Loneliness, thy name is Mumbai.
Whoever said that must have been drinking. Or visiting BMC headquarters after 6.01pm. No but seriously, Mumbai is a city where you can NEVER be alone. Even if you want to. Here, speace (an amalgamation of space and peace) is the ultimate luxury because whether you like it or not, someone is always stepping on your toes.
Here ‘rush-hour traffic' and ‘chivalry’ are terms that don’t hold any meaning anymore. Neither does ‘single, interesting men’. This means that people living in Mumbai have really lowered expectations now. They know it’s a good day when the first cab/auto they approach agrees to take them.
South Mumbai is no longer the place to be in, unless you’re old, retired and have lots and lots of money because all the ‘action’ (by which I mean the crowd) has moved to the ‘burbs. Gone are the days when we were packed like sardines; Mumbai is no better than a can of worms now. And if you don’t believe me, a tour outside Andheri (E) station might be an eye-opener.
Hell, who even has the time to feel lonely here? If you’re not elbowing and pushing, you are jostling and negotiating. And if you happen to be a woman, you’re busy learning the art of avoiding the nudge you know that oncoming new-to-town, spineless penile implant is going to give you.
Nope, just like empty political speeches and love, loneliness doesn’t stand a chance here.
2 comments:
True...one is never alone in Mumbai. But there are times when I have stood on a crowded train station or walked down a crowded 'burb' street and felt all alone. Perhaps loneliness is a state of mind?
You're right - being alone and lonely are two different things. One is a physical event, the other an emotional. Was trying to be ironic to say that being surrounded by crowd doesn't mean you don't feel desolate.
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