Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Maximum City

Mumbai - the city of dreams, the city that never sleeps, and the city that waits for no one. My first week here has been a blur. It has been a ceaseless race to get around. The world doesn't stop for anyone. But somewhere in this thriving metropolis are people who make this city what it is.. people who make it real.

I often hear that it is easy to lose ones self in a city so big. I came to realize that in this big city, it is possible to get to know ones self too. Finding yourself while experiencing the lives of others can be a therapeutic experience for the soul. Random acts of kindness leave you unsettled. And then you, quite suddenly, see this beautiful city for what it is.

As Javed Akhtar put it,

Pighlay neelam sa behta hua yeh samaan
Neeli neeli si khamoshiyaan
Na kahin hai zameen
Na kahin aasmaan
Sarsaraati huyi tehniyaan, pattiyaan
Keh rahi hain ki bas ek tum ho yahaan
Sirf main hoon meri saansein hain aur meri dhadkanein
Aisi gehraiyaan
Aisi tanhaiyaan
Aur main sirf main
Apne honay pe mujhko yaqeen aa gaya.