The urge never dies....
"Mom, can't you just stay a couple of hours without calling me every now and then ?”, shouted Rajasi over the phone as she was getting down from the luxury Volvo bus at Sion flyover in Mumbai.
“I am not in Delhi, it's just Mumbai, Mom ! Hardly 3 n half hours journey it is !” She was still in the angry mood as she started walking towards Sion circle after hanging up the call, ignoring the cab drivers urging to hire their cab as soon as she had got down. She was well-aware of such drivers charging even 200-250 Rs. for even the nearby areas.
“Taxi.....” she waived at a Kali-Peeli Santro as she reached the Sion Circle, the ‘Rani Laxmibai Chowk’.
“Bhaiyya Charni Road.”
Throwing her small 2-day travel bag on the backseat and carefully resting her backpack on the lap containing the laptop, she finally settled down in the cab.
Rajasi was a 26 year old girl from the town of Karad, a town about 150 km distance from Pune, in the Satara district of Maharashtra situated on the confluence of the two rivers Krishna and Koyna, popularly known as ‘Preeti Sangam’, the ‘Love Confluence’. After completing her scholastic education and inter from Karad, she had stayed (and lived) in Mumbai for about 6 years to complete her higher education in Engineering and MBA, one of the very popular career paths followed in a typical middle-class and higher middle class Maharashtrian family of the 21st century. After completing the 6 years which enriched her with a plenty of bitter-sweet experiences of life. Now she had moved to Pune, the 21st Century IT capital and the all-time cultural capital of Maharashtra. She was working in an E-Commerce firm with an intention to use her Engineering as well as her Management skills for her career growth. And after a couple of initial learning years in the corporate world she had finally started to find her own position, starting to realise her importance, use her potential and grow her capabilities. Today she was here in Mumbai, on the second client meeting of her life but her first one out of Pune.
At the same time, back in her hometown, the preparations for her wedding had started to be in the full swing. Her parents wanted her to tie the knots with Atul, the guy she herself had chosen from a matrimony. The ceremony was going to be held in a typical Maharashtrian fashion back in Karad in just about a couple of months. And here she was today, in Mumbai, after 2 years while she was trying to get the best of her personal and professional life, a kind of finding a work-life balance, a term very popular in corporate world nowadays.
Upto 2 years ago, Mumbai was her second home. Initially as an every outsider does, she too faced hurdles in coping up with the pace of the city but eventually the girl herself very quick and organised, had managed to survive and succeed to be a part of the ever-in-hurry Mumbai. From the very first time getting into the crowded lifeline of the city, the local railway, she lived every moment of her life full-fledged ! She not only lived here, but eventually became a Mumbaikar by heart who would enjoy every sip of cutting chai, every piece of mouth watering spicy pani puri, every bite of salty bhutta, eye watering roadside pav bhaji and the ever-tempting Indian Burger... Vada Pav !!! Cherishing the Mumbai days of her student life, the soon-bride-to-be girl reached Girgaon to stay at her uncle's place. Yes, some middle-class families still stay in the yesteryear's Maharashtrian cultural hub of Mumbai, today mere a part of ‘SoBo-The South Bombay’ !
‘Reached 😊 ‘ Rajasi messaged her mom and Atul, as her beloved uncle and aunt warmly welcomed her to their house. Seeing the double tickmarks in both the chat windows, she kept her phone aside. She didn't have much of time apart from getting freshened up and having a quick brunch as she had to rush to the scheduled post-lunch meeting with the client at Worli. Despite the hurry, she allowed herself a couple of minutes to stand in the balcony. From here she could see the sea-side buildings, behind which was hiding the big Arabian sea of Girgaon Chowpatty and the famous Queens’ Necklace or the ‘Marine Drive’. But she could barely see it from the balcony, in a bits and pieces only as much as the small gaps between those sea-side buildings allowed. She was unsatisfied and dissatisfied at the same time. As the clock of thoughts stroke her mind, she reminded herself about the meeting she was here for. She rushed in for the tasty brunch her aunt had kept ready as per her beloved niece’s orders. The Arabian sea not for from here kept eluding her and continued to ‘wave’ at her from a distance. So close, yet so far....
Uber was waiting down for her as she rushed down the steps of the house.
“Worli, Hilltop hotel” she told the driver as she gathered her breath and settled down into the cab. The driver quickly set up the destination on his phone’s navigator and had his foot on the accelerator as he was on his way.
