I came out of the
Malad Station. It is a typical suburban station with a bazaar
sprawling in its vicinity. A newspaper stand stood right next to a
lamppost. I asked the person, “Where I can find the bus stop?” He
had committed himself in reading the newspaper, without shifting his
gaze he pointed straight towards the serpentine road that went into
the market.
I started walking
along the road on one side I could see the main entrance of the Malad
Station and on the other series of Hotels. The hotels made way to the
snacks and sweets centre. The air was filled with aroma of Gulab
Jamuns, Jalebis, Dhokla, Samosas and other bucket load of calories. I
was amazed with the volume being prepared in each store at the end of
the street there was Soda pub where you could cool down your senses
after a fiery intake.
I took a left turn.
Now the street was full of apparel stores. Clothes for men, women and
kids. Every store seemed to be busy with people buying something or
the other. I could finally see a bus. I asked the driver, “Is the
bus going to Madh Island?” “No, take a left down the street, you
will find the bus.” He said. I started walking amidst the crowd. I
was waiting at the bus stop with other passengers. Getting on the bus
I sat near the window.
The traffic was
moving at snail’s space. It was twelve in the noon the sun was
directly overhead and was blazing incessantly. I had put on my white
handkerchief as a bandana and was gazing past the window. The
happenings on the road where slow paced. It took at least half an
hour to traverse the first half a kilometer. Coming out of the
traffic the bus waited for the signal to turn green. I could see an
elegant cafe with suave decor.
The demographic of
Malad city is dichotomous. Urban locality settled in the middle of
the city and the villages along the coastal region. Situated in
Northern Mumbai Madh Island is cluster of quaint fishing villages and
farmlands. It is nestled by the Arabian Sea to the west and by Malad
creek on the east. The bus passed through the city of Malad that has
been growing in population and developing through the years. It is
one of the fastest growing suburb in Mumbai. The city has been
inhabited by people speaking Marathi, Malwani who are largely hindus
and the Catholics.
The bus passed
through the Hamala Naval Base. I could see their training grounds and
open football fields. The air here was mixed with the sea breeze.
Smell of dried fish caressed my nostrils relentlessly. The Palm trees
ran along the sides of the road. Small shops were selling essentials.
While a fisherman was enjoying his afternoon siesta. I could see the
enormous Arabian Sea with its waves crashing along the Akasa beach.
Small boys and girls in their colourful uniforms played on the
streets and waved towards the bus.
I got down at the
Madh Jetty. There was a small shop selling snacks and cold-drinks. A
boat was about to leave the Madh island. The shore was lined up with
colourful boats. The passengers where all seated in their place. I
took the ticket and got on board. The boat took us to the other side
of the shore. Small buildings coloured yellow, blue and white where
clustered together around the coast. The area seemed to be
unattractive and unscrupulous. I started walking in a way that said I
know how to walk on the road. I went into the departmental store and
asked, “What’s this place called?”. “This is Versova.” The
person said. “This is Versova?!” I exclaimed as I had expected
much more out of it.
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