10 Things I Love about Mumbai!

Mumbai isn't just a city but a way of life catching humans in rustic form and whipping them to near perfection. The city defines its inhabitants giving them nerves of steel for life and lessons that make for resilience in Maximum City. No boring moment for the average Mumbaikar not restricted to living to the Clift's or razor's edge but lingering the extreme in the city off limits.

1. Books on the pavement

One cannot imagine Mumbai without books on the pavement which may not be available for cheap now but remember lapping for 40 bucks at Churchgate just outside the station. I have hoarded quite a treasure trove now and a field time to explore the universe of books on the roads.

2. Ek chalis ki last local

Our lifeline, local trains and what would the Mumbaikar do without them! The slow and fast trains that take us from one end of the city to the other is not just a journey but a way of life for everyone in exploring fellow humans, watching the skyscrapers, old decayed buildings or slums from a distance as the scenery flits past us. Of course, hopping from one station to the other, wriggling past the human sweat in the jampacked locals at any time of the day is never a dull or expensive manner. The world saves you if you miss the last local at 1.40 a.m.

3. Bun Maska and cutting chai at midnight

Hungry stomach crawling at night! Police bandobast but also khana bandobast. The yummy and delicious bun maska and watching the knife slything effortlessly to paste jelly and butter fills the stomach in the wee hours. Cutting chai and maska quench the hunger panged stomach to heavenly bliss outside the railway station makes Mumbai a never-ending love affair as you stand in the hot summer watching the huge buildings and vehicles in the dark to treasure the moments.

4. Queen's necklace

The best thing about South Mumbai at night is to gaze at the tiny dot of lights sprawling from Nariman Point to Chowpatty which makes it a glittery affair. You feel like catching the stars in the night and provide fodder to your thought in the lonely nights.

5. Spotting celebrities

From JW Mariott to Bandra Bandstand and Marine Drive, hordes of celebrities can be spotted, often getting a glimpse of film stars shooting atop double-decker buses. I often saw Anil Ambani jogging at the promenade early morning in South Bombay and met Anupam Kher at Oxford Bookshop, or spotted Perizaad Zorabian at Gaylord, both Priyanka Chopra and Bobby Deol shooting on the double-decker. You can make your Sundays eventful standing at Bandstand where SRK waves to fan or Amitabh Bachchan greeting admirers gone frenzy in front of his bungalow at Jalsa in Juhu.

6. Pubs

There is no dearth of pubs, from Cafe Mondegar, Sports Express Bar or Leopold Cafe in Colaba catching up to guzzle beer with friends or watching cricket matches. The pocket needn't wear a hole and take a walk behind the cool pubs and Gokul is just a walk away near Gateway of India. There is not anyone staying in Mumbai who hasn't gone to shady Gokul to have drinks.

7. Simply Theater

In this age of multiplex mushrooming in the city, typical theaters with comfortable wooden seats of the likes Eros, Liberty, New Excelsior and Regal gives the feel of seethis and thalis living the good, old rustic experience of movies, masti and magic. Nothing can beat the exuberance and joy of watching a movie in the theater. Mumbai offers a unique charm of what is called a true movie watching experience.

8. Language OK

Language unites its people and Mumbai shows you how to speak issstyle se, Mamu. It's a melting pot where the people can easily flit from speaking posh English to effortless slide into Hindi and Marathi adding to the city's sheen and not just horns but language OK. It shows there is no outsider in the city.

9. Food haven

Mumbai is a food haven and there is no dearth of surplus on your thali. Outside Mumbai University at Fort, Puri and bhaji was readily available for 10 to 15 bucks and man that fills the stomach to the brink or the Bombay sandwich for 40 bucks. Of course, I am speaking about a long time back and I am sure the price hasn't skyrocketed that much. Bade Miya is another popular and much-frequented place in Colaba. I was never fond of the place which is not only overpriced but overrated. One of the best places to eat at Colaba within budget is at Baghdadi, particularly if you swear by non-veg, a jumbo naan and beef fry masala for less than 50 bucks.

 10. Rejuvenating in nature

The lush greenery and huge green trees bending its mind offers stillness and soothes the mind at Kalina campus, University of Mumbai. Pure magic to break free in the gateway or recluse environment far away from the city yet sitting in the belly of the world that never stops. During my initial days, I remember sitting on the bench at night after 6 p.m to read and be surrounded by nature. This feeling cannot be expressed and just listening to the birds singing or leaves falling on the ground brings peace to the soul. The long walks at the campus with tree shade caressing the building and its people is spiritual bliss. The Fort campus is another favorite campus where I'd spend hours cuddling between giant trees, flowers and fresh air, walking with my notes in hand on the grass. Sitting at Barista in Shivaji Park, Dadar or Bandstand and the breeze wafts to kiss the face and hair fluttering with trees adorned on both sides of the road takes you in the sway of the pure cosmic form in a crowded and crazy city. Mumbai offers everything from the crowd, to peace and retreat for energizing the mind and soul.

Flash fiction: The last local

The railway station was packed with commuters storming to catch the last local train at 1.40 a.m. It lashed heavily in the Mumbai outskirt on that night and the station wore a chaotic look with people scampering in all directions to hop on the last train. Water has choked the entire track and percolated to the surface.

There was not a single local train that could be spotted and worried faces longing for the last local raised a hue and cry at the station and barricaded the railway officers who stood like silent spectators wearing a blank facial expression. A young man in his late 20s abandoned all hopes and slouched on the empty bench with his head deck on a huge bag.

The fan on the tin roof ceiling slowly whirred to life. He chased off the flies hovering above his head and sucking blood on his skin with his hand. Water tapped on the tin roof. He fell asleep on the bench and bore no distraction by the whining voices, wail of a baby and loud steps running heavily on the stairs. The man slept peacefully on the bench. The old clock fixed on the ceiling was on the verge to strike 2 a.m.  

Voice whispers were heard behind the snoring shadow that propelled him to leap on his feet. The station was suddenly deserted.  A couple of railway and army officers stared at him and tried hard to conceal smiles. He was hesitant in his tone, “What happened?”

The officers looked at each other and said, “The rain has put you to sleep like a lullaby sang to a child. The last local came immediately after you dozed off and already left the station. There was so much noise and some people tried to wake you up but to no avail.”

He felt stupid and cursed himself. He didn’t have any choice but to wait until the morning. The officer gave him a cup of tea in a glass and he gulped it. He sat on the lone bench and watched at the empty railway track.

With love

Vishal

My movie tickets affair

The charm of glitz and blitz bit me like a bee sting at a very young age when I abhorred to count numbers and remembering formulas which never made any sense to me. It became my universe of imaginary dreams to make them come true. Churning magic on screen to make my world go perfectly round. After all, dreams don't have to be true in real but reel. The silver screen where all worries were forgetting at the flip of a coin and three hours of masti as I sat and gaped in wonder at the fight scenes, romance, tickling fun and songs playing on the big screen. The Hindi movies that I watched over the decades, emulating my favorite stars turned me into the ultimate filmi keeda.



I am an avid collector of movie tickets, right from the Pune days where E-square became my permanent home watching movies as early as 8.30 a.m or 10 a.m skipping lectures, at lunch time or as late as 11 p.m at night. Movies made me switch off from the real world to enter an ocean of lights, camera, and action. Over the years, movie tickets at the box office, be it in Pune or Mumbai and other places on earth were never trashed but carefully preserved. It became my treasure trove and harbinger of memories.


There is no dearth of movie tickets in various colors with the logo of the theater or multiplexes, the advance bookings made and show timings which I haven't collected. Over the years, the print has faded out and it felt like magic holding this piece of paper in my hand, a reminder of the days that was and the love affair with the movies watched over time.

It's been a joy ride of watching movies and nothing can come between me and my first love, the movies during the first day, first show and throwing taalis and seethis on screen. Cinema is a culture in India and being part of something enshrined in us Indians is something every movie-goer is proud of.  The tickets collected over time shows the loyalty, admiration and hero worship for the stars we revere like anything and the fascination for the magic of film-making who teases us with every aesthetic shot and frame to make movie-watching a grand and opulent affair. It brought us closer to our cities and reality, at the same time. The sheer joy of watching Mumbai our city and places like Marine Drive where we would walk every single day which is shot on a majestic scale makes it so real.  Who says it's all about selling a dream? If it does, who gives a fuck! The magic lies within.


