What do you like or dislike about Mumbai? When posed with the
question, my first thought was that phrase which often sums up Mumbai – ‘City
of Dreams’. And that’s both what I like and dislike about the city. It fulfils
some, it breaks some, and it mends some.
People come here with expectations to rise and make it big;
many cannot and leave the city with their morale down… With a low self image;
there are others who are left on tenterhooks.
Then again, I’ve seen people fall in love just so that they can
make it big. And not falsely in love, okay. Like really in love. And later, they’re
shattered. They hold up themselves in front of people, but within them, there
are pieces that are waiting to be gathered. And there comes a time when you
lose hope and begin with that endless anticipation of something magical that
you’re awaiting.
I don’t want to categorize Mumbai as a place of despair; it
has given rise to some really big people and there are crimes taking place in
other parts of the world, too. My only concern is with the place being hyped as
the City of Dreams. People need to be told that this city of dreams only
fulfils dreams of a handful from the hordes that come here. Not every dream
comes true. You’re still in that spellbinding state of illusion when here. You
need to know the right things with the right approach. And I’m not trying to
keep astray any kind of experiences. Just not at the cost of losing oneself
completely to circumstances.
Most people who I know are in the wrong profession only
because they have no option. That’s alright. My advice, for whatever it’s
worth, to them would be ‘Keep Trying’. 70% people are doing things due to lack
of options. They’re placed wrongly, just like their counterparts. We need to
figure our respective places. And with this, I don’t only mean professionally.
Even personally. We’re too scared to be left alone just because that means
you’re a loner and want to keep aloof, when that is not what it means. We’re
ready to go out with different-random-strange people even when we know it
doesn’t work. Why be puppets in the hands of our Id? Suffer, if you want to.
All of us do. But for once, let’s do it for things we really love. Let’s not
give in for small time joys that you know will lead you nowhere. Let’s invest
that energy elsewhere to do something vehemently than slaying it for trivial
ones.
Trying your hand here might be chancy. For some, it might be
a master stroke, for others, it is an entire shot gone wrong. This phenomenon
has stayed since forever and will continue to remain the same as long as we’re
not contented with what we have in store for offer.
But then again, these risks are chances for hard willed people
to turn events in their favour. To not stagnate at that tight spot is the catch
and not catch 22! Do not lose heart. Not every dream is tough to turn into
reality. I’ve come across people who have taken baby steps and turned into
giants by diligently working towards their goal.
The fact that their dreams make people do things they didn’t
know they could do has captivated me on occasions more than one. And that is
mainly, I figure, because as someone who is born and brought up in Andheri
West, I choose to ignore what the entire city has at hand to offer and leave it
best for the outsiders to judge it for themselves.
But the fact that it leaves you optimistic and drives you –
whether crazy or sane – it’s certainly worth it all. The city is spirited. And
that is only because people and their exuberance mingle in the air to bring
about that bubble of dreams. One that may encircle you, and also the one that
may burst anytime.
(PS: Kindly excuse if
you find random references here. I’ve used the method of Stream of
Consciousness)
