It is strange how one photograph put up on facebook can send you back in time and force you to remember all that was so close by some time back!!
Titled as “Queen’s necklace” this photograph showed Marine Drive of Mumbai. This was a place where I had spent first 8 months of my professional life. This place has lot of significance to me as it was the only source of solace in an otherwise hectic and ruthless life.
Walking on this long road was one of the favourite stress busters of mine. The place has something that takes you completely off from the present problems. It makes you reflect on larger, better and more beautiful things!!
Apart from the natural and scenic beauty that the place offers due to proximity to the sea, it is also a symbol of modern day life in many ways. A long walk along that road reflects all that the life throws at us. Road has two sides, one that goes towards all the corporate offices, workplaces, shopping complexes and hotels, the other side, as we all know is a sea face. A simple observation reveals that during office hours on weekdays you see legions of people on the other side and nights give way to crowd on the sea face side. This is truly a time when everyone switches off their official side and focus on the personal one! That sea has a great role in it I guess.
The crowd that we find there is a fairly representative of all classes. The original SOBO crowd with apparels, gadgets and a pride in their walk which differentiate them from the rest of us on that road, couples – some romancing, others fighting, professionals who are just tired of the toiling day they had in office, youngsters having good time, aged ones feeling the peace, people talking on phone while walking alone, artists, hawkers (selling everything from snacks to soda), beggars, etc.
The design of the road is such that if you are walking across you would not be too far off from people sitting on the sideline in order to have a conversation in front of the sea. A silent walker across on Marine drive inadvertently becomes a passive listener to all these conversations, debates, rifts, general talks that people sitting there are having. Following are some of the choicest conversations that a silent walker still remembers, may be because they signified something more about that place, that city, and this life.
Old man (to his wife): “He’s still in early twenties, it will take him some time to find sync with life and career… you worry unnecessarily….” As one walked half retort from his wife could be heard which said “when we were of his age………”
Man 1 (to man 2): “The problem with politics is that it is always divisive, cast, creed, religion were the divides till now, going ahead there will be classes….. we will always be fragmented.”
Man 2 replied “Yes. May be…”
Boy (to a girl): Isn’t it great to be at a place where nobody knows you, and you know nobody? Girl replied, “What does it mean, to know someone?” Since no sound came for some seconds, one was forced to cast a look at their direction; soon one could see what it means to know someone.
Young man (on phone): “that’s great news, congratulations!! Of course I will come, what are the dates? Oh Oh….. I guess it will be tad tough for me to get leaves during that time, still will check and let ya know..”
All such conversations force one to speak to oneself, about life and its possibilities…. It makes us more prepared, cautious and tolerant. One of the most brilliant things it does to you lies in assurance that whatever may be your stage, situations or worry, you are not the only one in world facing it- there are many of us in this same boat called LIFE. So Brace yourselves and counter it with all the might….
Along with this comes another realization…. It’s getting late, will have to go home and sleep or else the local of 7:58 will be missed… and the subsequent one is even more crowded!! J