The cinema tickets reminds us of the first movie watched or the ones I went with the love interest during the carefree days. Cinema is all about the days of romance where it brought us together, holding hands or stealing a kiss in the dark. I am a hoarder and love keeping the movie tickets accumulated over the years for it represents something unique which made me profess my love for Hindi films. There were the classics, blockbuster hits but also the damp squib. Good or bad, it was all about the love for movies.

I still remember the first English film I watched in Pune was Matrix 2 at Vijay Theater and my first Hindi movie was Mein Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. I couldn't get the ticket at E-square which was freshly inaugurated and was a couple of bricks away and the distance of a road, just behind my house. I took the rickshaw and stormed my way to Mangala. Mumbai was another feast and Eros Theatre opposite Churchgate Station was the place I was a regular, enjoying the latest flick at the balcony for just 60 bucks and Stalls for 40 bucks in the days of yore.



The biggest misnomer in our Indian lives has been the storming of multiplexes that has made cinema an extremely expensive affair. As I glean through my decade-old cinema tickets and the affordable prices, be it Apsara, Sterling in VT, New Excelsior or Liberty as well as Esquare who at that time became a new experience in cinema for Punekars. I remember paying as low as 40 bucks for morning shows in Pune but the same cannot be said, nowadays. Multiplex or traditional theater, the joy of watching movies on the silver screen is the common man's staple in a country like India that must be accessible to everyone. I believe that it's a golden rule.

The clapping of hands and thunderous applause with hero ka entry and punch lines where the audience irrespective of gender, caste or clas whistle loudly is something that could only be experienced in India. The best thing is that nothing can ever beat the joy of sitting on the wooden chair in a typical theater, munch on samosas and watch your favorite stars doing maar dhaar or gyrating to the chartbusters. The tickets trace my journey as an audience who swears by films watching over the years and the thrilling experience of seeing cinema evolve over the years.



I am a film crazy person. It's my daily diet and cannot imagine living without them. The movie experience in Indian is diverse, whether watching in small theaters or iconic ones and even, for that matter, cool, jazzy and expensive ones. At the time, I even watched movies at Inox at Nariman Point where the ticket price blew my mind and money which I wouldn't normally dispense. Of course, I was mesmerized by the luxury, the super rich crowd and fancy velvet seats where you could order your coffee or popcorn by not moving an inch. You were served right in front of your seat.

It's the experience that makes you love the celluloid to no end. I identify with films. With time, I may watch fewer movies on the big screen but at least in a year, I make it a point to watch a minimum of 10 to 12 flicks. Like they say, Lights! Camera! Action! It's a tryst with destiny. I am a proud filmi child whose movie tickets do all the talking and no power in the world would tempt me to give them away or sell to make a killing on the market. It's my wealth.

Love
Vishal

Love Shot: Sunset of love...Have faith my love!

 It was not the unusual evening in SoBo where hearts were expected to melt and thrive like the oceans and seas. The crowd swarmed its way at the beach to munch on savories, hot pancakes, Masala dosa, Pav Bhaji to their heart contentment and sip on their favorite Falooda and Cola drinks.

She sashayed out of her brand new green Skoda car and signaled the driver to take a tour in the city, to get rid of his glaring eyes which scanned her every movement. Holding the chappal in her hand, her naked feet soiled in the sand which sent a sensual movement running inside her shaped toes. It brought to her a certain peace and kept her false hopes alive as the windy breeze brought a tide of change, fluttering her hair towards the sea. She felt some magic unfurling its might.

 He was watching her from a distance and smiled as every step that she made on the white sand wouldn't slip his furtive eyes that scanned her silhouette. He couldn't dare to let her shadow slip in the calm night. The lover boy imagined them playing footsie together. He had to make a move now or else the driver will come, anytime soon to pick her and they would disappear in the skycrapers hiding emotions in the richest city, hiding her existence with obnoxious wealth. She was oblivious of the man  who was watching her and the GPS enabled device on his smart phone tracking her car.

She was his college sweetheart and whom he would admire from a looming distance. He was too shy to make a move. She never gave him a second look. After all, life deserves a second chance and he is going to grab the opportunity. He knew that every week she comes here to be all alone by herself and to nurse the wounds of the past. It's been 10 years that they left college where she went on to shine in her life and one fine day, an upset took a toll on her life. Deep inside, she is still a sensitive and innocent girl who believes in the Prince charming, admiring the seas and stars at night. She loves the moments of solace all by herself where she is permitted to dream and trot at leisure on the beach wherever her naked feet takes her. If only, she could fly like the birds...

A smile popped on his face, admiring the still night and tiny dots of fleeting stars in the sky. The entire universe are conspiring to bring them together and he sees no reason why their love would fail tonight. Destiny can be a thriving force. It's his inner belief in the purpose of love and magic wrapped like gifts for the two souls to intertwine together. The wave awashed on the sand and her feet was soaked into the cold water. It rekindled in her the desire for love and longing for someone special.

She turned her gaze and rolled her jeans till her knee, walked away from the water when her eyes caught the fancy of colorful cards in yellow, red, blue, pink and green.The cards read in beautifully handwritten Olivia, clipper and Italic scripts which was spread over the walk way on the sand, smeared with rose petals with the name Sonali. She was at first scared, surprised but felt like the Gods listened to the sound in her heart. But, she was also intrigued by the silently anonymous lover who seems to know everything about her, 'Sonali! The most beautiful girl courted by every boy at Xavier's in SoBo...Crazy we were about you...We should always give love and life a chance...Hold the hand that touches your tender heart...I may have been ignored by you but my heart is pure'.

Oh! Gosh! Sonali leapt and the thought about this guy who knew her slightest nerve made her shiver. It didn't prevent a beam on her face. She turned around and saw a tall, lanky man dressed in a white shirt and black trousers folding his hand and expressing a devilishly romantic smile.

Sonali was at a loss of words and apologetic for ignoring him in college as her past life suddenly haunted her in a livid manner. After all, he was not cool like the other boys but realized on the spur of the moment that Shiv was the silent lover who admired her every single day. He had no chance then but today he would beat all the guys to death. Sonali already took a decision. Shiv put his hand on her lip, "There is no need to say anything. If you have faith in my love and ready for a new sunset, the boat is waiting for us."

Sonali traipsed like a princess to fall in Shiv arms and with a feeble smile said, "Carry me inside the boat before the car comes." In a matter of seconds, the boat sped its way with Sonali and Shiv in a tight embrace sitting on the arm chair and not leaving each other as their intense eyes were drowned into the sea of love. They wouldn't leave each other's sight and hands as if an earthquake will shatter lives.



With love
Vishal

Love shot: Him and Her in Mumbai

"I am waiting for you at Bandstand,"  she enthusiastically shouted on the phone. "No, do not give me the lamest excuse. I just want you to be there in time." He protested, "But, Baby! I mean, how and why!" She cut her iPhone off on his nose.  He was in the middle of an important meeting and had no choice but to apologize to the client, citing an urgent call from his office. He got away with that and broke the traffic signal in his modest Maruti 800, giving the cops a slip to finally reach Bandstand in time.

She was not to be seen and he cursed under his breath. As it is, coming late is the hallmark of ladies for a date they themselves have set up. He was fuming and wondered how he dashed his way to Bandra, all the way from Churchgate and canceling all appointments just because it was Madam call and the usual pretense to sulk on the phone. She sashayed her way inside the crowded Barista in another good one hour where he spent the time smoking and gulping two cups of coffee.  He grinned sardonically, "Oh! I was imagining a film in my head, Happy waiting." She ignored his rant, "Okay, forget all this and there are many other important things to discuss in life. How do I look?"

He was taken aback by this sudden question, "I mean, is this why you called me all the way from Churchgate. What do you mean? You look like you always do, same like yesterday."

