Monsoon, Mumbai & Me and My Journey Back Home

Here I continue my second part of story…

Wednesday – 27th July 2005

@ My friend’s home:
In the morning we could see some movement on the highway, vehicle were plying and water clogging was also cleared. This was the scene at Goregaon – Western Express Highway. GSG left for his home early and after some time RD and I came to office.

While walking towards office we couldn’t believe that it was the same road, which was flooded with water. Still a lot of vehicles were parked on the road while, a lot of them were struck in gutters or big pot holes, people were in search for food and milk, a lot of compound walls had collapsed, water had entered a lot of shops and houses. A few busses were running over crowded, no auto rickshaw or taxi… we walked the whole way to office.

@ Office
Hardly anyone was there, not even power, electricity, Internet or telephone. Mobile network continued to be F**K*D

After some discussions in office and considering reconsidering whether I should carry my laptop back home, I left office at around 11AM along with my laptop. (I was approx 24 Kms away from home) The highway was quite clear but hardly any buses, no rickshaw or taxi were ready to go to Bandra or Sion (These are half way stop towards my home)

@ Matador
Finally a Matador (Mini truck) stopped and a lot of people got into that. I thought the journey has well begun. It reaches one of the fly over and the traffic was screwed up, it took a U turn to the road below the fly over… after travelling some distance even that was f**k*d … another route was taken which after some distance was again F…. then another… then another and another… either due to traffic or water clogging… after this lengthy journey we reached Santacruz East. (Approx 16 Kms away from home) However it was not possible for the vehicle to go ahead. So we came down… walked in knee depth water and reached the highway.

@ Double-Decker
A Double-Decker bus was moving towards Kurla (This place is approx 6-7Kms away from home) and I boarded the bus. It started slowly and in no time water entered into the bus, we all moved to the upper deck, but the scene around was horrible and scary. Water had actually covered the entire cars, which were parked there, it was till neck level, One Maruti Esteem was actually floating, localites were there holding ropes for help… but in no case it was possible for the bus to move ahead, it took a reverse and I thought of getting out but were to go, so I just kept my fingers crossed and stayed in the bus along with other passengers. It took a different route… it was slightly better, the water was marginally below chest level. On my way I could see shops, houses, roads completely filled with water… and one can just see only water around…I wasn’t sure whether I was in a bus or a ship… it was dead scary… thanks to the driver’s amazing driving… but he couldn’t help us reach the destination and left us mid way coz the road ahead was again jammed.

I consulted bus drivers and police as to which road is better, but their guess was as good as mine… they told all the roads are filled with water, you will have to walk down… I was in a no man’s land and left with no options than to walk… and may be that was a blessing in disguise… coz life main problem tab hoti hain jab options hote hain ;-)… when there are no options we exactly know what we have to do… no confusion u see.

# Walking all the way…
So the march started… the localites had tied ropes and were standing there and instructing all the commuters… what a spirit that was… water was above thigh level and hundreds of people were walking… I was holding my laptop on my shoulder to avoid it from water… bare foot again… must have walked around 1 KM like that… then another 2 Kms on road without water to reach Kurla Station.

I had to cross from west to east so I took the flyover and the scene I saw was horrible. Water was upto platform level, no one can even guess there are railway tracks over there… it was looking like a sea… just water and water every where…

# Kept Walking…
Water level at the Eastern side was the same… again consulted the police and some localites… again the same advice just keep walking calmly …
There were hundreds of people walking… exchanging smiles… keeping the momentum going…
I must have walked for approx 2-3 Kms at knee to thigh-level water to reach the highway… all shops around were closed and filled with water… The scene on the highway was no better… it was clogged by the vehicles…

# Localites extending the helping hand…
Certain things differentiate Mumbai from all other cities and one of them is the attitude of people… I was simply amazed to see their enthusiasm… there were people on roads distributing free Kheechdi, free vada pav, free bananas to all the commuters, they were holding ropes… guiding people… managing traffic to their best… when you see such things your belief on mankind just rises…

One of those angels gave me 2 bananas… told me please take it… its free…
In the morning, I just had a cup of tea and some biscuits (that was around 8AM)… and it was 3:30PM…

# And Walking….
I kept moving as I still had a very long way to go… actually the route, which took me to the highway was a longer route… but I guess that was the only possible route… my shoulders and hand were paining… Stomach said pls take care of me too… Legs were shouting for help… Due to the wound in my leg I was not wearing shoes and the Chappal I was wearing had also given up…

@ Home…
After another walk of around 3 kms I could find a rickshaw, which dropped me near my home. I reached home at 4:30 PM…my Sis reached couple of mins before me… walking almost the same distance as mine but on a different route… on Tuesday night she stayed at her office only… fortunately she had her friend’s company.

Our parents were so content and happy to see us at home. All the efforts and pains were worth it.

I’m sure lakhs of people must have travelled like this… I was just one of them.

Adversity either weakens you or strengths you, this incidence has lifted my self-confidence like anything… travelling 9-10Kms, of which 4-5 in water, bare foot, having a recovering wound on left foot… gosh… its all a mind game…physical attributes doesn’t matter that match.

I’m planning to buy Nokia 3230 (with camera and video recording)… I’m regretting that I didn’t bought it last weekend… I could have taken some of the most memorable snaps…

Now I’m happily lying on my bed and relaxing… but there are so many still struggling to get their routine back to normal…Today I got a chance to look into so many lives so closely… it makes me realise that I shouldn’t actually worry for petty things coz HE has blessed me with a lot I can be proud off.

Long live Mumbai and Mumbaities… your attitude just rocks…out of the world, unfortunately in this country unity only comes during adversity…else real democracy will rule :-)