city, somehow

What are the odds you end up in a city you once watched movies about?

Or in a job you dreaded thinking about?
What are the odds that both those things happen at once?

Life took its turn, and I’m here now. The city of dreams. The beloved Mayanagri. The land by the bay.

But enough romanticising, let me just say it: I’m working now.

This blog has accompanied me through middle school classes, my poetry phase, and my college years. I confessed my love for movies here. No, it’s not a diary, it’s public, free, and available. And yet, I still choose to write “personal” things here, maybe because no one really knows the full context.

When someone asks me, “How’s Mumbai?”, I never quite know what to say.
What do I say? It’s fast, lively, crowded, and vivid. Just as I imagined.

So much has happened since I moved! Where do I begin?

We went to Juhu. It was one of those Friday nights where I almost forced my flatmates to step out of the house. I was too excited for the first weekend. We had just come back from the beach and were wandering through quiet lanes in search of a place to eat. We were starving. Our hair was tangled by the sea breeze, my feet still had remnants of sand on them, and I was content. It felt like a dream, to be honest. Such an ordinary moment felt so vivid, like something I’d already lived through in imagination, a movie, or a book.

We were standing in front of a small shop, leaning against parked bikes and talking about something I can’t even remember now, when a balloon seller walked up to us. He was trying to make a sale; maybe one that would help feed his family. It had been ages since I last bought a balloon, but in that moment, out of pure emotion, I bought one, for three times its price.

As silly as it sounds, that balloon made me genuinely happy.

I roamed with it on the Juhu-Tara Road. I walked into Prithvi Café with it, hoping to find a table for five. It became my accessory. I kept it close, wanting to take it home with me.

Later, we finally found a place to eat, with beautiful music and a lovely breeze. After dinner, we were waiting outside for our taxi. It was late at night. A young girl walked up to us, asking for money.

I don’t know if I hesitated. I just knew that in that moment, the only thing I had to offer was that balloon.

I asked her if she wanted it.

I expected her to refuse and walk away. But she smiled, took the balloon, and walked away.

I do not know what to make of this moment. It's probably really, really cheesy. But choosing happiness over money is a choice, a choice many people in this country make. She made that choice there. She was happy. If I think about it, life gives me a lot to be grateful for. 

I’m never going to forget this incident. It feels like my introduction to this city.

Hello, Mumbai.
I hope I stay a while.

clicked by @coolchlorophyllproductions on instagram