It was her turn to be pissed off. "I mean, you haven't observed any change on my face or body," she asked in anticipation. He scanned her throughout but didn't see anything. "No," he casually replied.
She shouted, "The tattoo on my neck, the hair cut, and golden hair tresses...Men will always be the same."

It shook him off the ground. He couldn't resort to the usual excuse of saying he was kidding. He sported a feeble smile, "Baby, I am sorry." She placated him, "Fuck your baby-ing me and go to hell." She stormed her way out of the cafe and he ran behind her on the promenade to coax her.

Love
Vishal

Ganesha's revelry in jest

Image sourced from: https://www.facebook.com/Mumbai.Daily/photos/Lalbaug cha Raja

Trunk God,

My friend Ganesha.

Modak.

Dance in his revelry.

Celebrating his visit,

as if we are pumping iron!

Blowing the conch.

The great arrival.

Bursting through the cloud,

winking at us from the skies.

It's Ganesh Chaturthi!

Singing in his praise.

Showering with flowers,

to garner his attention.

Bappa, our friend and soul mate.

Crowd going berserk,

making merry till the morning.

Loud music blasting.

Any reason is good enough to celebrate Bappa.

Mumbai comes to a standstill this Ganpati.

May wisdom and reason prevail this season.

Celebrating our unity.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.

Love

V

Love (s) of my lives

It was the season to fall in love like in the movies. Youthful, jazzy and holding a hand to count bees under the sun. Sex was not allowed in our wildest fantasy. It was the love we did back in the 90s where an attractive face will well pierce the heart. She was the one! The heart was led to believe in the old age romance where the face will haunt one to no end. It was as pure as milk and fresh as the red rose. 

Image credit: Google

I saw her at the bus stop, hopping down from the school bus where she waited for friends, before they walked together and smiled to heavenly bliss. Oh! That face, the enticing smile that sent the pulses racing. I felt that I was going to die right now. I waited during months for an opportunity to propose, standing at the bus stop and heart beating faster than a racing car. I waited to take my chance and let the moment pass. After all, she was serenaded by her friends.

She never knew that a silent lover existed until one fine day, I took my chance and saw her waiting alone for someone. It was now or never. I stood in front of her to introduce myself, bore my heart out not with the silliest confession but with the Mujhse Fraandship Karoge type. It was lame and was naturally turned down, at first with I don't Know type of confusing answer girls are famous for. They are confused, confuse you to make wonder whether you know you are confused about their confusion. Bhaiya! Bas confusion ek bimaari hai. I excitedly pressed for the answer but was turned down.

The heart was shred into pieces when I donned the garb of road side romeo style. The solace in those days of rejection was not alcohol. Too young for that as a growing teenage! What else but sad songs from Aashiqui, Saajan or Dil Hai ke Manta Nahin. No prize for guessing which ones! If you still can't, I pity you for being such a lame lover.

The second love of my life struck me like an arrow. She came as breath of fresh dew that sent my heart singing mad romantic songs and watched her like poetry, strutted her steps in her garnet school vest and cream shirt and sparkled in her colorful glasses. She was something that I admired from a distance and brought a smile to the face, believing that she is the one. It was love. Calf love!

The heart was broken when I saw her with a dude, elder than her but that didn't stop my mad pursuit. A man in love and dreams lives in hope of hot pursuit for a couple of years. Knocked down to reality on the eve of her departure for foreign shore. Whatta fracas I made with one phone call that enraged her Dad! Move on! 

Image credit: Google/https://cdn.theatlantic.com

It was during the college days where I first saw her inside the campus and my heart was stolen. A cute Maharashtrian girl, whose smile melted me like ice in the Pune Monsoon and sent me in a tizzy. I longed for the smile and her entire gang knew about it. It was in the first year. One after the other, there was the college fashionista and model, she was super hot and I landed in college early morning, sitting at the main circle to say Hi and longed for her. She was the incarnate of hotness. No wonder guys made a beeline for her. She played too hot to handle and tough to get.

The super cute girl and my junior in college was a topper whose smile was something to die for. The moment she enthusiastically says Hi to you, you know that it’s gonna be the best day in life. Simply adorable and the cutest of all! It’s another thing that we became good friends when I was nursing my break up. I fell for her best friend and you know what it means, right?!

Love and girls fall like thunder on your head. The model and cool friend she became, suddenly disappeared from college when I was planning to make the move. The funny thing is that we liked each other and both of us knew about it. Still, nothing happened. It was a difficult and one sided love story in an age where love and romance shifted to hot intimacy. The time when cinema already made the huge steps, removed from the innocence of romance in the 90s to unabashed sensuality to murder love with Bheege Hont Tere!! She tormented me to death. Yes!! 

Finally, true love happened in the summer of 2008 in the oddest of places at Rajabhai Tower, University of Mumbai where both of us were studying for our masters. She was the true one that I would call Jaan when one sleepy afternoon she walked to me inside the colonial library asking for a sharpener. Cutting chai at the tapdi, exploring South Bombay and eating yummiest Biryani. She came and changed my life, gave me a new perspective on things. It was the love that made me mad, falling over and over with her every single moment where I was ready to take drastic steps. True love is too good to be true. We went our separate ways. It was destiny playing havoc. She was the true one that entered the door of my heart without knocking and disappeared. I don't regret her at all for she was an angel to me.

Love

Vishal

National Train Day: Railway memories

The National Train Day is celebrated on May 14. I haven't been a frequent traveller on Indian railway except during my Mumbai-Pune days and of course, was a daily traveller in our life line in Maximum City, Local. Let me try to go back to those days in Mumbai and Pune where I was a regular train traveler.

It was in 2005 when I booked a second class ticket (unreserved) in my favorite Deccan Queen. It was early 8 a.m when I had to meet someone in Mumbai. The family visited for few days and it was a do or die situation. I scampered inside the train when few guys were cleaning the berths. They asked me to give them a handful of notes to sit on the berth. I played along. It was much later I realized that the train was half empty and would have got the seat anyway. It was window seat and it mattered.

The train rattled and loved the sight as it whooshed away from Pune station. Chai was ordered and samosas to fill the empty stomach.On the menu, reading the Times of India and peeping through the window, admiring the picturesque view at Lonavla, Mahabaleshwar and of course, the tunnel ride at Khandala. I would get off my seat to stand near the door, watching the train speeding its way inside the tunnel. It suddenly became dark but a ride totally worth it. 

Image source:https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ISMEQWp0Zac/maxresdefault.jpg

It was a three-hour journey spent in peace and admiring the scenery. There was an envy to smoke and looked furtively around, where I wondered whether I can take a risk? Of course, I did hanging near to the door and curled smoke to be lost in the valley at Lonavla. Travelling by the Indian railway has such a romantic feeling where you could weave stories at the back of your imagination.

The train slowed its way on the track. It made me smile. I can see the yellow-and-black cabbies. It's Mumbai. We are in the outskirt. My heart started to dance. The feeling of stomping on the feet in Maximum City. Soon, our Deccan Queen suddenly sprang to life and zoomed with speed on the railway track. I felt like a King getting down at the iconic Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST). Whatta feeling.

I was supposed to get back to Pune on the same day. No booking was made and pining to get a free berth on the way back to Pune. I got the shock of the life when I boarded the train coming from Hyderabad and halted at CST on its way to Pune. It was jam packed and hardly any space to breathe. My legs pained. I was like, how on earth gonna bear the voyage for three hours. I moved to stand inside the toilet. Trust me, it was quite a breather to get some space to stand and breath free. Finally, the journey was done and the moment I got down at the Pune junction past midnight, it felt like the skies and clouds conspired to make me walk freely. I felt like a free bird, evading from the cage where human masses and thick breath covering the cloud. I became the cloud. 

A train journey full of tribulations but totally worth it.

Postscript: This post was inspired by Sharukh Bamboat who blogs on IndiaDestinationsBlog. Check his incredible post on luxury trains on National Train Day. It brought back my days being a traveller.

