A load full of life

Wohhh... its been a while since ive written... n my blog is like a dead log floating in cyberspace.hmmm...

but hey just to let you know when im not writing im reading, or pondering or just looking out of the window,

travelling and busy experiencing ....doing all that takes to get some more stories to write;)

No but seriously, life has been great, very kind, generous and unbelievable

I have made the biggest and toughest decisions, met some wonderful new people, travelled to some awesome places

and of course chanced upon some really appropriate books at the very appropriate time

Along the way also experiencing my worst fears surfacing

This is the time where i chose my husband, dated him for a year, went on some lovely short trips with him, got married to him,

travelled to Bali for my honeymoon (a story in itself) ,

felt the deepest love and gratitude for my parents and siblings

settling in into my new life and new family,

playing with my lil niece Anicaa, watch her grow,

this was also the time where i finally recognised my spiritual guru Swami Vivekananda (more on that later)

In short life has been full of stuff...i guess that's why this blog has been empty ;)

Its now more than ever that i feel that every episode, chapter or molecular incidence of my life is so inter-connected and

leading the way to the next episode, chapter or molecular incidence..

Besides my husband (Kapil) and I have been exploring some serene places to sit down and meditate in deafeningly loud and chaotic city like Mumbai

and surprisingly there are quite a few.

Well, some places we have been going to are:

Ramkrishna Math at Santacruz ( meditate to the tunes of the Aarti composed by Swami Vivekanada, takes place at sunset time everyday)

Gayatri Mandir at Khar (a total chance discovery when I went to buy my bridal shoes from a neighbouring building... you know what i mean by the inter-connectedness of life...anyway this place is quaint, quiet and pulsating with energy)

Japanese Buddhist temple at Worli (evening chanting on Nam Myoho Renge Kyo accompanied by loud Japanese drums but definitely a very spiritual experience)

Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple at Babulnath (plush, ornate.. we go here evening time when darshan is closed but the Hare Rama devotees sing and chant the Hare Rama Hare Krishna in various tunes and tones ranging from soft and melodius to loud and reveberating.. a definitely heightened spiritual moment)

Jain temple opp Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound at Elphinstone (not so quiet at the moment owing to construction projects in the neighborhood but it is beautifully lit in the evening ... the temple seems very inviting and captivating)

Just a last few words...life is fun and liberating and every day it brings us closer to the truth ... so go with it with love and surrender there is nothing there to fear :)

Sweet September

The last time I wrote on this blog was on Krishna's birthday
i have been disconnected because of internet cuts, laptop breakdowns
being away on a wanderlust or simply because of my indolence
but here i am writing again to share my beautiful experiences last month

the elephant god is the raja of every nook of the city of Mumbai
the much revered elephantine idol at Lalbaug is but symbolic
the deafening sounds of the drums could take you into a trance
the God of wisdom does like to have a ball too

Lord Ganesha comes to the city for ten days
an energy bright as light and love
blinding the devotee. His love transcends caste, religion, status
the lord comes every year to remind us of this love

well the reason I'm penning this as an impressionable experience
as it was the first time in 27 years that Lord Ganesha came to my place
two days in September; those 2 days changed the meaning of Ganesh festival

those were two days of vibrating energy
as i sat in meditation in the morning before the guests would come visiting
i revebrated like an atom, dancing in the nucleus of divine energy!
i felt his unmistakable presence

the days were busy, guests poured in to visit
there were lots of sweets made at home
Ganesha's favourite modaks and ladoos
the fragrance of orchids and marigold lingered
the scent of incense rose in the air
we played the enchanting aarti every evening

alas, came the moment to say good bye
we drove towards the sea to immerse the idol
all along the way people were carrying Ganesha
in a car, truck or rickshaw ,screaming 'Ganpati Bappa Morya'
each with energy and sincere devotion
giving him an invitation, saying see you next year

as we reached the Juhu Beach, bustling with people
chanting, burning incense, praying to the lord
talking to him one last time before letting him go
the air was ethereal

enriched by his presence and also fearing to lose him
we saw him go in the muddy waters,
our throats felt dry, the wise teasing eyes of our friend
seemed to say 'its never for only one and a half days'!

