Monsoon magic in Mumbai

The monsoons have always been special for every Bombayite/Mumbaikar, and no matter how much the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) tries to make us hate the rains with the potholes, mismanaged traffic and water logging, one can’t help love the monsoon magic.

The city looks the best during this season as the skyline changes colours from different hues of crimson to blue to grey. Those endless walks on Marine Drive, Carter Road and Worli Sea Face suddenly seem to have a different appeal all together. The wind blows through your hair and the waves kiss your cheeks during high tide and splash onto the roads. Even Mumbai’s latest entrant – the Bandra Worli Sea Link has added to the beauty of monsoons. Driving in the midst of the ocean with the rains slashing against your car gives you different high all together. The only dampener is the speed limit. Also the view of the city is amazing especially with the foggy skyline.

How can I forget the fun of eating roadside food during the rains? Popping spicy pani puris which make you cry or eating chana chor garam as the smell of bhutta’s fill the air and even A1 sandwiches seem hard to resist.

The rains even change the atmosphere in my office. Everything seems so lazy. When it turns dark and grey outside its ironic how everyone in unison feels like having some chai or the canteenwalla’s coffee along with some kanda bhajia or hot wada pavs. It’s as though the rains and hunger pangs have some deep connection with each other.

Stuck in the Mumbai traffic, I look outside the window and see street kids jumping in puddles, dancing in the rains or making paper boats float brings and the scenes bring a smile to my face. It’s as though the rains have washed away all my troubles and made the world a better place. All you feel like doing is getting out in the rain tossing that umbrella and getting wet.

However, August is here and there is only a month more of the rains. After that it is summer heat and humidity all year long. These three months of monsoons are truly a blessing in disguise.

Expectations

Sometimes expecting things from people is futile.
Yet we have expectations.
Can’t we just be happy with those around us and who have been there for us?
But no we are humans, we are greedy, we want more.
Yes, we try. We try are best to give things amiss.
We try to ignore and be content with what’s there and what we have,
Because in reality even if we feel what we have isn’t enough, actually it is.
But unfortunately we can’t.
Its not impossible, its difficult.
How much ever you try not to expect you still end up expecting.
And why? What for? Just for them to come crumbling down?
Even if you try to think from their point of view
Even if the reasons genuinely seem genuine
Even if you know they may be right
You still can’t digest the fact and let bygones be bygones and move on.
Why can’t we live without having expectations,
Without wanting some people to fulfil them?
Why do we always look out for them?
Why cant we just be content knowing they were there and maybe still are?
Yes, right now they weren’t but tomorrow they may.
But alas! These expectations from people who are close
No matter what, we will still expect them and will still have expectations.