Change of Roles – Guest to Host
As far as my memory can go, I remember being welcomed into the homes of my relatives and kin’s. I made Mumbai my primary domain only from 2003, till then I was a regular visitor, or rather a regular guest. Before 2003, I visited Mumbai during my school holidays for roughly 2-3 days, where I stayed at my aunt’s place. The visit was hectic, with many places to visit and time so regulated and limited. Every relative missed no chance to pour out their sorrows eying the hard earned money that my father parted with ease.
The most memorable of the visit was the journey. Before Netravati, the only way of coming to Mumbai was through the Kanyakumari Express (Jayanti Janta), a 2 day journey. The train initially soared through the urbanized (though moderate) cities of Kerala, then through the nature blessed mountains of Palakad, a border town of Kerala, before going through various other states. The train used to be buzzing with life, crippled children sweeping the floors, poverty stricken children singing songs of sorrow, middle aged men trying to have a fag and at the same time on the lookout for the ticket checker, young men playing cards, some loners listening to radios while some other reading magazines and newspaper. Very rarely do you get an individual who sunk deep into the story that he was reading.
Finally we arrive at this city of dreams (Indian version), and you meet your first host, the rains. It will pour without any guilt. I always felt it played the role of a sanitizer for new dirt entering the city. Then the terrifying rush against time to meet deadlines which were not set by us, but our grand relatives. I always felt it was more of our need to visit them than their wish to see us. The place where I stayed was my aunt’s place, home to my cousin sister who later became an integral part of my life. For eighteen years I never spoke to her for more than 10 minutes and then in 3 years, I knew more about her then she could have ever.
Once I decided to pursue my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai, my father decided to book an apartment here. After several long months of search, we finally arrive at this place where I reside today. And today after 25 years I had a visitor where I got a chance to play the host. Surely a reversal of roles, not that I enjoyed the long wait, but a huge sigh of relief.
The most memorable of the visit was the journey. Before Netravati, the only way of coming to Mumbai was through the Kanyakumari Express (Jayanti Janta), a 2 day journey. The train initially soared through the urbanized (though moderate) cities of Kerala, then through the nature blessed mountains of Palakad, a border town of Kerala, before going through various other states. The train used to be buzzing with life, crippled children sweeping the floors, poverty stricken children singing songs of sorrow, middle aged men trying to have a fag and at the same time on the lookout for the ticket checker, young men playing cards, some loners listening to radios while some other reading magazines and newspaper. Very rarely do you get an individual who sunk deep into the story that he was reading.
Finally we arrive at this city of dreams (Indian version), and you meet your first host, the rains. It will pour without any guilt. I always felt it played the role of a sanitizer for new dirt entering the city. Then the terrifying rush against time to meet deadlines which were not set by us, but our grand relatives. I always felt it was more of our need to visit them than their wish to see us. The place where I stayed was my aunt’s place, home to my cousin sister who later became an integral part of my life. For eighteen years I never spoke to her for more than 10 minutes and then in 3 years, I knew more about her then she could have ever.
Once I decided to pursue my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai, my father decided to book an apartment here. After several long months of search, we finally arrive at this place where I reside today. And today after 25 years I had a visitor where I got a chance to play the host. Surely a reversal of roles, not that I enjoyed the long wait, but a huge sigh of relief.
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