Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing good and thinking happy thoughts. Today, I’m starting off with the first piece of my new blog series “HOW I FELL IN LOVE WITH MUMBAI” This blog series will take you on an adventure of a Mumbaikar, and how she fell in love with her city. I’m sure alot of you will relate to this and I hope you will join in with me on this journey.

Mumbai, this six letter word has my whole heart. This city was called “Bombay” before it was declared as Mumbai, the city of dreams. The city that never sleeps. Indeed, the city never sleeps, its lights bling all night, the roads are always busy and yet, it is so peculiar.

Mumbai is a mixture of seven islands blended together to form one big large city. It is also called the financial capital of India and The Metropolitan City. This city accepts you even before you accept the city. It holds on to you, even when you don’t. Dreams to reality, aspirations to experiences, sadness to joy, and water to food, it has all. From Mount Mary to Haji Ali to Siddhivinayak, this city embibes every culture, so beautifully.

Mumbai has always been close to my heart, not that I have visited many places but still it manages to be my favourite one. The essence of this city lies in it’s food and it’s people. Vada pav, samosa pav, misal, bhel, and I can name hundreds of food items that make the city what it is. The people here are welcoming, kind and reflect the city in them. The taxi drivers, the autorickshaw drivers, the thela valas (stall owners), the dabbawalas, the vendors, everyone, makes the city what it is today.

My love for the city only started to bloom a few years back when i was allowed to go out with my friends to roam about places and to explore. I had heard alot about the Marine Drive and I always wanted to visit it. The moment I reached there, a sense of peace occurred in me. For those who don’t know what Marine Drive is, it is a road by the side of the sea. It has gigantic triangular rocks which is a very distinctive characteristic of the Marine Drive. There is also an open space to walk, sit and roam around.

It’s also called the “Queen’s Necklace” because, when it’s dark, all the street lights are switched on and it blings just like a queen’s necklace.

So, coming back to my love for the city, apart from the places, Mumbai has fantastic food. The kind of food you’ll find everywhere but the taste Mumbai holds, you won’t find it anywhere. You’ll find every cuisine, from Chinese to Italian to Thai and then Indian. My personal favourite has to be Vada Pav and Pani puri. These are one of the cheapest and the most devoured snacks, among the street foods.

Now that we all are in lockdown, I miss the street stall Vada Pav, Samosa Pav, Pani puri and all things spicy.

Another thing about this city that sparked the love is local trains. They are the easiest way of transportation and yet fully fun and entertaining. My local stories began when i started going to my college by train everyday. It is a different experience. You learn lessons of how you shouldn’t board the Virar train even if you are getting late or you should always keep the bag in front of you or you’ll be pushed and punched. LOL. The announcements of “यह गड़ी प्लाट्फ़ोर्म क्रमांक एक पर कुछ ही देर में आरही है” (the train will be arriving on platform no 1 shortly). These become the essence of what Mumbai is and this lies in every Mumbaikar.

I have a lot of things to say but maybe I’ll continue it some other time. But, one thing is clear, wherever I go, Mumbai will always stay within me.

Love Sukhpreet.