Mi MUMBAIKAR!!

All my 'Urban Blues' start from the time I decided to move in Mumbai. Actually being from a place like Pune, Mumbai was the last place, I would have ever thought of moving to.

And I still remember the day I had first entered this city, with my father, to seek admission in one of the most prestigious colleges in Mumbai.

My first disappointment was while our train was touching Dadar. There were several local trains running along side- which were packed with people. Or rather I should say 'Overflowing' with people. I had always known Mumbai as a city where Local trains are always full, roads are always jammed, and every resident is always in a hurry to reach somewhere!!! All my prejudices were doubly confirmed when I first stepped on the Dadar Station, and was scared to death that very soon even I would be a part of this Faceless Crowd, dying to reach somewhere....

Fortunately and Unfortunately, I got an admission in Mumbai, and most unwillingly I landed in this city, of which I am now a proud resident!!!The spirit of Mumbaikars has always amused me..

Wonder how they manage to commute for hours together and yet be completely happy about it??

How can they enjoy the process of commuting in those overcrowded trains and peacefully play antaksharies when there's not an inch left to move ??

Just how can there be a magnificient bunglow( of some filmstar), right next to a Jhopadpatti???

How can a five star hotel have a small 'tapri', just adjacent to its compound wall, and both being equally crowded??

How can people work for 12-18 hours a day, and still have time left for TV serials, Jogging, Laughter Clubs and Gossips???

How is that a Managing Director of company and a office boy / ordinary clerk travel in the same train, and be completely comfortable of this fact???

How is that you would have several celebrities and filmstars moving around you and nobody on the earth would be exited to see them ???

How do these Mumbaikar's have an extremely intimate friend circle called as 'Train Friends' !!!

How can an entire family of 8 stay in a 1 BHK flat and still have space for others???

There are several such amusing facts that I cant help thinking about.

Believe in me, I have spent endless hours pondering over these facts, but now I realise there's no use thinking over it, I'll never get answers for any of these questions unless I try to be a Mumbaikar myself......

BETTER BE BEASTS

I have been toying with this idea to host a blog since a real long time, but had been procastinating it for I dont know what reasons. But today when I start doing it- the first thing that I wish to share here is my favorite poem "IF" by Rudyard Kipling.

One of the main reasons why I like this so much is the fact that this poem speaks about all the 'IDEAL' things in life, and still it explains that its impossible to be ideal !!! In fact its also impossible to be 'HUMAN'..

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

If this is what it takes to be 'Human', then i would rather be a Beast !!!