mumbai

So its been awhile since I last scribbled here. Procrastination scaled new heights this time; such high ones that would put even the organizing committee of the Delhi Commonwealth to shame. Speaking about CWG 2010, quite a lot of drama going on in Delhi. Its funny how a few corrupt politicians down here can make the queen express her disgust... yeay! to 63 years of Independence!!!

So I'm here in Mumbai now, been here for 46 odd days. The last 3 months have gone in a frenzy and though its nowhere near an excuse for not keeping arbit arti updated, it was slightly (very slightly) responsible for the hiatus.

A 2 month internship bought me to the place I loathed. But as it was only 2 months and an important break into a career I dreamt about all the time... not to mention the efforts I had put in to get it. So after a few adjustments, some shopping and a wee bit of packing I arrived in Mumbai for what was supposed to be a short internship. After being settled at one place for a month, faith intervened and I had to move out to stay with my brother... and his 4 room mates. Sharing a 2 bedroom with 5 people is not at all an easy task, but it helps when the company around is so varied and entertaining; and besides it was only supposed to be for another month. But a phone call changed it all; one from my boss, telling me that my internship can be converted into a job if I want; and of course I wanted it.

I'm still getting used to the city. I won't be cocky and suggest or even assume that I've got even a fair idea about Mumbai. It takes time and it'll take a lot of time from where I'm standing to do that. But I've seen a bit in a month and a lot of it still seems pretty alien. For one, I really don't understand the ever-existing desire for people to party. I'm not really criticizing this trait, but I fail to understand, even after numerous attempts, the thirst for alcohol many exhibit here. Not that I don't have my own quirks, I do. Between my very seldom bouts of tee-totaling and random de-tox sprees, I end up giving in to certain intoxicants. Now whether it is because I want to have fun or because I do actually consider them as working placebos, I still haven't figured. I do know I like to have fun, sometimes even extended joy, but the need for being around intoxicants to do so, goes through me.

It may not be a move from Smallville to Metropolis; I still like to think of it being somewhere similar to moving from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. I'm the guy from the small town of Ahmedabad, where distances are minimum, alcohol is banned and where traffic jams end before you start complaining about them. Here, after 10 hour working days, 3 hour travelling sprees and in between bouts of homesickness when with damp eyes, I miss Smokey and I miss home, I can't help but question my decision to take-up the job offer. But the feeling generally passes after spending a few moments with my room mates, after seeing Smokey's pictures and videos that dad keeps sending across, after talking to the few special ones and after considering the promise future holds. I'd like to think that faith didn't fiddle here and it were rather my super awesome efforts during the first month that landed the job offer in my hands.

My mother was always very vocal about how she had a gut that I'll end up in Mumbai and that I will live with my brother. Though it is quite freaky how they're always right, ironically, I never refrained from hiding my dislike for either.