“Bhaiya, Haji Ali se lena” She didn't want to miss the view of the sea.
Her eyes were dancing with amusement as the cab passed from the Dr. Anne Besant Road.
The hilltop hotel where the meeting was to be held was very close to Worli seaface. She so wished to see the panoramic view of the sea with the famous Bandra-Worli sea link. But the meeting was more important. Sitting in the lobby of the hotel, she started going through the PPT on her laptop and revised the important points she had to speak in the meeting.
The meeting was long but it went well. Rajasi cleared some very critical points by the client raised on-the-fly with her sheer quick wittedness. The client seemed pretty much impressed and keen to make the deal. Happy was she, when left the hotel it was around 6.30 in the evening.
“How was the meeting ?” One of the many messages read as she got some time to see the WhatsApp. It was from Atul.
“Good... Quite well actually 😊” she replied.
“Reached back at kaka’s place ?” immediately his reply came. Atul was online.
“Not yet... Leaving now. Ttyl.... Bye”
She put back her phone in the purse. She initially thought of booking the cab back home but eventually decided against it. She started walking towards the seaface. Within a few minutes, she was there. There was noone to stop her now, neither the tall buildings concealing the seashore nor the time pushing her away from it. Being the evening time, the seaface was way too crowded. Couples sitting close to each other dreaming of their future together, some senior citizens taking a slow walk, some families with kids, some health conscious people jogging with an earphone plugged in.... The small walkway represented such a variety of public. A little ahead was the curved Bandra-Worli sea link which had been the location of numerous film shooting right from the start of its construction. She was left amused despite the fact that everything wasn't new to her. After walking for some time she found an empty place a little distant from the people and she sat down.
‘What a hectic day !’ She thought to herself as the film of last few days started to play in front of her eyes on the backdrop of the Arabian sea. She had been very busy since last few days and had no free time for herself. Starting to get settled down in the job, the marriage fixed all of a sudden, conflicts with the family on getting married in a couple of months, and now this important client meeting.... All things had played on her mind for a last few days. The gazing sea waves made her calm and composed as they always did. She again took out her phone, clicked a few selfies and got relaxed for some time. Opening a call log, she dialled a number.
“Hello....” The voice from the other side was familiar to her.
“Let's catch up !” she said promptly.
“Ok. Where ?”
“Do I need to tell you that ?”
“Got it ! Where are you ?”
“Worli”
“Fine, meet me at the Lower Parel station in half an hour. We'll go together.”
“Ok. Bye !”
“Bye”
She called her aunt and told her that she would be late and not to worry.
“Still let us know beta even if you want kaka to come to pick you up” said her aunt in the caring voice.
Within a few minutes, Rajasi was in the cab to the station. She was going to meet him almost after a year.
She had goosebumps as she got down with him at the Marine Lines station. This place had been her place of self-appeasement.... This was the place where she had been on practically countless number of times and never got bored. Here she would calm herself down, talk to herself, listen to the songs witnessing the setting sun with the soothing breeze playing her hair, taken a walk along the road or sometimes.... Just be there without having to think about anything.... The place was ‘Marine Drive’.... Her meditation....
And today here she was again, with Vikrant this time, her Mumbai-based friend. They had met each other about Three years ago in a literary festival through a mutual friend of theirs. They had developed a very good friendship among themselves in last three years. They had many mutual hobbies and likings and shared very similar mindset.
“So why are we here ?”
“Vicky you know how much I like this place, don't you ?”
“I do but....”
“But what ?”
“I thought it's your ‘Bachelor Party’ !” Vikrant said with a grin.
“Ohh stop it Vicky !!! And it's called Spinsters Party btw!!”
“I know.... Sorry I was kidding !!” Vicky winked.
They crossed the road and after a 5 minutes search found a place to sit.
Few quiet moments passed by. Rajasi closed her eyes for some time as she filled her mind with the reverberation of the waves. Vikrant kept staring at her. As she opened her eyes, she noticed him staring.
“What ?”
“Nothing... Just I was seeing you getting that feel of the sea.”
She had a faint smile.
“Tell me, what is it ?”
“What ? Nothing....”
“Tell me. You don't often express your feelings to others, do you ?”
She smiled in agreement as the words although with little hesitance but slowly opened her mind....
“Vicky, I am worried a bit....”, “The job, the marriage, new life, new responsibilities....” she kept searching for words....
