The city of dreams

The city: where Indian dreams are born, lived, squashed and reveled in. Some dreams make it big, some don’t. This is the Indian land of dreams and don’t stop dreaming.

So much has been said about the city by different people in all kinds of different media, that it momentarily makes me stop writing about it.

A short visit to Mumbai: the city of dreams and my mind was full of its thoughts. The city is boundless, not restricted by limits; according to the geography, other districts might start and end, but as a whole everything around is known as Mumbai. Some parts of the city are ethereal, with the beauty being though wild yet pleasant. From the windows of the local train, a carpet of green cover can be seen around the edges of the ocean, which peeps in and out across the city. The ocean is eye-soothing, though it is not the exotic kind like in other cities, but it has life.

It seems like the city has a soul which is benevolent and kind. It houses in itself people from all over, believing in different religions, of different social classes and most important of all, it tries giving employment to every individual. The city is like a mother, which helps her children grow by encompassing everyone in its loving embrace.

The city’s history is magnificent in its grandeur. The parts which were built by the British still exist. Such structures give the occasional tourist a feeling as if he has stepped back in time. The CST terminus which is majestic and looks more like a ancient palace than a railway station; the building that houses the Times of India and the structures nearby. The Gateway of India stands tall with the undulating waves of the vast ocean lapping its feet.

There are many more such things that are awe-inspiring in the city. But, what exactly strikes a human heart is the spirit with which people live in the city. And unfortunately the number of people living there also becomes the dent in its shining armour. There is crowd everywhere in the city. Not a single place exists across the city where there is peace and quiet and travelling becomes a pain. Though the life line of the city: the local trains are too efficient and try to make the travel a bit bearable, the crowd again becomes a problem and especially for the people who are new to the city.

There will come a time, when the city won’t be able to take anymore and it will collapse. Its serenity is getting lost somewhere.