Monsoon Affair (16)

Monsoon Affair (16): Last and Final, a Monsoon Love Story

She slowly opened her eyes and furtively glanced across the room's corners. The blurred vision soon turns into reality, seeing smiling faces Niharika, Aniket and Varun. She became anxious, wondered that it would be a matter of time that she would be handcuffed for murder but relieved that her parents souls' will be liberated. She took her vengeance and would happily go to the gallows.

 Aniket sensed that she was anxious and said, "Don't worry Huma. No one got wind of your target who was charred to death. It's not a hospital bed but the army camp. But, for the time being, the three of you, Varun and Niharika must go underground to ensure that your steps are not trailed. You are going to settle in a faraway place in Goa. The ticket arrangement has been made and a nice bungalow, jobs has been arranged to live comfortably. But, make sure that you tread in a discreet manner."

Niharika slowly stepped towards the bed, caressed Huma's hand and kissed her on the forehead, careful not to touch her bandaged forehead. Aniket and Niharika slowly slipped out of the room to give space to Varun and Huma. After all, it's a reunion of love and a new beginning is awaiting them in the Monsoon.

Varun sat on the bed, gently stroking and caressing Huma's hand. He asked, "How are you feeling?"

She smiled like a crazy girl, giggling like the days of innocence and a girl in love for the first time. "I feel that I am falling in love like crazy with you. I was always in love but denied your presence. You better don't ditch me or I will plot your death."

He perched his head down and smiled, "You are a dangerous lover. Forget about revenge now. I wanna make love to you. I can't believe that it's been a year we've met and the monsoon is yet to strike this year. Our Monsoon Affair."

Huma corrected him, "It's Monsoon Love not Affair. It was an affair, one night stand and it turned into love..."

"Eternal Monsoon Love....I wanna tell the tale of immortal love to our grand-children one day. Time to make love and honeymooning in Goa. I can't wait for sex for I know we are are deprived," he added.

Huma smiled seductively with a sheepish glance, averted his gaze.

The plan flew to Goa. Huma, Varun and Niharika sat on different seats and knew that they would be separated from Niharika who would be staying at a different place with different names to avoid raising suspicion.

Varun and Huma checked in the bungalow at South Goa, not far off from Palolem Beach. They lay on the bed in the dim-lit room, adorned by white curtains knotted together as thin air wafted through the closed window. Huma gave a seductive glance as she put her head on Varun's shoulders. She asked, "What happened? You were so excited a day earlier that I thought you already had an orgasm. Feeling shy? She pinched his nose.

Varun held Huma tightly in his arms, caressed her face and stroked her lip with his tongue, kissing passionately, wrapping the blanker around their naked bodies.

Three years later, the newly married couple reached Mumbai in the Jet Airways flight and they were stranded like during the old days. They made a new beginning with a new name and another identity to carve new dreams cum aspirations in Maximum City. It's the new beginning and new season of love, Monsoon Love Story. A new life is under way to open its eyes to their world.

The end.

Monsoon Affair (8)

Monsoon Affair (8)

The ambulance siren blew louder on the busy and chaotic streets of Mumbai, asking to make way and swerved towards Fortis Hospital. Varun was wrestled on the wheel chair and nurses held Huma who was crying loudly.

The doctors pumped oxygen on his face as he breathed heavily. Huma followed the trolley and held her hand to it, as the mobile bed was pushed inside the operation theater. She waited outside, losing her sanity and yelling at nurses. The doctor came out and patted her on the back, "I won't ask who you are in relation to the patient and he is one lucky man to have a lady like you in his life. They don't make women like you anymore who love selflessly. He is out of danger and you can meet him any time soon."

Huma was at a loss of words and couldn't believe that she freaked out for Varun. She rested her head on the hospital wall when someone gently caressed her hair. Turning around, Huma saw her best friend, Niharika who hugged her tightly, "Babe! If this is not love, what is it then?

Huma was going to protest but Niharika told her to shut up and urged to meet Varun inside the room before dragging her home to rest. He was lying on the bed when Huma hugged him. She smiled, "How are you?"

Varun looks towards the ceiling, "Rolling like the fan..it's just tiredness and stress, nothing else. But, you go home and take rest. Thanks for everything." She was fumbling for words to break the silence but was only able to mumble, "You'll be okay, right. We'll catch up tomorrow."

She rushed out of the room and Niharika drove her home. As they were driving Niharika said, "Huma, you know whatever happens in life, happens for the best. Look at you, you are still pretending that you don't love Varun and all it took him to crash, that you freaked out and acted like a devoted wife. You spend your nights in the hospital, crying and cursing fate. I know you will protest but just one thing that I want to tell you that you are paying a heavy price for the not-so-stormy-nights. It's your decision and only you who can take a plunge."

Huma didn't say anything during the entire trip and remained silent at home, tears stopped in her eyes. She was in a shock and Niharika understood what she is going through but secretly hopes, that she will be strong to face her inner demons. She knew that one day the secret will come out one day and needs to be strong to face it. "I must conquer my fear but, at the same time, I cannot allow the thought of Varun to distract my mind," she thought.

Niharika pulls out the cigarette leaves, neatly arranging the ganja and rolled it back in the filter, took a drag, her head perched towards the ceiling fan. Oh!! Huma! Huma! What a life we have! Complexity of love and relationships..let's burn everything tonight with the ganja and vodka." She passed the ganja to Huma, who asked 'who brought it? It's awesome stuff..totally hardcore.' Niharika winked, "Babe! My ex-husband, he is town. Now forget him" and pulls Huma's personal diary, flitting the pages and found something on the back page, written with black gel pen. "That's some secret," she wickedly said.

Huma protested, trying to snatch the diary away from Niharika but the latter held the diary with all the strength as her best friend wrestled with her. Finally, Huma abandoned and withdrew on the bed. Niharika started laughing loud and rolled on the floor, reading the words scribbled:

"Love doesn't work wonders for everyone. I'm no Cinderella who will be rescued by the Prince charming. Just an ordinary gal with flaws, love to have fun sometimes...."

Niharika laugh got more louder than the house could have exploded and said, "Babe! You are hilarious, sometimes, know what do you want in life." Huma froze like a statue, totally expressionless.

Monsoon Affair (1)

This is the first series of a novella which I am presented to you people. It's a romance story set against the backdrop of monsoon in Mumbai. Enjoy the first chapter

One:

It started raining heavily in Mumbai. It was the first shower where people dropped umbrellas to enjoy droplets of water falling on their heads and faces. Kids started prancing on the streets and by the sea. After all, it was the first rain in the city where crazy lots were doing somersault, women removing chappal to walk in the rain and running down the stairs to get wet. Maximum City opened their hearts to happiness after a long anticipation for the blessing of the Gods of the rain. Young couples waited for the moment to get intimate sitting on the boulder, petting each other and smooching, facing the furious wind and rain water splashing on their faces. The monsoon lady arouses lovers as they indulged in passionate intimacy.

All of a sudden, the rain grew furious in Maximum City and soon the local trains started running late, roads were transformed into seas and rivers. Passengers were stranded at railway stations, waiting for hours and trains moved at snail pace. Traffic was brought to a halt as the water level was rising in the city. It's going to be mayhem, the people feared. It's been hours that commuters were stranded, no signs of trains reaching the railway station and the rain continued unabated and grew furious as hours passed. Cars, buses and bikes were floating like paper boats on streets transformed into rivers.
The stuck commuters barged into the office of the already panicky railway officer and shouted to the latter and the cops trying to intervene. "Every time, same old story. We need a solution. You, guys, can't expect us to spend the night here, away from our homes."
Finally, the angry people relented and knowing that there is little they could do, spreading themselves on the floor and holding babies, children on their stomach. It was 11 p.m.
Dressed in black salwar kameez, she pulled her jet black hair that fell on her shoulders, backpack on her tiny shoulders and eyes scouting for a comfortable place to sit. There was none at the already crowded Dadar station. Her legs were paining and plodded her steps with utmost difficult, almost verging on tears. The only thing that preoccupied her mind was the teddy-bear gifted by Dad and who always cuddled to her in the room in the sky rise at her expensive apartment at Parel.
As she moved and flitted around the station, someone was eyeing her every move, admiring her steps, face and fair features. He was speechless, standing drenched in his blue denims, white tee and leather jackets with mouth wide open. 'I want to get drown into her eyes. It's the liquor of life. How can someone be so beautiful,' he told himself.
He was struck by her divine beauty and charm. Deep inside, he knew that he has to speak to her since he was automatically drawn to her. There are some people who touches your heart and soul, captivating your imagination like magnet.
Watching her move, he pretended to walk towards the truck where she was sitting on the platform. He was standing close to her and pretended to be anxious, bending his leg in air, adjacent to the track and thrusting his body to get a peek of the train at a looming distance.
She stood like statue, unfazed when he turned around, "Hi! Varun."
She tried to ignore him and kept walking, turned for two seconds, looked straight into his eyes with a severe look and turned her back to him. He was at her heels and tried to smile, "I said Hi."
Turning around, she said, "Listen! Please don't bug me or else I am going to create a scene here in front of everyone. I don't even know who you are and am not interested. Can't you see it." She walked away. He was left speechless and disappointed.

