Composed Upon the West Minster Bridge By William Wordsworth

Earth has not anything to show more fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth, like a garment, wear

The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;

And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Amchi Mumbai

I came to Mumbai, fresh out of college, starting out to work. I loved Mumbai. The city seemed so young and vibrant. Even the oldies never felt it beneath them to run for buses and trains. Everybody has their hands full and you are least of their concerns. Gives you the anonymity and freedom from probing looks you get in smaller cities. The town side of Mumbai, old and dull buildings of Colaba and Fort had a charm of an era gone by.

People come in all shapes and sizes and Hindi that was colourful and from the heart.
Ek cutting is a ek chai.
Jadia, kaisa hai? had nothing to do with winters
Kandha batata to hindi hai.
Even a loud kissing sound (Mmpcch) on the street was a call to stop an auto. What is eve-teasing then?
One of my colleagues called me Poppat, turned out it meant a parrot…..mainly because my uniform was green.
First time ever someone called me a bhaiyan. I was stung. Not used to being called names based on my state. I retaliated with a “Gijju!!” but failed to have any effect on my tormentor. Its everyday talk.
Koi vanda nai. No problem!!

And then there was the local train. The times I traveled during the peak hours opened my eyes to a whole new world of train friends and seat bookings. Booking your seat is the art of asking the right person for the seat before they get off. Fourth seat at Mumbai central and then window seat at Bandra. Complicated stuff.
Late evenings when there was space around you could eat Bhel puri and sev puri in train!! Took some time to get used to the vada pav, but then I realized I was always missing the lehssun ki chatni for the complete experience. Once I got hooked there was no going back.

Love this song from DELHI HEIGHTS BY RABBI

tere bin / besides you
sanu sohnia / my love
koi hor nahio labhna / i shan't find another
jo dave / who'll give
ruh nu sakun / peace to my soul
chukke jo nakhra mera / and indulge me
ve main sare ghumm ke vekhia / i have gone and seen it all
amrika , roos, malaysia / america, russia, malaysia
nakittey vi koi fark si / there wasn't any difference
har kise di koi shart si / they all had some condition
koi mangda mera si sama / some asked for my time
koi hunda surat te fida / some were fascinated with my face
koi mangda meri si vafa / some demanded my fidelity
na koi mangda merian bala / none wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
mangni merian bala / wanted my demons
tere bin / besides you
hor na kise / no one else
karni dhup vich chhan / shall shade me in the sun
jiven rukia / (the) way you paused
si tun zara / slightly
nahion bhulna / i shan't forget
main sari umar / all my life
jiven akhia si akhan chura / you said, looking away
"rovenga sanu yad kar" / "you shall weep in my memory"
hasia si main hasa ajeeb / i laughed a strange laugh
(par) tu nahi si hasia / but you didn't
dil vich tera jo raaz si / you had a secret in your heart
mainu tu kyon ni dasia / why didn't you tell me
tere bin / besides yousanu eh raz / none shall tell this
kise hor nahion dasna / secret to metere bin / besides you
peerh da ilaaj / what
druidkis vaid kolon labhna / has the cure to my
illsmilia si ajj mainu / i found today
tera ik patra / a note of yours
likhia si jis 'te / on which you had scribbeled
tun shayr varey shah da / a varis shah couplet
park ke si osnu / upon reading which
hanjnu ik duliya / a teardrop fell
akhan 'ch band si / what was locked in the eye
seh raaz ajj khulia / was revealed today
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjnu / these tears of mine
kise hor / won't be kissed by
nahio chumna / none else
ki tere bin / that other than you
eh mere hanjhu / these tears of mine
mitti vich rulnha / will wither in the dust

Naini lake

Papa loves the mountains. Was his dream to live in a cottage in Nainital. We went to Nainital almost every other weekend, for three years. After all Papa was posted, just 70km from there. My sister and I were young but never failed to appreciate the place. It was beautiful. The lake, so serene, with dark green eyes, with willowy trees all around like sweeping lashes, gazing on at the world pass by. At night it would be more vibrant, thousands of gold flecks dancing in those eyes. Shimmering and reflecting joyfully at the city above. A boat ride in the early evening was the highlight of the trip. You could hear the bells and the conches from the nearby Naina Devi temple along with the lapping water sound against the boatman’s ores.

Life revolves around the lake but if you wanted to meet your friends who lived in Nanital you should go to the mall road. Everyone is there in the evenings. The weather was almost always right. You could be brave and not wear a sweater and if you were really adventurous, you could even eat an ice cream or two. We shopped at the Tibetian market for winter things, dry flower arrangements, electronic tit-bits and other curios. The first recollection I have of Tibet’s plight are from the stories my Mom told me here.

The two hour ride back home was bliss. On Mum’s lap….sleeping.

The Hour Glass ....(dated summer of 96)

Looking at an hourglass oft makes me wonder.
Why are the present times always harder...
Than the misty past and the glowing future.
And there are many thought, which my mind can overture.
And one of the answers, which is oft repeated.
Is in the one, which is in the hour glass seated.
Just as the center of the glass is constricted.
Where the movement of sand is most restricted.
So is our present the hardest; as each of us trickles.
Through the narrow present as the sand particles.
Longing to reach the future,leave behind our past.
Always remaining in the present, till the very last.
And how much our soul and mind may resent.
All sad thoughts and happening are always the present.

Faith.............. (dated summer of 96)

Those that do not have faith.
And are proud in not believing.
Forget that their struggle to disbelief .
Is a fraction of the ones with faith.
Imagine those, who can not see Him or hear.
But still believe that He is near.
Give Him their broken toys to mend.
And are silent and patient till the end.
Are always amply rewarded by him.
So this priceless possession, with which I am vest.
I offer to Him, who can keep it best.