“The new life to come.”
“Yeah, exactly !!”
“It's Ok, quite obvious and understandable. Try not to think much about it.”
“M trying....”
“Talked to your mom ?”
“Yeah I did, but not helping much !”
“Oh...”
“It's weird... I can't explain it... It's some fear in my mind... But I don't know exactly what it is.... I am not able to express it in words.... I am starting to feel very nervous.... Very negative inside...” She somehow managed to frame it in words.
“I can understand dear.... Probably everyone has this phase before marriage, be it a guy or a girl. But you know what.... Me and this marine drive have known this girl coming here and pacifying herself, not getting more nervous.
Rajasi didn't know what to say.
“Is there anything else or you want me to give a speech about or are you ok ?” 😜
“Shut up yar !!!” As she raised her hand to give him a friendly spat, he grabbed her hand.
“What ?”
“There's still something else... Tell me !”
She was taken by surprise. After another quiet moment she spoke...
“Today, just before calling you I was sitting at Worli Seaface. And I realised how much I miss this city. The city that made me what I am today, will never be mine again. After marriage, we’ll not be settling here because of our job and family commitments. I mean, no complaints. I have accepted it ! But it is a fact, isn't it ?”
“Hmmm.... Agree.... But don't you think that has its own advantages ? It won't be the ‘Too many cook spoil the broth’ case. You can visit here once in a while and cherish your memories, right at this Marine Drive with the person you love. The urge will never die. You...”
“Wow !!! Vicky I didn't know that you turned into such a good philosopher in one year !!” She laughed.
“Ok... As I can see you are back to normal... I can stop being the philosophers now.”
Both laughed in unison...
“But seriously Vicky, thanks a lot !!”
“Ohh your thanking habit won't go ever, will it ?”
“Not at all !!”
“I think I badly needed such mature conversation...”
“And the outlet too....” Vikrant was really happy to see her smiling again.
The clouds had started to disperse and her sky was clearing. The waves of the Arabian Sea sounded really soothing to ears now....
As they got up to walk back, Vikrant’s line still reverberated into her mind, “The urge never dies...."
The street lights at the end of the dark sea shore are the ones that bring glaze to the “Queen’s Necklace”. Seeing off Vikrant at the station, she started walking back to her aunt's home, this time from the opposite footpath. She wasn’t going to be on the side of the sea but still her ‘Preeti Sangam’ with Mumbai was all going to be in her parallel journey with Mumbai from some distance....
(End)
“I am not in Delhi, it's just Mumbai, Mom ! Hardly 3 n half hours journey it is !” She was still in the angry mood as she started walking towards Sion circle after hanging up the call, ignoring the cab drivers urging to hire their cab as soon as she had got down. She was well-aware of such drivers charging even 200-250 Rs. for even the nearby areas.
“Taxi.....” she waived at a Kali-Peeli Santro as she reached the Sion Circle, the ‘Rani Laxmibai Chowk’.
“Bhaiyya Charni Road.”
Throwing her small 2-day travel bag on the backseat and carefully resting her backpack on the lap containing the laptop, she finally settled down in the cab.
Rajasi was a 26 year old girl from the town of Karad, a town about 150 km distance from Pune, in the Satara district of Maharashtra situated on the confluence of the two rivers Krishna and Koyna, popularly known as ‘Preeti Sangam’, the ‘Love Confluence’. After completing her scholastic education and inter from Karad, she had stayed (and lived) in Mumbai for about 6 years to complete her higher education in Engineering and MBA, one of the very popular career paths followed in a typical middle-class and higher middle class Maharashtrian family of the 21st century. After completing the 6 years which enriched her with a plenty of bitter-sweet experiences of life. Now she had moved to Pune, the 21st Century IT capital and the all-time cultural capital of Maharashtra. She was working in an E-Commerce firm with an intention to use her Engineering as well as her Management skills for her career growth. And after a couple of initial learning years in the corporate world she had finally started to find her own position, starting to realise her importance, use her potential and grow her capabilities. Today she was here in Mumbai, on the second client meeting of her life but her first one out of Pune.
At the same time, back in her hometown, the preparations for her wedding had started to be in the full swing. Her parents wanted her to tie the knots with Atul, the guy she herself had chosen from a matrimony. The ceremony was going to be held in a typical Maharashtrian fashion back in Karad in just about a couple of months. And here she was today, in Mumbai, after 2 years while she was trying to get the best of her personal and professional life, a kind of finding a work-life balance, a term very popular in corporate world nowadays.