Unique Flavor of Mumbai Dance Bars and political double standards

There was a time where the city in Mumbai could not be considered to be complete without the Ladies Bar in the famous Mumbai Central by-lanes. The island city aptly termed, 'Maximum City' offered a unique flavor through the countless dance bars frequented by rich patrons, media professionals, script writers, rickshaw driver and people from different social strata. Once you enter the ladies bar, there is a certain aura and spark magic that makes you want to stay since there is the heavenly feeling. Sadly, the heavenly night life provided was scrapped by a stupid political decision.
In a judgement of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the verdict by the apex court was upheld making the ban imposed by the Maharashtra Government illegal. It's been six years since the dance bars where the ladies danced to the sheer delight of patrons were made illegal. Business suffered but the poor women who earned a livelihood in the dance bars were stripped of their livelihood and as a means to earn a living. Personally, I am in favor of the judgement of the Supreme Court who ruled in favor of the re-opening of the dance bars.
I have been a regular to the dance bar where the beautiful ladies swarmed to the top chartbusters of Hindi film songs and provided entertainment to patrons. On the outset, the contentious claim by the politicians with vested interests and double standards that the dance bars promote prostitution is ridiculous. I would often have a chilled Kingfisher beer and admire the moves of the bar dancers and I have never ever been proposed for sex by a bar dancer. One should understand that the ladies bar in Mumbai provide entertainment to clients. For once, we should stop with the double standards flouted by politicians. Fine, you are ready to chuck out between 5,000 to 20,000 rupees to watch Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu or Malika Sherawat indulge in pelvic thrusts and yet you don't call them prostitutes. Fair enough since they are artists providing entertainment during new year eve bash. Then, why the fuck you label bar dancers prostitutes? Those so-called guardians of moral of society should learn how to chill.
One should understand that there was a time when dance bar offered employment to 75,000 women in Mumbai and these ladies could easily earn between 25 to 40k. The bar dance provided a source of livelihood to those women and sudden closing of the bars has driven so many of these unfortunate women to embrace the life of a commercial sex worker. Some were even driven to commit suicide. This is the grim reality in the dark shades of Mumbai. No, mister, prostitution doesn't happen in Ladies Bar and when you decided to pass the buck on these hard working women who have children, you cannot justify your failure in preventing terror attack in the city. You, politicians, made the city vulnerable to terror attacks and stop doing cheap politics by piggy backing on innocent women. The argument put forward by politicians rest on empty promised made where assurance was given that the state of Maharashtra will ensure that these women will be provided with jobs. Nothing has been done for these women who were rendered unemployed.
It is important to highlight that no murder were committed in the dance bar that makes the argument of Maharashtra government that it is a place where underworld dons meet to plan terror attack. No woman has ever been arrested for indulging in illicit activities such as drug and prostitution. It is not a prostitution racket and mind you, there are college students and some from well-to-do families who were bar dancers in the name of their love for dance. This was testified by the director of Chandni Bar, Madhur Bhandarkar whose movie was based on the lives of bar dances. Some very beautiful girls performed in the dance bar so that they may earn good pocket money to afford branded and luxury items. What's wrong with that? It is a perfectly legitimate aspiration. Script writer of many super hit movies like Aashiqui 2 and Murder 2, Shagufta Rafique started her life in a dance bar since it provided her a gateway to freedom. This is the story of many bar dancers in the city of Mumbai.
The Supreme Court has sent a very strong and direct message to the government of Maharashtra and in particular to Maharashtra former deputy chief minister and present Home Minister, R R Patil for his retrograde stand on bar dancers. It brings warmth to the heart that Ladies Bar that once was the pride of Mumbai and provided livelihood to thousands of women in the city will be opened soon. The dance bars gave dignity to these women who danced to entertain patrons. Dance is an art form that many have seemed to forget.

I am looking forward to visit the dance bars very soon during my next visit to Mumbai and chill with my favorite King Fisher Beer. I will love seeing the happy smiles on the faces of those women and gentlemen posing as waiters and manager in black suits. I rest my case.

Tale of cities on a prowl

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, life intertwined from one junction of life to another, you don't shift loyalty between opportunities thrust at your feet. At the risk of being labeled a traitor, you gently remind them that you are trapped by your emotions that overlap as you traipse across the globe.
A tale of cities that you visit leave an indelible mark on your existence as a human being as you feel a sudden connect with the soul of the cities which indulges you and make you sizzle. I have a tendency to be emotionally connected to cities and places I visit and make the places my own home. I set up shop in Pune years back and this is where my ongoing romance started as I gyrated to the city's own joy. We laughed, cried and romanced together as the city whom I made my home long time back held sway to my antics and carried me in its womb. The very thought of leaving the city makes me shudder as I thought in disbelief..what would I do if tomorrow, I have to leave Pune for an altogether new place, chasing opportunities and new challenges. Pune is a city that I call home and the people are like family and not once, you feel that you are an outsider. It's the place where you fit in so easily and completely laid back as it is, you can enjoy a morning coffee in the restaurants and socialize with strangers at random. Whenever, you come back, it's always homecoming and the city gently remind you that you have never and can  never leave it. It's called the city of Peshawar and completely romantic in appeal. This is where I started my career and where I truly belong and no force in the world can pull us apart.
Three hours away from Pune comes Maximum city, the city that never sleeps which is a world in itself. Yeah! You got it right, Mumbai..amchi Mumbai where the people irrespective of where they come from, Maharashtra, Gujurat, Jhammu, Goa, Assam or Uttar Pradesh pride in calling themselves Mumbaikar and there is no harm in calling yourself Mee Mumbaiakar not an ode to the late Balasaheb or Raj Thackeray but you have a sense of belonging irrespective of whether your are Maharashtrian born or not. Whether it's the Queen Necklace view at night, strolling at Marine Drive, Chowpatthy, local trains or Colaba, you know that you are right in the soul of the city. As you get down from the train at the iconic Chitrapathi Shivaji Terminus (CST) and find yourself among the seam of crowd, you know you are in Mumbai. Get set to struggle and jostle your way among the berserk and increasingly restless crowd as well as nerve-racking traffic.Like they say, if you can make it in Mumbai, you can make it in any part of the world.
I share a love-and-hate relationship with Mumbai.I mean I used to..When I shifted base to amchi Mumbai, I love everything about the city so much that I became obsessed with Mumbai..even the things that doesn't make a Mumbaikar proud, I used to overlook them..prod me about beggars, filth and water-logging, I would brush it aside and swoosh that it is the soul of the city. In no time, the city was getting on my head and like two lovers who had enough of each other, we started finding fault wi and the complaints as well as constant whining started to unfurl itself..oh! it's too fucking crowded, the people have bad breath, too much rush and why the fuck are they so tense even if they have to catch the movie at the plex..the war-mongering started and the perfect excuse to evade to Pune for weeks and weeks and weeks.
I came back to the city and after a couple of soul-searching days, it was love at first sight again. wow! Yeh Mumbai hai meri jaan! Amazing buildings..Rajabhai Tower, CST, locals-our life line, yellow-and-black cabs and greeting pals with kai re over a cuppa cutting chai. Every time, you are back to the city, you wonder why BMCC don't indulge in elongating the city to make way for more and more migrating pigeons like me....You feel that you need to unlearn and learn the new A-Z of Mumbai. The city keep changing every other alternate day and this is what makes Mumbai so utterly charming. You feel that you are at odds, trapped and swarmed in world pregnant with contradiction and the feeling conveyed to you, Horns Ok, everything strictly allowed if done to the extreme. You fight with yourself coz you know you gotta be back. Mumbai can pour outburst of anger, happiness, joy and sadness..
I had a one night stand with Delhi.it's a case of Harry Met Sally and you are surprised as to how the city' charm fell on you. I was charmed with Delhi and the wonderful monuments, be it Kutub Minar, the stainless Metro and Janpat, Connaught Place and would tell to everyone that matters that I wouldn't mind shifting base to Delhi, a place that I abhorred so much thanks to the advise of friends that I shouldn't be there ever in my life.
I am caught between the devil and the deep blue sea as the love triangle or four angle between me, Pune, Mumbai and New Delhi seems so fluid and fluorescent. I have the knack of being emotionally attached to cities I found myself trapped in. Which city do my loyalty belongs to? It's a case of brand loyalty to all or none. Each city bear its own charms, and of course, beautiful women and soul-stirring appeal. My love for Pune an Mumbai doesn't diminish in the face of newly found love for New Delhi. At the risk of being called a slut vying to bed a new lover every single night and a traitor by my Mumbai frenz who can't stand New Delhi, I wonder where I stand. Though I confess that my love for Pune and Mumbai remains stronger than ever and will not be superseded by the capital city, New Delhi remain a babe to be explored. 