Street Smart!

During the zillion cab rides around Mumbai, I have closely observed many cabs and cabwalas alike. I always found it strange when my father made petty conversations with cab drivers when I was a child, inquiring about where they were coming from , which part of Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. As he would say he was from village X he would immediately remark that others coming from village Y were all ‘tadipar’ or escaped convicts.

It was only after a few more years that I discovered a similar tendency, to make little conversations with cab drivers, these mostly took place during my journeys from home to my Italian classes at Worli, n then from Worli to VT to Times of India building where I worked in the international sales team.

This was at a time when the cabbie scene was changing drastically in Mumbai. There were some comfy air- conditioned, phone a cab services opened up , moreover , the old defunct fiats were now being replaced by newer cars in the market such as Maruti Suzuki models like Van, Alto, Zen, 800, Wagon R etc. This change was gladly welcomed by passengers and drivers alike. Though the drivers had to take car loans and work harder to repay the loans and maintain these cars, they did admit that they could now drive tirelessly for more hours, as they no longer had to use the painstaking hand gear. The passengers were also thrilled to use the newer cabs and I was no exception.

One of my first rides I recall was on one rainy morning at 7:30 am from SV Road Khar, I spotted a Fiat Siena cab from a distance and a confident looking man with a reddish brown beard. I knew that instant I had to take it. I felt privileged to sit in this rare cab just as the driver was proud to own it. After finishing an Italian grammar exercise quickly, and clearing my throat to satiate my curiosity I started bouncing my set of questions at the cabwala. I found out his name was ‘Patel’. I called him Patel Chahcha out of respect for an older person.

Aap ne ye kabhi li? When did u buy this car? Enthused he relied, “I was one of the first to buy the car after receiving the letter from the Mumbai police although I had more time in hand. I jumped at the opportunity and bought the Fiat Siena at Rs. 6 lakhs down payment.” I was amazed! I could not resist asking more questions. It’s a wonderful car I remarked! “Yes it is. I bought this car and I got another letter from the traffic police saying that this car cannot be permitted to be used as regular cab as this is a luxury car”. Patel Chacha pointed out to the traffic Police that the notice did not state which models were not permitted, it only stated that the cabs that have been used for more than 26 years had to be replaced within a given time and hence he had sold his old Fiat Premier to buy a Fiat Siena. The police demanded a handsome fine before they could allow the cab to run on the roads. He paid the suggested amount to free himself from more hassles. The traffic police then made a correction and issued a new notice to cabwalas, stating the car- makes that were allowed to replace the defunct old Fiat Premiers. I was spellbound by his story but he had more to share. Patel Chacha went on to say that he had select customers every day. He only drove those who called him. He finished his duty by 5 in the evening. He also gave me his mobile number, if I had any emergency or needed his services, he would be happy to ply if he was available. I saved the number on my mobile phone and thanked him.

The next few days I was on a roll to use more new cabs and continue small talking with cab drivers. I sat in a Maruti Alto a few days later from Worli to my VT office. When the cab driver started a rather amusing conversation with me. We were passing a crowded busy area called Kalbadevi when the cab driver pointed out a spot and said, “ I picked up a young boy about your age from here this morning. He worked with ICICI Bank had a wheatish complexion. His mother was educated and a retired IAS office. The boy did stop for a smoke though. I dropped him till Andheri”. I said to myself, “Fantastic the cabwala turns cupid”!
It was only some days later I took a Maruti Wagon R. the cabwala drove quiet fast as it was 11 in the night and the streets were empty. At Peddar road he asked me “madam I hope im not driving too fast?” I replied, “Fast is fine but please drive safe!” He replied , “Madam I have to drive safe, I’m more worried about my car I still have to pay Rs. 1.5 lacs of car loan!

These were some of the most striking of the many endless conversations I had with cabwalas in Mumbai in the year 2009. I was amazed at the wisdom among these men who had come all the way from North and Central India to make a living. Who drive day and night to support their family. They are happy to drive in a New India with free roads and new cars but only wished for more tolerant political leaders in this city.