Upto 2 years ago, Mumbai was her second home. Initially as an every outsider does, she too faced hurdles in coping up with the pace of the city but eventually the girl herself very quick and organised, had managed to survive and succeed to be a part of the ever-in-hurry Mumbai. From the very first time getting into the crowded lifeline of the city, the local railway, she lived every moment of her life full-fledged ! She not only lived here, but eventually became a Mumbaikar by heart who would enjoy every sip of cutting chai, every piece of mouth watering spicy pani puri, every bite of salty bhutta, eye watering roadside pav bhaji and the ever-tempting Indian Burger... Vada Pav !!! Cherishing the Mumbai days of her student life, the soon-bride-to-be girl reached Girgaon to stay at her uncle's place. Yes, some middle-class families still stay in the yesteryear's Maharashtrian cultural hub of Mumbai, today mere a part of ‘SoBo-The South Bombay’ !
‘Reached 😊 ‘ Rajasi messaged her mom and Atul, as her beloved uncle and aunt warmly welcomed her to their house. Seeing the double tickmarks in both the chat windows, she kept her phone aside. She didn't have much of time apart from getting freshened up and having a quick brunch as she had to rush to the scheduled post-lunch meeting with the client at Worli. Despite the hurry, she allowed herself a couple of minutes to stand in the balcony. From here she could see the sea-side buildings, behind which was hiding the big Arabian sea of Girgaon Chowpatty and the famous Queens’ Necklace or the ‘Marine Drive’. But she could barely see it from the balcony, in a bits and pieces only as much as the small gaps between those sea-side buildings allowed. She was unsatisfied and dissatisfied at the same time. As the clock of thoughts stroke her mind, she reminded herself about the meeting she was here for. She rushed in for the tasty brunch her aunt had kept ready as per her beloved niece’s orders. The Arabian sea not for from here kept eluding her and continued to ‘wave’ at her from a distance. So close, yet so far....
Uber was waiting down for her as she rushed down the steps of the house.
“Worli, Hilltop hotel” she told the driver as she gathered her breath and settled down into the cab. The driver quickly set up the destination on his phone’s navigator and had his foot on the accelerator as he was on his way.
“Bhaiya, Haji Ali se lena” She didn't want to miss the view of the sea.
Her eyes were dancing with amusement as the cab passed from the Dr. Anne Besant Road.
The hilltop hotel where the meeting was to be held was very close to Worli seaface. She so wished to see the panoramic view of the sea with the famous Bandra-Worli sea link. But the meeting was more important. Sitting in the lobby of the hotel, she started going through the PPT on her laptop and revised the important points she had to speak in the meeting.
The meeting was long but it went well. Rajasi cleared some very critical points by the client raised on-the-fly with her sheer quick wittedness. The client seemed pretty much impressed and keen to make the deal. Happy was she, when left the hotel it was around 6.30 in the evening.
“How was the meeting ?” One of the many messages read as she got some time to see the WhatsApp. It was from Atul.
“Good... Quite well actually 😊” she replied.
“Reached back at kaka’s place ?” immediately his reply came. Atul was online.
“Not yet... Leaving now. Ttyl.... Bye”
She put back her phone in the purse. She initially thought of booking the cab back home but eventually decided against it. She started walking towards the seaface. Within a few minutes, she was there. There was noone to stop her now, neither the tall buildings concealing the seashore nor the time pushing her away from it. Being the evening time, the seaface was way too crowded. Couples sitting close to each other dreaming of their future together, some senior citizens taking a slow walk, some families with kids, some health conscious people jogging with an earphone plugged in.... The small walkway represented such a variety of public. A little ahead was the curved Bandra-Worli sea link which had been the location of numerous film shooting right from the start of its construction. She was left amused despite the fact that everything wasn't new to her. After walking for some time she found an empty place a little distant from the people and she sat down.
‘What a hectic day !’ She thought to herself as the film of last few days started to play in front of her eyes on the backdrop of the Arabian sea. She had been very busy since last few days and had no free time for herself. Starting to get settled down in the job, the marriage fixed all of a sudden, conflicts with the family on getting married in a couple of months, and now this important client meeting.... All things had played on her mind for a last few days. The gazing sea waves made her calm and composed as they always did. She again took out her phone, clicked a few selfies and got relaxed for some time. Opening a call log, she dialled a number.