Cities bang bang
Good night
by
city lover

Happines Quotient

Love, life, moolah, career, books, journalism, Facebook and G-chat. That's what my life sum up to. A more apt description of life would be that I am only too happy indulging in things that I enjoy doing. Howzzat post at 4 a.m in the morning! Our generation faces lotsa tribulations as we juggle our time in work, relationship and mundane things like watching movies, reading for pleasure and brooding on problems in the world. And, we choose to smartly brush aside sex and lust and after all, who has time for all that intimate emotions yaar when we are stuck up with the hum drum of city life. The little time that we are spared, it is spent making trip to the wonderful memories we left behind.
We were told that it's a fab time we are living. Their generation earn much less than we are earning and that we have plenty of opportunity. Once, on my way to Infinity mall, Andheri Mumbai, I met an old man.he must be above 70-year-old and he told me, India is booming and you guys have so much opportunity. You can work in the call centre and make money and our generation made money with less opportunities. What my learned uncle failed to ignore was the financial crisis that spelled havoc. Theek hai! India was booming at that time and our growth rate is still positive and jobs are created throughout the country. Yet! there are freeze in economic sectors and as you look for opportunities outside the home land, there come a point you wanna come back home. Yet! You can't because there is a freeze in your professional field and you gotta wait impatiently for the worse to get over. As if it's the Tsunami that's hovering over your head for some time. Sometimes, it's not just professional fulfillment that matters but happiness.
By the way, have you read the happiness survey in Hindustan Times during the week. Mumbai scores much over Delhi..well! That's support the claim that happiness matters and not money! To be frank, Mumbai sounds better than Delhi and no matter how much I hate to admit it, I was in Delhi in November and I have fallen prey to its charm. Yes! I said Delhi is a wonderful a city and to the extent that a friend of mine who is born and bred in Mumbai told me, you have shifted loyalty, Traitor! Well, he is in Australia right now. Of course, he was kidding but I feel like being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Ahem! Ahem!
The respondents in Delhi are more stressed out than Mumbaikars. Well that news to me not because Delhi is stressed out but I feel that the stress quotient in a city like Mumbai is no less. Come on, Mumbai is a city where you need to be constantly on the edge and you are busy like hell..forget about sparing time for others, you can hardly afford any time for yourself. That's the city on the move for you. True, Mumbai is more chilled out than Delhi in the sense that Mumbai is less aggressive and somewhat better place for women. But, it is debatable.
The survey ranks Mumbai on the sixth position with a happiness quotient of 776 as compared to Delhi which find itself at number 15 with an HQ of 609. It is assessed by our happy leaning through leisure time, entertainment and social life. Well, the world is crazy. What surprises me even more that Pune's level of happiness reaches 748 at number nine. Well, I just can't agree that Mumbai scores inches ahead of Pune. True, Pune is no longer the peaceful and laid back city that it used to be and the guilty are the builders who have put a nail in the coffin of Mumbai are hell bent to destroy Pune.
It's a crazy world and I wonder what defines happiness for an average person. Money? But, it entails a more stressful life. Friends? I agree with that coz it's important for us to have our emotional support in place but above all, the time to indulge in things we love doing and satisfy our creative quest. I, for one, love sipping cutting chai at the tapdi in the company of friends. Do we have time to so?! I wonder. Anyway, let's try to be happy!

When I almost missed my flight

January 10, 2012


Have you ever thought why the Emirates flight on the second Sunday of the new year on its way to Dubai would wait for a reckless and careless passenger, stranded in the Mumbai traffic?  Well if you think that this post is iffy, well think again. That person is the careless ME.
For once, I didn't pay heed to mom cautious advise and the golden rule any air passenger should religiously and obstiantely observe while traveling:Always make it a point to reach the airport three hours before your flight take off. I could have heard the voice of maa chiding me for being such a 'whipper snapper'. On that day, I was woken by the heinous call of crows and pigeons that was crawling near the window of my hotel in Colaba. Time to be set baby coz I gotta play the part of superman the time I get ready and go down. Bingo! It's hell. As I jump out of the bed to reach the bathroom for the morning ritual that is to take a shower, the bathtubs are filled with the inhabitants in the hotel. I do the waiting game as I light a cigarette. Finally, its all done and get down for breakfast at Picadilly and say Hi to uncle who owns the cyber near Colaba and which is frequented by hordes of foreigners. Uncle is ma university friend Wilbur's dad and he did everything possible to ensure that I don't sleep on the pavement with my luggage looming on ma head at 1 a.m in the morning. I just landed in Mumbai all the way from Pune.
The big question is..is..is how the fuck I almost missed my plane? I so wanted to buy a new laptop and I went to Vijay Sales to acquire the new machine. But, since there was something wrong with ma credit card, it was not meant to be and instead I went shopping  for some accesories at Fort. Bah! It was the new year sales and the devil tempted me to buy stuffs like shirts, t-shirts, trousers at Global and Westside. Then, I headed to Oxford bookshop to buy books, clicked pictures at Marine Drive. On my way back to Colaba, I huddled with carry bags and as I hurtled, straggled towards Levi's store to acquire  my new denim, I realized that it's almost 5 p.m.
Back to the hotel, I was faced with an uphill and herculean task. There are three suitcases and I struggled on how to put the whole possessions in the bag. I mean I just stuffed them inside imagining the suitcases to be the mouth and the clothes, the paranthas. I left my hotel at 6 and my flight was scheduled at 10.30 all the way at CST International airport, Santacruz. My red-and-yellow iconic Mumbai cab was caught in a swirl of traffic and the vehicles seems to amble slowly. I was worried and constantly fidgeting with the phone to check the time. As we pass marine drive, I clicked pictures, trying to lift the burden off my mind away from the traffic woe. As the taxi driver swirled towards Wilson college, near chowpatty beach and converging towards Mahalakshmi, I could sense trouble with the frantic snarl where vehicles were not moving at all. My cab was simply wiggling and the road ressembled like a a hotbed of countless robots cluttered in the city. Yes! I am thinking of Rajnkant's marquee spread across the globe. There is no word that shall describe the snail pace movement of traffic. Then, it is Mumbai and I should have realized about it long time back.
As we cross Mahalakshmi, the phone start ringing and it's Meghna calling to wave goodbye. Hey, where have you reached..I share my apprehension with her and she's like probably you'll reach in tym..I share with her that I don't wanna leave Mumbai and  comforts me by insisting that I'll be back very soon and forever. To beat the stress out, I toggled between radio mirchi, red fm to kill time. Finally, we had to make a choice and opted for the toll road in order to kill time. The easiest route is indeed the more tough one to negotiate as we are stuck in the human and immovable traffic where the vehicles seem to say, hello it's our birthright to go through this route. Finally, we reached the airport as I express relief.

