! And writing comes to my rescue.. :)

Single

I smile shamelessly everyday

Flirt with the cute guy on my way

The Happy Feeling comes back to me

I feel lively, light and free

No longer am I answerable

What ended yesterday was quite a fable

Its time for new beginnings today

Time to let your hair down and play

More girl time is always recommended

Guys in the bar, don’t be offended ;)

Time to let go, get ready to mingle

Absolutely Happy that I am Single!

  Mumbai 

Every Morning, a new energy is found

Money in pockets but feet on the ground

The value of time is more than money

Little time left for vacation or love honey

Life simply ceases to stop here

Weekend at Toto’s, unwind with a beer

Peace and tranquility at Land’s End

Crowded trains, little margin to mend

On Tuesdays Siddhivinayak calls religiously

The city finds solace on a basis weekly

Don’t have a car yet, no space to park

The dogs on the street don’t bite, only bark

So many people that you are never alone

For some self time, Marine Drive is the zone

Come monsoon, we revisit the romance

They flood each year w/o missing a chance

The war of the town and the suburbs goes on

But on a crisis day together we belong

The Taj reminds me of our resilience

Mumbai lives on, killing the silence..

Cheers to Marsh... :)

© Kits

The Corporate Life from a Fresher's eyes

So I finally started working at Marsh India Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd.

1. Swanky location. (Like the building is sooopppeerrr HOT!)
2. Sophisticated technology employed at every step.
3. Completely 'professional' in terms of people and staff.
4. Work Phones (Blackberrys) to each employee.
5. Flexi timings and low hierarchy, amazingly open place.
6. Decent work. Not at all uninteresting. The least boring form of insurance :p
7. People seem good, helpful but keep to themselves.
8. Being an intern is fun and completely chillax! Do work and Have Fun!!
9. The coffee/tea/biscuits/toasts in the pantry are a life-saviour!!
10. I like it here. Somehow it fits and it fits well :) :)

Pssstt... the fact that they are paying me for working is AWESOME! :P

The Constant in Change

1988- I come in this world.
1991- Kinder Garden
1995- School
2004- Junior College
2006- Under Graduate
2009- Post Graduate
2010- MBA
2011- Summer Internship.....

These are some major changes that happened in my life till date. And with each one of this change the people in my life kept changing. Some friends stayed, some others moved on. Some became even more close. I met new people and worked with them.

But 10 months staying away from home, I realized that, whatever changes, there is one place that will always love you as much and always welcome you with open arms and will always treat you the same whether a prince or a pauper... Home. The constant factor in the change that our life is.

When I taught regression to my classmates, we used to easily ignore the constant in the equation and focus on the co-efficient. The change is what people normally focus on. I have to be ready for this change. Is my preparation enough? Am I capable of handling this change? Blah blah blah... But they take the constant for granted. And worse, they never appreciate it.

Home is that constant in anyone's life. How attached and how deeply embedded family values are, defines your core. People who follow the 'I am Ok. You are Ok.' line of thought usually come from a Happy Family. I always strongly disagree with people who say that XYZ is more important than family. Then that means You, my friend are messed up (or your home is).

We try to please the world and take for granted those who make us who we are. Take time off for them. Buy them gifts. Take them out to dinner. Laugh. Smile. Make them smile. Those jokes will become family jokes that only you and your siblings get. Play Dumb Charades of weird relatives. Play Antakshari. Appreciate the constant part of your life. The part that keeps you stable. The part of your life that you were born into and makes you unique.

Cheers to Happy Homes and Happy Families!

Second Love

Life is a bitch we all know

True colours people will eventually show

But love aint all that bad you see

So if you fail the first time, don't flee

You pray for another chance to love

You pray for another chance to be loved

And when the second love arrives

You pray for the love of all desires

The second time, you take more care,

No errors to happen, no details to spare

The chances of success are so much high

The doubts are laid to rest with a sigh

True love awaits you, give it a shot

The second time, maybe someone more hot! ;)

The first half wasn’t great, lets admit it!

Time for a better second half and living it

In this life, love deserves a second chance

We all learn from mistakes and thus enhance

Don’t disrespect the second chance given to you

Few people are lucky, this time, its you!

(Dedicated to the guy who wanted me to write positive and get that smile back on his face!)