Mumbai meri jaan...

Mumbai - the city of dreams in India...at least, that's how we've always seen and read about the city since childhood...everyone dreams of going to Mumbai and make it big some day...the city is a land of opportunities and has space for everyone (though things are sadly changing lately)...I also have stayed in Mumbai for 2 months during one of my undergrad projects...I remember the distinct feel of the city when I visited it for the first time (excluding a prior instance when I was too young)...in this city, people are always struggling, always on the run...people who are standing on the railway platform run with the slowing train...they board the train even before it stops and the moment they are in, they run...run like crazy - to grab a seat or stake their claim to the most comfortable corner...and those who are inside the train, waiting to get down, struggle - struggle to get off the train before it pushes off for the next destination...there're always two distinct streams of people - one boarding the train and the other getting off...you just need to align yourself to the correct stream - the mob does the rest. There's a joke about the mumbai railway stations and local trains that if you drop a coin by mistake and bend down to pick it up, when you get up, you wont be at the same place.

Another thing about Mumbai is money. This city boasts of some of most affluent and flashiest people of the country. Sitting in an open restaurant, I saw a yellow Lamborghini zoom past us...there are sections of sea facing land whose rates are insanely exorbitant. Skywalks are one thing that I liked in Mumbai...it is like a network of walkways in the sky. Imagine how it would be to extend the same across the length and breadth of the city...basically, you could walk from any corner to other of the city without getting into the crazy traffic - amazing!

the gentleman featured here is younger brother of a very close friend from college.