My Mumbai experience in 1990s

My Mumbai experience 

India Gate, Mumbai

My Mumbai experience all started after marriage for nearly 2 years ,1993-1995.

Before stepping on the soil of Mumbai  in 1993 , my Bangalore friends warned me , "Mumbai is a fast city unlike Bangalore which goes to sleep early and starts the day late going with the weather ".
The all new life after marriage started with a thrill in the new place filled with lots of excitements. The company
allotted flat in Santa Cruz west welcomed me with both hands . A couple of Punjabi neighbours had become very friendly not to leave Sheila aunty,  a Lahore based Punjabi old lady,70yrs old .She insisted she needs to be called as, aunty not Maaji ,as it would make her feel old. I had a great admiration for her.  Her personality,  the tall physique, glowing complexion, her lips smeared with light pink lipstick,  her neatly pressed Punjabi salwar suits she used for her daily wear, which made her look like a beauty,  her impressive English and Hindi pronunciation and stylish language, her disciplined way of life ,staying all alone very boldly  .She used to give right advice at the right time for me.  .Another was a girl in her early twenties ,who accompanied me for shopping and other places and helped me to get a feel of North Indian style of living.

Soon I saw my costume sense changed from Saree to Salwar for first time and found it convenient too. Then,   I started learning Hindi,  by looking to Hindi serials and talking to vegetable vendors , maids & shopkeepers, bargaining  in butler Hindi,  for which my husband used to get angry with me. My basic intention was to learn Hindi fast that way.

Juhu beach was very nearby, just 5mins walk from our home. Most of our evenings will be spent there. Pattice,  Pav Bhaji,  Vada pav,  Bread sandwich , chats are the new inclusions during our outings, which stands in my memory .

Delicious Mumbai Vegetable sandwich

Lip smacking Vada Pav

The waves when compared to Chennai seemed calm and gentle . Standing barefoot ,knee deep in Chennai beaches , gazing at the fast approaching waves is something which always I yearn for . It brings a shift in the consciousness . Juhu beach doesn't have that type of rising waves. However, spending time in the beach was much relaxing and fun.

Juhu beach, Mumbai

Hotels & Bungalows on Juhu beach side

Crowded Mumbai local train 

Next,  the Mumbai local  train experience ,I found it very interesting. We would stand at the entrance of the coach and soon we would see ourselves in the middle , without any effort of ours. The crowd does the magic. Due to heavy rush,  we would think we'd catch next train especially during my periods of pregnancy but again every other train would be the same. Before the arrival of the train ,the crowd would be scattered. Once the train stops in the station,  just like the bee cluster at the beehive entrance ,we would witness a huge crowd appearing from nowhere and would block the train entrance. Somehow  learnt the tactics how to gain entry in those trains. And inside the train, found it interesting to see people coming with folded mini plastic chairs and they would make their place to unfold it and sit comfortably  and read or sleep.

The cooking, though not my passion, becoming  part of the daily family commitment , all started in Mumbai .As some sort of chemistry lab experience, looking into the recipe book, experimenting. There were moments, dish becoming salty or deprived of some basic ingredients, messed up dishes etc.. got to learn some of the North Indian cuisines like variety of lip smacking stuffed Parathas and side dishes  from the Punjabi neighbours.

Ganesha idol immersion procession in Mumbai during Ganesha festival.

The Ganesh Chaturthy festival celebration is one thing that amazed me most in Mumbai. A 10 day long fasting and celebration,  the Ganesh idol immersion procession, which went on for day long to the Juhu beach,  non stop in small groups, carrying their own idols and music bands, dancing and enjoying. shouting Ganapathi Bappa Moriya !!

Other memories include the different models of cars in various colours ,which is a spectacular sight to watch from our flat on 6th floor window facing the road,  the flights flying at a low height could be seen near our windows ,as the air port is in Santa Cruz , the full fledged platform shops in huge numbers near every train station, the Satsang concept ( Radha Baes)  , attended for the first time and got to get a feel of it.
Then, the door to door,prawn sale in

Fresh Sea Prawns

baskets by the Marathi ladies , play area for the kids in every apartment , chance to see some serial actors near Juhu like Manoj Bajpai, Ashutosh Rana who became famous movie actors later , the servant maids

Marathi maid /Bai

called as Bai 's who are  trustworthy to handover the house keys in our absence and their efficient way of working etc.

Overall, Mumbai has left a lasting impression on me for the rest of the life time to cherish for ever.