Relief..aha! You must be joking! The airport resemble the western railway station as there is a huge queue swirling and straggling its way inside the airport. Finally, I jostled to the Emirates counter. I just freaked out as I was told that I am running an excess of more than 20k. I reached the HDFC ATM, withdrew money and paid. I just fucking freaked out as the helpful official sensed trouble did not feign to help me with the filling the immigration form. As I hustled towards the airport lounge where I had to carry a shit heavy loaded hand luggage, the cute Emirates official told me, Sir, please hurry we are only waiting for you before we take off. I am like what the fuck!Am I Some kinda celebrity. I just had time to say the soothing and charming words to the air hostess, Hi lady. She exudes a charming, Thank you, sir. Finally, I can breathe as the Emirates plane gets ready for take off. Who invented aircrafts?
I woke up in Dubai after two hours and thirty minutes. Finally, I am in the plane and missing maximum city. It's been a day. Oh! Mumbai you are faraway from me and you just loomed away from me. I am heart broken.

LPNY resonates with today's youth

Just watched London-Paris-New York starring Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao Hydari. What a sweet love story! It is the story of Nikhil and Lalitha, a middle class South Indian-Maharashtrian sexy-combo-kinda chick. Nikhil plays a Bandra boy who wants to study film-making in London. Destiny had other plans as Lalitha and Nikhil meets up in London.
They meet, sing songs to each other had a rollicking time with each other before they realize that they are in love with each other. The forte of this Anu Menon's flick is its dialogue. Like kissing may mean that whether the couple may produce beautiful kids or Lalithapedia. Aditi Rao is natural as Lalithapedia as she infuses freshness in her character. She plays the role of the fiery feminist cum future politician with ease. It's amazing to see her transformation from Abhishek Bachchan's Bhabhi in Delhi-6 to the helpless wife of a don in Yeh Saali Zindagi and the reporter using her sexuality..read body to get real news from Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar. She has grown as an actor and is someone to watch in the coming years.
Ali Zafar at the onset seems a lil bit uncomfortable playing the typical Bandra Boy and me think it got to do with the fact that he is not a typical Mumbai boy. I think Anu should have put some layers of Bandraite in Zafar's character..Somehow we missed a Bandraite looking for his Sandra.However, post the interval, Nikhil gets back on track and gives a lovely performance. He is wonderful in the emotional performance, particularly in the climax. Whether as the flirtatious or romantic Nikhil, Zafar will make the audience go gagga over him.

The movie is well shoot and LPNY is a love story with a difference. The vision of Anu is commendable with the dose of freshness she injects in her characters. The good thing with LPNY is that it mainly centres on two characters, Nikhil and Lalitha. A special word of mention for Aditi Rao Hydari whose portrayal of the Paris girl is a delightful. A superhot chick who thinks that wearing glasses can make a woman hot.
I have always said that content, the director's treatment and good performance matters in a good film. Certainly, the future belongs to the young generation and Anu is a young director with a vision. It explores the nuances of todays relations among the youth!With a bang. It's a love story with a difference. LPNY will appeal to 20-something and 30-something. Plus, it's not heavy. It's a cool 100 minutes movie.
Only thing is that the music could have been better and should be elevated a notch higher o portray the nuances of the relationship between Nikhil and Lalitha. Plus, we personally miss some portions of amchi mumbai, in particular Bandra. Go for it. It's worth a dekkho and much today's youth.

P.S: I'm reviewing a movie after 3 and a half months. This makes me more than happy. I am on a high 

Happy New year 2012

Whoa! I'm here after more than one month. That too last year. Wish you all a very Happy New Year 2012. The year that was ended with a bang and 2012 kicked off very well. What one can ask better than that. I woke up in Goa and without suffering from hangover. Yes! Indeed! The reasonable me decided that New Year can be celebrated without gulping alcohol down the throat and that too in Goa. My holidays were awesome as I was in maximum city, Mumbai for 4 days or so and went to my home town Pune where I was based and stayed in Goa from December 31 to Jan 3. I made the most of the holidays. I fully deserve it after slogging for one and a half years. Now, I'm back to reality and the famous deadlines at work. Decided to relocate back to either Pune or Mumbai, though Pune will be the first choice. But, that will take one and a half years to two to happen. If I don't include this year, it means that one more year and I shall embrace life in Pune/Mumbai. That's where my life and quotient of happiness lies.
Suffered a minor set back on Saturday..dunno whether one should call it minor but it was a major overhaul. I parted with one tooth since it went into the decayed state. The other one in the upper part of the mouth was saved but the second one..well..it was not meant to be. The dentist which happens to be my cousin tried to remove it the normal way but it broke inside..He was like..I injected anesthesia to relieve the pain but can't help it now and you have to bear the pain. Pain! Man! It was terrible.I just closed my eyes as the dentist struggled to remove the parts of the decayed tooth. It was terrible and was thinking of first day in college, my professor, friends and the first lecture. I was like when the madness is ever gonna get over.
At one moment, the dentist held my head tightly and tried to remove the tooth while my mouth has become the war zone. Hell! It's my mouth. Finally, it got over after one hour. Poor dentist was seating heavily while I bore the pain for one hour.  Tooth surgery can be very traumatic and it was. Later, he told me that the tooth had to be extracted the hard way as the root of a tree be removed.
I spent the whole day replacing the cotton paid since the upper and lower part of teeth are touching each other and it damn irritating. I'm still in the healing process and I've been able to cut on smoke. Still, shouldn't smoke at all but working towards. Been on pills for days and here it is. The damage is done and no cribbing bout it.
Lesson learned: There are some sensitive areas where the toothbrush doesn't forcibly go and we need to visit the dentist every 6 months for clean-up. Better, bear some minor pain rather facing the trauma of a surgery. I learned my lesson.
Now,let's move on to better things as I look forward to a great year ahead. It started well and shall be a great one. Watch out the post on Goa.
Cheers
Have a great N awesome year 2012

2011, the year in review

Just how I was complaining how the year started slowly and whether it's gonna end in beauty and prose. Here, we are at the end of 2011. Indeed, it started at a slow patch and how much I vented on the blog. It's been a great year professionally, set backs there were but not much. 2011 was quite a departure from 2010 and I wonder how things changed positively for my own state of being. The setbacks gradually waned away towards the end of June and I am indeed finishing 2011 in beauty and stepping in the new golden era,2012 in beauty. Two days of work for 2011 and as from 20, holidays and Mumbai, Pune, Lavasa and Goa, here I come.
January hit on a slow note and quite badly as I had a conflict with one of my relative. He is a bloody loser and was acting so stupid perhaps because he has money and gave the impression of being quite arrogant on that matter. I choose to ignore him and could have replied to him. Neways! He's a cheapo. On the professional front, I was struggling and was counting till June so that I finish one year at work. I was planning to leave after that. However, things took a u-turn and drastically improved for me. Relations and bonds were not only strengthened but cemented after that gestation period. The relationship with my boss improved and all of a sudden I was on the upswing. Conflicts lessened. The icing on the cake: I embraced a new challenge and ventured into reported and towards the year end I turned into a film critic and a full-fledged reporter. It was a large improvement and suddenly, I was enjoying my job. From sub-editor to report, I must admit that I find the desk job quite boring. However, I found true fulfilment as a news reporter and must admit that credit goes to boss who not only pushed me but encouraged me in what she thinks I am good at. She tapped the potential in me. It's been a new challenge and learned so much in the media business. Finally, I am happy doing my job. It shot up my self-confidence and gave me the upper hand.
I must admit that prior to that I was actually counting days till June arrives. I am happy that I took the decision to stay on the job. It was a great decision. On the personal side, I remained and stayed single. Not a happy scene though coz I am looking and longing for a relationship. Hmm! Let's hope for a change as 2011 comes to an end and as we usher in 2012. I am hopeful coz 13 days remains and the table may turn in my favour. One brownie point: I struggled to reduce smoking and so far successfully failed to do so. Once I was able to reduce smoking but in general, it was such a disaster. Better luck next time!! Guess, I am not psychologically prepared.
Read lotsa stuffs and books like Twilight, 40 rules of Love, Time's Traveller's Wife, Grisham, Harry Potter as well as self-help books such as Stephen Covey's 7 rules of Highly Effective People made my joy. Wrote some short stories which was clearly not enough and need to stick myself to the plans of writing. I need to put some discipline in my life.This is what is lacking in life.

