Mumbai's Beautiful People

I have always loved Mumbai for it's energy and spirit, and also for it's never say die attitude and the beautiful people. We had ample opportunities to soak into this lovely city's warmth during our trip this weekend. Oh, and do watch out for the next couple blogs for more on this :)

We were on Marine Drive at 12 midnight. We needed to go to Prabhadevi, where we were put up for the night, and five of us stranded without a vehicle. Taxis were waiting for the bigger bucks, from the thousands of cricket enthusiasts streaming out of Wankhede and headed into the suburbs. We were hungry and tired. In any other city, this would be a very unenviable position to be in!

Not in Mumbai. We check with a taxi, who refuses since there are 5 of us and he is allowed to carry only 4... so we take off walking, searching for other taxis, but in vain. Just then the same taxi pulls up... he requests 4 to go into the back seat, so that it gets a little more difficult for any watchful police officer to spot us. He also checks to see if we have our match tickets - says, just in case we get caught, this might make the police be a little lenient. Else, of course, it's a big fine and maybe 3 months of licence suspension for him.

We are hungry, and he offers to stop by at Haji Ali while we eat. Do make it fast, he urges, he needs to go all the way to Malad. We decide not to stop on the way, and ask him to drop us home - he assures us we'll definitely get food, after all this is a Saturday night in Mumbai. He says it's better we go to our area and then look around, since it's well past midnight and we might have problem getting back after food. After all, we seem to be new to the area...

When we get down, he doesn't ask for anything extra - though I tip him another 30 bucks - nothing compared to what he did for us.

We get down, and find a hotel well into closing, and ready to down shutters. However, without a murmur, they give us all the soft drinks and water we need. Patiently listening to our conflicting and varying demands.

Next, we walk the girls to the flat and Rakesh and I catch another taxi. We need food we tell him. He takes us to a joint - it's well past 1.00 am now - yet the energy in that place is amazing. We get our parcel within mins, and get back home in the same taxi... patiently waiting for us to come back.

Not to mention all the people we ask for directions, cars asking us to follow them. Policemen stepping into traffic, letting people cross. Cars stopping by to let you pass.

Love you, Mumbai!