what am I doing in Mumbai?

Imagine a place where

1. Travelling is fun
   
1. You can drive
2. You can drive at 60 km/h at 8 pm in the night
3. You can drive at 100 km/h after 10
2. House hold expenses are low
   
1. You can live a 2 story house and pay only 15k per month
2. You'll never require an A/C and hence electricity bill always be low
3. 1 unit in an auto will be charged at Rs 7
   
3. General ambiance resembles that of human civilization
1. The probability of finding human/other animal crap while taking a walk will be almost zero
   
2. The city will be full of trees
3. The place is less sweaty and a foul smell that gives you constant head ache will be missing
4. Entertainment options are similar
1. You'll find fame and inox
2. Most movies, even rare ones get released on time
3. Among restaurants you'll find Mainland China, All stir fry Not just Jazz by the bay and host of local ones which, mind you, are good.
   
5. Outdoor options aplenty
1. Centre to host of weekend getaways
2. You'll enjoy the Maharashtra Monsoon the most

Apart from my job, what exactly keeps me from shifting to this place. If my firm shifts location to this lovely city would I happily shift. Probably not.

May be I am simply lazy.

My name is red

Saturday night. Scene at any of the hundreds of lounges that have populated the city. Young people, in groups, as couples, lone wolves, throng these pubs, discs or what ever you call them, to draw curtains on the week that just passed by. I am one of them. I have been there. Not that often, not much at all in the past 2 years in Mumbai. The occasion wasn't special. Just a phone call from a dear friend, to join him and a few others at this place where music good, food is good and there is space to dance too. With nothing much to do, the reply was obvious.

It wasn't that special a night. The Vodka with orange juice and chicken starter tasted much the same. Sometimes its good that you know there won't be any surprises. As in market parlance, in places like these, downside is protected. You will have some fun, at least. It may not be a night to remember, but frankly that isn't the aim either.

So here we were, sitting in the couch, through with our 3rd round of drinks, more than 2 hours spent and little or no discussion due to the loud noise described as good music before. The place started getting crowded and it was sometime at this point that they entered. Both with grey hair, age past 50s for sure and dressed to kill. Aunt in red spaghetti top, white 3 quarters, red sandals and a red hand bag. Uncle in very light blue Denim trousers, bright red t shirt and guess what, white shoes with red stripes.

They came here to dance and that's what they started doing within 2 minutes of their entry. They were completely into each other. Unlike us, they were not bothered about either the music or DJ's ability. They danced for each other, looked into each other, made all kinds of facials gestures and above all gave a damn for what others were thinking. They were communicating with each other. They were there for each other. Not only did they stood out because of their dress, but also the life they had in them.

We left sometime later coz we had all the fun we could have there. Someone for sure had more fun than us.

The curious case of West Bengal

Who would have guessed that Congress would win more than 200 seats, Sensex would double in months and above all our own KKR will win a match and then making it 2 in a row.

10 years ago, same time of the year, people were discussing rot in test cricket inflicted by one dayers, Congress was on the verge of extiction, sensex was languishing at a level which now would reflect Behenji as Prime Minister and I was in my second year engineering in Serampore, West Bengal. Life on the banks of river Ganges was fun and eventful. One event that made our life hell was the elections of 1999. Our college was made vote counting centre and that meant 2 weeks of unscheduled holidays. It was in this elections that the BJP made a historic win after losing the vote of confidence by just 1 vote. As for Bengal it was the same old story.

Most of us came back to college with a heavy heart. Jyoti Basu had just pulled a master stroke, he retired and asked Budhdhdev to take over. I remember how much we hated the Left Front. We all knew then that in 2 years we have travel to distant land in search of jobs. Not that I hated it but many realized they won't be able to do it. Language problems, family issues or simply a desire stay back, you call it what you want but for these set of people there was simply no option to stay back. WB's industrial scenario was dead.

Our only hope was trinamool congress coming back. But with Buddha in CM's seat the equation changed. In no time people liked Buddha's idea's, his forward looking statements. CPM went on to win the 2001 and 2006 state elections and also the 2004 Lok sabha polls where our didi won just 1 seat. In these 10 years I started liking Buddha and let me tell you frankly, there were many more like me. Hate the Left, love Buddha.

