I wake up to loads of bright sunlight on the morning of my last Day in Mumbai. I lay there not willing to move and hoping that time too would join me. As I try to convince myself that 'yes, its the last day indeed', Sajal miaan walks in cup of hot tea. 'Kya baat hai', I say and savor the desi chai finding it good; surprised that it was beyond my expectations from Sajal (in kitchen that is).
Fastforwarding all the freshening up and getting ready part, Sajal and I decided to meet Supriya at the gates of FAM Society at about 10.00 AM. And then there is a change in plan, I wanted to meet Nishant (aka bhrathashri, guruji) so we hire a rickshaw and go to Teen Tanki. As usual I am late, but Nishant was there, with his lill daughter, waiting to receive us. I had met Nishant the past year I was in Vashi. What started as a joke of speaking shudh Hindi and I using terms such as - Pranam (hello), Shubh Ratri(good night) and Bhrathashri (elder brother), I have come to look up to Nishant as elder brother indeed. We had spent a good amount of time over innumerable cups of some great elachi chai then (past year). He seemed no different from the last time I had met him. We walked to his home and spent some time with his family. As it occurred that Supriya must be waiting for us, we shoot for FAM society.
It was time for Mumbai darshan now. The threesome us, then went to the Vashi railway station. To our dismay, the local train wasn't in service for the next 4 odd hours; we move to the Vashi depot. Then again the bus would take a lot of time so we decide to go in for the next best means of travel - Taxi ! We walk to the closest taxi stand. There was a bit of confusion in that the taxi's weren't at the actual taxi stand but on the lane opposite to it. The sum of the distance we had walked was on the rise. Nevertheless, we were on our way to the city of Mumbai.
It was about lunch time so folks decided to have lunch before looking around. Supriya, who was literally managing the trip, got the directions to this highly recommended restaurant - 'Tawa'. The scene at this restaurant cannot be skipped. We indulged in some chit chat while the food arrived. The heat had left our throats dry so we ordered some Lassi to quench our thirst. I was stunned to find the Lassi bearing a string taste of Garlic. At first I thought may it was just me. But then when I saw the same puzzled look on Sajal's face, I knew something was terribly wrong with the drink. The drink eventually got replaced but to my shock the waiter very coolly explains that the mixie which had been used to blend the Lassi was recently used to grind some garlic and the chef had forgotten to clean it. Mann !! I hated this mans guts. Nevertheless, we were certain that the main course would be mmm... delicious food to feast on, since it Supriya's friend had highly recommended this place. OK!! The food arrives - Fried Rice, which I can say almost certainly - dipped in oil before leaving the kitchen; Manchurian balls made perfect to bear the taste of something burnt. Mannnn, I knew what was on fire - my head; not over the chef but this dear friend of Supriya's, who happened to drop by in the same restaurant. Any guesses??? Salonnee!! She came by to surprise me. After the food, I could not deny; could I? Perfect lunch for a nearly perfect day.
Out of the restaurant we go to hire a rickshaw to 'Bandstand'. Salonee and I in one while we allowed Sajal and Supriya to find some time together (hahaha... ironical??). Salonee looked 'even more' sweet in the green kurta and straighented hair, unrestrained, blowing in the breeze as though they were dancing about her. I wanted to capture the moment and... No. I could not. How could I when I had left my batteries to charge in the restaurant we had so desprately left 10 mins back? About Turn to the rickshaw. Thinking of it now, I am glad that it bought me some more time, which I knew then, I needed. Though not long enough - the time to take that 360 degree deviation, sometimes u learn about somethings about ppl in just a few moments. And I did too that day.
We reached Bandstand aka Rock Beach (aka 'Couples' paradise', where I guess they shot the infamous - "Lage Raho" Alpenlibe ad). The water had receeded, exposing the coral reef. The algae cover made walking on the terrain a challenge. We, however, managed to make it to a point where we were inches away from the water. Time for foto shoot session ;o)
Back to the main road, folks educate me about the fact that we were eating 'bhutta' (sweet corns) standing right outside - SRK's home. Phew!!
I did not know that it was the last I saw of Salonnee until got ready to leave for Juhu-Chupati. I did not have the batteries earlier, but I was still leaving with an image of her in 'my camera'.
Swishhhhhhhh... Walking on the sands of Chaupati, the constant thought that bothered me was that every step I was being drawn away from here. I knew I 'had to' write this blog and it would a challenge to pen down moments of pure silence and all that happens between ppl when words aren't spoken. So, taking the easier route, I decided to fill it with a few moments - drinking 'Narial' (coconut water), sipping on Gola followed by 'garama-garam' chai - an insane mix of drinks in haf hours time ;o). Papa calls me up inquiring about where I was, reminding me of the flight's time. and it was this knowledge I was trying so hard to be ignorant about. Sajal, probably understood when he comforted me telling that I'd be over with it in bout a weeks time. The sunlight was fading; I knew - the sun was dying at the horizon and so was my hope to beat time. In a last attempt to do so, I called up dad and brought 15 mins of time. Now I had the time but no heart to let it pass yet again. We clicked some of the best pics, capturing life on busy Mumbai's busy beach busttlin with ppl, in those moments. Nothing could be spoken. Even after all that liquid, my throat went dry.
We jump into a rickshaw and move towards the airport. I committed felony - I expressed my gratitude to both Sajal and Supriya for everything they've been to me, for the beautiful relationship that transcended work. Felony - because thats what Sajal would have termed it. I guess can say I read him now.
I got dropped off at the airport.
That night was probably the longest in the days to come. All day long I wanted to save sands of time in my fist and now I craved for a storm to blow it away and take me along. My heart felt heavy; eyes wet. So I closed them. I wished that when I opened them, it was over. But it did not. Yet another example of the relativity of time and speed. That night was the End of Days in Mumbai; not of the Time.
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