The Choice is Yours..

What an auspicious day it is today..The triumph of good over evil..Just happened to read an article on the reasons of celebrating Dusshera..They are many ..but for me..What appeals the most is the defeat of evil by the good that was symbolised by Lord Rama defeating Ravana..

OR

Having said that, I would also like to admit that I dont wholly and solely agree with Rama equating with the good, and Ravana with the evil..Many would agree when I say this that there were shades of dark even in Lord Rama and shades of good even in Ravana..Although I would refrain from the details of the events and their background that makes this statement so true..And this applies to each one of us..We are all grey..Not Black or White. We are a combination of the many moods and virtues of kindness, morality, courage, justice AND of envy, selfishness, revenge, hatred and many others..Then what really makes the festival so important and special?.. Its the very fact that we can control what parts of us to be nurtured and suppressed..It is the choices that we make that govern our being..It is actually like a recipe that we choose for the dish of our life and personality- how much of what ingredients to be mixed and blended to create and savour the sweet/spicy/bland/yucky/interesting dish that we present to ourselves and the world..

Happy Dusshera to All..:)

Yeh Mumbai Hai Meri Jaan..

I m one of those crazy ass “Mumbaikar”/”Bambaiya”(Whatever applies to d reader) who believes she has the True Mumbai spirit- its actually become one of those favourite journalist terms that is conveniently used and abused by people like me..

Now why I felt like writing something on this topic is.. Well a)I feel strongly about it b)Today it was just too much to take in..

Before someone starts wondering too much and gives up reading altogether, let me break it to you.. This is about what they call is the Nerve-centre of this city..Yes!!

The local trains..

Let me first try and explain the scene before I say anything more..This is what happens everyday in the morning..

8.15- I leave my house 8.20- I get an auto 8.25- I reach the station, pick up my Economic Times/Hindustan Times depending on my mood( I dont buy Times or D Mirror coz its already subscribed at my house)

I climb the bridge feeling sad already that I have missed my 8.22 although a part of me knows very well I wouldnt have been able to board it even though I had made it in time..Well no points for guessing why!

Two minutes past, I reach the bridge..The indicator flashing 8:29F CST, making me walk faster while I am looking at the time in my BB..Well I reach platform No 5, seeing loads and loads of people..Of course people waiting, chatting, randomly staring(There are more of these)..Walking past them is quite a task..And yes finally I reach my usual first class place..And as always, there are quite a lot of ladies..Most of them angry(I dont know why)!! I squeeze myself cleverly through them, and try to reach the front row..for obvious reasons..You have the maximum probability to get inside, knowing you will be pushed in by those behind you..And well after all this, the time is still 8:29..Yes it does happen that fast..The announcement is made- “Aanth Bajkar Untis Minute Ki Mumbai Janewali Tej Local Platform Kramank 5 par aa rahi hai..All of us bending on our left, trying to guage its distance..While simultaneously I put my newspaper, my mobile and my kerchief inside my bag..Yes you have to be prepared!!! The train coming closer..I look behind, trying not to let my courage fade because of the huge ladies crowd that only seems to increase by each passing moment..I pray..Yes really I pray- “God please let me get inside this train, and also get a Dadar seat..Well forget the seat..Just let me get in!!”

The train approaches, its coming closer and closer.. We see the earlier ladies compartments, trying to guess what is already known..How crowded OUR compartment would be?? And finally my compartment comes..And an entire mass of ladies runs towards it..pushing..squeezing..screaming..falling..panting..abusing..hitting.. Yes a combination of two or three of these is bound to happen!! And with some luck, some technique and God’s grace I happen to be inside the compartment..While I gasp for some air..(Yes, cause the aunty on the side is busy elbowing me..I donno for what..while the one in front is forcing her huge self upon me!!) I quietly put my earphones on..trying to escape somewhere else..atleast temporarily..Well I deserve a pat, because in the midst of all this, I even manage to ask people where each of them is planning to get down, and secure that Very Precious “DADAR SEAT”..:) 

Not everyday is so lucky..sometimes I miss two, sometimes three trains..Which then leads to some quick mental calculations and accordingly a BBM or an SMS to the Boss informing how much late I would be to office today..Well its quite an adventure when read like this isnt it?? Well it surely isnt when one faces the ordeal everyday!! I know it will sound cliched when I say this, but

“Hats off to the spirit of Mumbai”

Finally blogging..

After a lot of thinking, apprehension and lazying around, I have finally decided I am going to blog.. Well I had decided a lot of times and a long time back, but today I actually got myself to create a blog.. And good thing is I am already writing my first blog.. Some day it is..

Well I am still not sure if my blog will focus on any one or some particular aspects of my life.. I will leave this to time and my myriad moods.. All I know is my blog will resonate my journey..Hence the name “Gal grows up”.. Cause the transition is still a big question mark to me.. And I guess the line between growing up and not growing up will always be thin in my case..

Thats all for now.. Watch out this space for some interesting views on a variety of things..:)