“Hello....” The voice from the other side was familiar to her.
“Let's catch up !” she said promptly.
“Ok. Where ?”
“Do I need to tell you that ?”
“Got it ! Where are you ?”
“Worli”
“Fine, meet me at the Lower Parel station in half an hour. We'll go together.”
“Ok. Bye !”
“Bye”
She called her aunt and told her that she would be late and not to worry.
“Still let us know beta even if you want kaka to come to pick you up” said her aunt in the caring voice.
Within a few minutes, Rajasi was in the cab to the station. She was going to meet him almost after a year.
She had goosebumps as she got down with him at the Marine Lines station. This place had been her place of self-appeasement.... This was the place where she had been on practically countless number of times and never got bored. Here she would calm herself down, talk to herself, listen to the songs witnessing the setting sun with the soothing breeze playing her hair, taken a walk along the road or sometimes.... Just be there without having to think about anything.... The place was ‘Marine Drive’.... Her meditation....
And today here she was again, with Vikrant this time, her Mumbai-based friend. They had met each other about Three years ago in a literary festival through a mutual friend of theirs. They had developed a very good friendship among themselves in last three years. They had many mutual hobbies and likings and shared very similar mindset.
“So why are we here ?”
“Vicky you know how much I like this place, don't you ?”
“I do but....”
“But what ?”
“I thought it's your ‘Bachelor Party’ !” Vikrant said with a grin.
“Ohh stop it Vicky !!! And it's called Spinsters Party btw!!”
“I know.... Sorry I was kidding !!” Vicky winked.
They crossed the road and after a 5 minutes search found a place to sit.
Few quiet moments passed by. Rajasi closed her eyes for some time as she filled her mind with the reverberation of the waves. Vikrant kept staring at her. As she opened her eyes, she noticed him staring.
“What ?”
“Nothing... Just I was seeing you getting that feel of the sea.”
She had a faint smile.
“Tell me, what is it ?”
“What ? Nothing....”
“Tell me. You don't often express your feelings to others, do you ?”
She smiled in agreement as the words although with little hesitance but slowly opened her mind....
“Vicky, I am worried a bit....”, “The job, the marriage, new life, new responsibilities....” she kept searching for words....
“The new life to come.”
“Yeah, exactly !!”
“It's Ok, quite obvious and understandable. Try not to think much about it.”
“M trying....”
“Talked to your mom ?”
“Yeah I did, but not helping much !”
“Oh...”
“It's weird... I can't explain it... It's some fear in my mind... But I don't know exactly what it is.... I am not able to express it in words.... I am starting to feel very nervous.... Very negative inside...” She somehow managed to frame it in words.
“I can understand dear.... Probably everyone has this phase before marriage, be it a guy or a girl. But you know what.... Me and this marine drive have known this girl coming here and pacifying herself, not getting more nervous.
Rajasi didn't know what to say.
“Is there anything else or you want me to give a speech about or are you ok ?” 😜
“Shut up yar !!!” As she raised her hand to give him a friendly spat, he grabbed her hand.
“What ?”
“There's still something else... Tell me !”
She was taken by surprise. After another quiet moment she spoke...
“Today, just before calling you I was sitting at Worli Seaface. And I realised how much I miss this city. The city that made me what I am today, will never be mine again. After marriage, we’ll not be settling here because of our job and family commitments. I mean, no complaints. I have accepted it ! But it is a fact, isn't it ?”
“Hmmm.... Agree.... But don't you think that has its own advantages ? It won't be the ‘Too many cook spoil the broth’ case. You can visit here once in a while and cherish your memories, right at this Marine Drive with the person you love. The urge will never die. You...”
“Wow !!! Vicky I didn't know that you turned into such a good philosopher in one year !!” She laughed.
“Ok... As I can see you are back to normal... I can stop being the philosophers now.”
Both laughed in unison...
“But seriously Vicky, thanks a lot !!”
“Ohh your thanking habit won't go ever, will it ?”
“Not at all !!”
“I think I badly needed such mature conversation...”
“And the outlet too....” Vikrant was really happy to see her smiling again.
The clouds had started to disperse and her sky was clearing. The waves of the Arabian Sea sounded really soothing to ears now....
As they got up to walk back, Vikrant’s line still reverberated into her mind, “The urge never dies...."
(End)
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