While boarding my train to the city of dreams, I had a vague memory of how Mumbai is, for I had been there when I was six. It was a one week trip and I had been travelling by myself for the very first time.
The number of thoughts knocking my head was countless. How will I travel alone? What if I lose some of my stuff? What will happen if I slept off and missed my station? When suddenly my dad patted my back and said, ”You’ll be fine”. I smiled back at him and the train departed from the platform.
To my surprise, none of what I thought would happen, happened and I reached my destination safe and sound.
As soon as I got down at CST, I took a taxi to the guest house where I was supposed to reside for the next few days. I realised that the taxi meter had two columns, one for the kilometers and the second one for the time, unlike the taxis or autos in Delhi. It was then I realised that time can cost you a lot, like literally.
In my stay of one week in Mumbai, I can’t say I learnt everything about it but yes a few things did cross my mind. From the fast paced locals to the slow moving traffic, from Siddhivinayak Mandir to Haji Ali, from the traditional marathi saris to the Bollywood trending clothes, from the vada pao thelas to the different cafes, from the Marine Drive serenity to the night clubs buzz, everything in Mumbai is diverse.
The people, the places, the food and this city itself has a life to it. The kind of independence I had while exploring this city was something I always longed for. I wanted to visit this city for two reasons, first, because I like going to new places and explore them and second, because I wanted to see why people loved this city so much. The latter being the prime purpose.
You can’t really understand why this city is loved by so many until you visit it. But if you ask me? I’d say I love this city because it taught me to be independent (Though for a few days). It taught me how different people find peace after their busy and hectic schedules when they sit in the moonlight watching the sea water flowing through their feet. It taught me how Taxi walas can become your free tour guides. It taught me how not to use umbrella because you’ll be drenched in Mumbai rains anyway. It taught me, no matter what, Life here never stops and the statement ‘The city that never sleeps’ stands to be true.