Some Random Thoughts

I saw Mr and Mrs Porter the other day. They have shifted their haven. Now-a-days they sit near the pile of scrap iron between platform number 8 and 9&10 of the Harbour line. I noticed that they do not have their new born child with them any more. I only find their elder daughter tugging along with her mother. The scene flushes innumerable assumptions into my mind. But today, I don’t want to think about them.

Today we had Christmas celebrations in our office. They distributed a lovely piece of plum cake (at least that’s what I believe. It could be something else. It looked, and somewhat, tasted like one.) That’s all; nothing else. I believe the cost cutting has crept into Christmas celebrations. This Diwali too was pretty sublime. I could find some lights glittering in the shanties and in the pics of celebrities flashed across various magazine and news supplements. It looked as if there was no “deepavali” for the middle class.

Traveling in a local train is an experience in itself. Traveling by a Mumbai local train is an even greater experience. Every morning thousands of individuals: young and old, rich and poor, Hindu & Muslim…in fact every permutation and combination you can possibly think about travel in a state where they are crammed-up like chickens moving for culling. At times you end up traveling in physical positions that even Baba Ramdev must have never dreamt of, or even mustered the courage to try. But life moves on. You travel cheek to cheek with a complete stranger for over an hour, and don’t fret about it. Perhaps, this is where we Mumbaikars receive all our patience from.

Everyone I meet now days has a common question, “When are you getting married?” I fear that if I do not get married in the next few months, it might become a National Issue. Or even worse, a breaking news on a local news channel. Every one seems to be very keen to see me married: friends, relatives, colleagues, and some new acquaintances as well. But then, what do you do when you either don’t find the right girl, or if you do manage to find one; she cannot marry you?

Tomorrow is Christmas. The mood will start building from today. I plan to visit Bandstand tomorrow. Just to get a feel of the Christmas spirit. The trip is not confirmed. I did share it with ‘SY’ and he needs time to think over it. Let’s hope he finds the time. It will be a good change, for a change.

Merry Christmas.