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Another Day in Mumbai - Part 1

Standing near the CST station for the bus that takes you to Malabar hills. The P’Dmello road was busy as usual. People were waiting for their bus. A certain 42 number bus came but that wasn't the one I was looking for, 219 went past but that didn’t go to Malabar Hills either. Then the one came I was looking for, 103, amidst the traffic. I boarded the bus feeling gratified.

I sat near the window seat taking one of the empty seats at the back. The bus wheeled down the road crossing the rustic cobalt stone buildings, flora fountain and many banks on the way. The ticket conductor came in asking for the ticket. “One Malabar Hills,” I said. “You have boarded the wrong bus,” he said. Without another word, I got down near the University of Mumbai. But I had no clue where to find the next bus, which stops to look out for?

This time I didn’t go for my GPS instead asked a taxi driver. “How can I reach Malabar Hills?” I asked. “It’s too far from here, you will have to cross the entire stretch of Marine Drive, walk across Girgaon Chowpatty and then you will have to take a left to reach Malabar hills.” The driver said.
With a bottle of water in my bag, handkerchief. I started my walk towards Malabar Hills it was 6 km in its entirety. I walked past oval maidan to find a sugar cane juice vendor. “It’s going to be a long walk cool your senses first,” I said to myself.

The sugarcane juice was refreshingly cool, sweet and worth every penny. The Churchgate station with its colossal poster of Mahatma Gandhiji stood in front of me as I crossed the junction. To beat the sweltering heat I wore my handkerchief like a bandana. I entered the Marine Drive which is also known as Queen’s Necklace. It is a road that stretches itself along the coastline of Arabian sea in Mumbai. The street lights in the night resemble pearls in the necklace if seen from a certain height.

Many a gleaming car whizzed past me as I was walking on the footpath. The sea facing buildings lined themselves in a spectacular look along the sides of Marine Drive. The buildings have different colors and unique shapes. I crossed the road at a junction near the bridge. The sea was glimmering under the sunlight as the waves crashed into the stones that are unique to Marine Drive.

The sea face was full of students having fun during their day out clicking away photos and celebrating their moments with their friends. The couples intertwined themselves in the embrace of each other’s arms forgetting the world around them and the blazing sun above them. The sea breeze was hot, humid and had a tinge of salted aroma to it. To the right, I could see the famous restaurants like the Pizza by the bay, Newyorker. These ones were sumptuous and well lit. Through the window, I could see people, looking elegant and suave. Clearly, it was way beyond my meager budget. So I moved ahead towards the Girgaon Chowpatty.


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