But look at him now. His efforts for industrialization has fallen flat. He developed the infrastructure of the state but couldn't do much for the 21 years of misrule by his predecessor. Now every one claims he was responsible for CPM's failure.

Strange isn't it. When the state government did nothing people voted them to power. When it tried to change, the opposition created a stir and now is on the way to power.

Does people of Bengal love their backwardness, unemployment and horrible infrastructure?

Back to old ways again

I have been living in Prabhadevi for the past one month or more. Living alone for the first time since landing in Mumbai, dinner has been a constant source of annoyance. Keep a maid who would come and cook, but wait I don't have a fridge. New ones are expensive and used ones not available near my place or I don't know where they are to be found.

So one day its a Subway, next day its China valley, then Galaxy or its the Thali for 45 bucks at a restaurant called Manoj. Now the last one would have been a better choice only if they changed the menu. Lunch or dinner, its always the same. All 7 days of the week and probably all of the 5 odd weeks I have stayed here. Roti immersed in Ghee, chana masala, mashed potatoes, sambhar dal...... So I got this idea. Dabba le le. Come on, it's not that expensive. But problems again... time. No clue when they would deliver. And the food, greasy, too much in quantity and top of it tasteless. Trying to provide restaurant like food at doorsteps, you achieve neither.

Yesterday, I selected the last of all the ideas I had. There is this restaurant near my house where I see all the taxi walas and probably daily wage earners eat. At 30 bucks they provide you a rice plate. 2 roti, dal , 2 sabjis and raita. I loved it. The sabjis change every day. The rotis are made in front of you and are devoid of ghee. I say again I loved it. Mind it its not what u are thinking. The restaurant is cleaner than most I have seen. So here comes home cooked food for me, right amount, amazing price, good taste and in a clean place.

I remember this restaurant called Mashir hotel, in Serampore. During my college days we used to go there when we couldn't take the hostel food any more. Some lady started the restaurant 20 years ago to manage her finances after her husband died. She served the community of Serampore with home cooked food, in a fresh clean environment and at dirt cheap prices. I hope this new restaurant of mine doesn't disappoint me in future.

No TV

In the movie Before Sunset, there is this interesting conversation about Celine's experience in Poland which then was still under the communist rule. Celine lets Jesse know that she hated her stay in Warsaw because of her dislike of communist ideology but felt she was more imaginative and creative during her stay given the absolute lack of outside influence. No hoardings. No Advertisements.

I shifted to my new apts some 6 weeks ago and now live all by myslef. Still no TV. Just got this Internet connection which goes on and off. In these 6 weeks MTV roadies started, 5 one day games happened, Pakistan is in the boil again and we have our own election. I hear Khamta Banerjee of Bengal, Sleeping Gowda from Bglr and Miss UP Behen Mayawati are in news..... I miss them all.

I bought 4 books last year. I read a few 100 pages and had left them all.... I have already completed those 4 books. That's how I got over bore doom post office hours. Today I was in crossword again looking for some more..........

I hate Sony Ericsson

I hate Sony Ericsson and I want the world to know that.

My phone that bought paying a sum I generally don't spent at one go, just goes blank after every 5 hours. I have gone to the service center twice. It has been 5 months and i have used it only for a month. I work, so its difficult to go to the service center. I have asked to change my phone. they wont.

Little did I know my hard earned money will go to such a waste.

When its not capability

We have a Sikh Prime Minister, who was sworn in by a Muslim President because a Christian bahu decided to sacrifice the opportunity to be a PM. Everyone rejoiced. So did I.

What do you see today?

Barrack Obama became the first black president of USA. There was no high end drama for that coz he did so by his ability, by going through the same strenuous process every former US president did.

In India we still are under the Monarchy. Businessman's son inherits his business. Even if it a multi billion dollar company. The sheer fact that one is the son/daughter of the promoter, he/she gets to be the CEO and destroys the company.

Now here we have the Gandhi family! Rahul Gandhi. Whats his credential? Whats Sonia Gandhi's credential? Are they really capable to lead the country?

I say no. They neither possess the vision nor the ability to run this nation. They are just bothered about winning the next election. They just want to be the pacifist.

They have inculcated TERRORISM in India.

Please don't stay mum.