new kid on the block celebrated one year on November 20  and stay tune and a brand new post will be exclusive devoted to the post which has more than 100 posts, some comments and around 600 views. Not bad as the slow and steady wins the race.
Finally, I will be able to afford holidays and indeed my year end leave was approved. I will go back to my home town, Pune and my adopted hometown Mumbai and will visit Lavasa, Goa and perhaps Gujerat. In less than 72 hours I will be officially on holidays as I look set to board Emirates plane where I will stop at Dubai airport for three hours before landing in the city that never sleeps Mumbai on Wednesday. Simply Mumbai!!!! What better way to end the year and kick start 2012 in beauty and style. I took the decision to travel out of the blue and stick to it. There was nothing on earth that could have stopped me and thank the Great Almighty for that. A prayer that was never unheard and fulfilled.I am already making plans for 2014 world cup in Brazil and have every reason to save and manage my money. I will drop and shop towards the year end as 2012 will have very less scope for shopping. See! I gotta save my money for world cup 2014. I look forward for a great career in 2012 and where I shall cross the seas and oceans so that I am back home.
Have a great year end 2011 and a rocking start to 2012.
Will update on travel.

"And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
Love

Mumbai

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

The count down starts. 34 days from now on I shall be in maximum city. It's been a long wait and it's worth the wait. I left Mumbai on September 22, 2007 as I bid farewell to the city of dreams. I left the city, heart broken and shattered. My heart broke on that day as tears dropped on my cheek. I had to leave the city. I needed a break, cutting me off from the local trains, yellow-and-black cabs and turned my face to love. I loved and lost. Chanda told me, ya dude do get out of the city. You need a break. Honestly, I suffered from a terrible break up and staying in the city would mean thinking of the past things that hapened to me.
In a sense it's been good. Lotsa things changed for better. I was able to surmount the heart break. I've come clean inside. I shall be in the city for a week. I can't wait to kiss Mumbai and everything that matters. I can't wait to board the local to Andheri, hang out at Churchgate, Marine Drive, Colabo. Mumbai rocks. It is the best city in the world. A city that never sleeps. I love the city and when you are not with someone that you realize its worth. Mumbai,my city, my love. A city that never cease to amaze me. Our never say die the spirit. It's amazing and intriguing how we bounce back after every bomb blast. The people are amazing. There is never a dull moment in amchi Mumbai.
I'm already making plans as to where to go on Day 1, where to eat, whom to meet. It's like running into the arms of your muse. Mumbai is my muse and shall always be. Our love is forever and ever. It is an adictive place. Since I have few days leave I shall try to do the maximum in the city and looking forward to meet old chums, make new friends and sip my Capuccino at Barrista and hang out at Bandra Bandstand. I'm back with a revenge and it's time for em to triumph in Mumbai. How things changed for me in a short span of time and shall witness the change that's happening in the city. I shall witness the fast paced life.
Do commuters still rush in the early morning to catch the local train to their workplace? Of course, they do. Do you guys still have chai at 1 a.m at Churchgate station and savour your bun with jelly. Most definitely. What kind of stupid question is that? Or the cutting chai at Rajabhai Tower, university of Mumbai and the walk from university to Colaba..the crazy run of cabbies and hordes of onlookers at Juhu Chowpathy and the coffee at CCD. These were the golden years or so I may call it. It was a crazy life in Mumbai and it's still..I'm sure for crores Mumbaikars. The struggle for a better life and to make the moolah. It's never been easy in Mumbai.
They say a life time is enough to assess the power Mumbai has over its citizens. One life is not enough to know even a third of Mumbai. Do you still recall running from one place to another to hunt for a flat in the city. SoBo..too expensive, Bandra not in the budget, Virar you can't stay and Andheri is the only decent option. It has new shopping malls budding up and the solution is always the BEST buses and the local trains if your college or workplace or film studio is located in the South or West. I still vividly remember studying in the library at Kalina campus and dashing to board the train at Santacruz, It's 8 p.m and as you juggle you way in the jam packed local, you tend to count the number of stations to reach the last stop as you are dead tired. No problem if you manage to get a seat you open your bag to read The Economic Times. As the train slowly approaches Churchgate station, you get down cautiously if you don't wanna be pushed by commuters who are waiting to enter the train. It's a crazy run. Yet! We adore the city.

It's a love-hate-love relationship we share.
Sometimes I get so fed up with you that I wanna leave everything and go.
But, only to realize how much I miss you.
Yoy are my special city.
You are mot just a city.
After all, you wear the Queen's necklace.
So vibrant, full of energy.
No wonder lakhs converge everyday to rest on your shoulder.
Like a dutiful mother you carry our burden.
We suffer in your lap yet we prosper.
Some of us finds love, while other suffer break up.
Yet, our love for you knows no limits.
As I ready myself to find solace in you,
I can't tell on the amount of excitement to be with you.
I wish that we shall unite for better and worse.
Love you my city.

My amchi Mumbai.

Kasakai Mumbai-part 1

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Mumbai..my city my life. A fantasy yet so complex like life. Life is full of complexities, isn't it? A city that never ceased to amaze me, its fast life, its people and the surprised thrust forward. I fell in love with the place the second time and since then, I became a Mumbaikar. We share a love-hate-love relationship. me and my Mumbai. At one shot, it's the most amazing place on earth, then city life gets too much on me and the need to break away from maximum city. Then, I start missing the place. Why God made you that way, Dear Mumbai.
Alas!No matter how much we complain that we are the soft target of terror, the lack of proper infrastructure or water logging problem, we love the city. The fact that we are a Mumbaikar makes us gloom. Sitting at Marine Drive and admiring the stillness of water and thinking over the meaning of life. The silence makes us realize how alone we are in the world but suddenly the wave reminds one is not alone. The city has such a big heart that it embraces everyone. We realize how fortunate we are to be in the city that never sleeps.
It's a nice that moves at an unparalled speed that one may feel that he or she may never catch this fast train. Well, some call it the spirit of Mumbai. A world of 2 extremes, a world in itself. At one minute, you are in Mulund, next in Andheri and the flick of seconds at Churchgate. That's why we are called the fastest city in India. Our resilience is lauded. The way we stand on our feet 24 hours after a blash shook our city. Are we a myth or the city has moulded us to become like that. Very complex question to perhaps an even bigger complex answer. Sometimes, an answer is not a means to an end. Our lives is not governed by rules.
No matter how much a localite will crib about his Mumbai, he will not stand shit against his city. Do that at your own risk. Screw you!!That's Mumbai for you, the city that never sleep. We are so used to the hardship yet we smile.
As a Mumbaikar we are proud. We are proud of our huge buildings, BEST buses, local trains, yellow and black cabs, proud of our stars and cricketeers..proud that Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar and Dhirubhai Ambani are Mumbaikars..we won't trade them for anything or any other city. Mumbai is our love. We just love the city for its intricacies..We love Leopold, the maddening crowd, the slums--it makes us content deep inside that Dhairavi is the biggest slum in the city.
We love our Mumbai. I love my Mumbai.
It's a city that has a soul.
Ruthless yet beautiful.
Artrogant but complex.
This is my Mumbai.
The greatest drama on earth.
If only you were human.
Were you a woman, I will never wake up.
We would embrace each other and sleep.
Love you maximum city.