Good Food:

Which seems almost non-existent in Bombay. And it took me 4 years to realize that. Anybody who comes to Bombay for the first time will think that people here are mad about food. Which is kind of true. Look at Bandra itself. There are eateries everywhere, in all possible lanes and by-lanes. Infact, one can go to a new restaurant in Bandra for every day of the year and still find some new places left to explore. Then there are the khau gaalis, the food stalls at both the chowpattys, Iranian bakeries and Parsi cafes, the south Indian joints at Matunga, mid-night buffets at the five star hotels, Goan and Konkani food…the list can go on and on.

Looking at the number of people waiting outside most eateries, one can jump to an easy conclusion that the food would be good. Except that when you do go in, your expectations are just as easily kicked out the window with very basic tasting food. After many such trial and errors, I have finally come to the conclusion that Bombayites will eat anything. It doesn’t matter how the taste is…as long as it is Food!

Before anybody starts suggesting names of restaurants, let me just mention that I am not talking of high end fine dine places. Well, come to think of it, I did go for dinner once at ITC Grand (at somebody else’s cost of course) and had some oriental dishes for Rs.900 each. I remember feeling terribly guilty at not finding the taste any different and feeling morose the next day, when I clutched my stomach and saw the expensive meal go so easily down the drain.

What I love though is the street food here. Somehow till date they have failed to disappoint.

Random Notes:

Hankering after the old ways of life (yet again) and communication, I decided to call some of my friends and just indulge in random mindless chats.

5 separate calls to 5 friends. None answered. None called back also.

7 separate messages to 7 friends. One reply. After the first reply, even that went dead.

Phew! So much for the world coming closer and communication becoming intimate! Wonder if in a few years time, we will lose the ability to have normal conversations.

On days of incessant rains…..

A long walk late in the night on an empty wet Marine Drive, shiny roads reflecting the lights of the city, little traffic noise muffled by the pouring rain, standing by a sea alive and grey and getting drenched to heart’s content.

An early morning when the rain had slowed down to a drizzle and the world stayed indoors. Grey sky, dark green trees, empty roads and just the sound of the rain dropping through the leaves. Fresh clear puddles of water and a cold wet breeze wishing to let the world just be.

When life at various moments constantly asks you to let go, do you in the longer run forget what it means to hold on?