Bombay Rocks!!!

Last few days have been quite heavy on Bombay. A downpour lasting all of 24 hours and causing turmoil beyond belief. At 37 inches, on 26July2005, it ranked as the wettest day in the recorded history of the country, beating the earlier record held by the legendary Cherapunji, way back in 1910. But thats not all. There were about 100 lives lost, some under really pathetic circumstances and some under really freaky ones. People uprooted, hutments washed away, lives disrupted and courses changed.

I think I got off relatively easy. Left town at around 10, breezed through the first 10 of the 16 kms distance. And the rest, had to walk considering progress was agonizingly slow. It quite an experience, walking in a sea of people, nameless, faceless, Bandra bound- cracking jokes and laughing. Some time singing. It was not too bad. Bandra was pitch black, and the power lines were not in place till about 48 hours later, but otherwise it was quite ok, compared to what people otherwise had to go through. The next day also managed to get back to work, fruitlessly though. Had to walk again, part of the way, but it was ok. No complaints. But the scene the next day at Bandra was again quite something. Trains had begun running from Bandra, on to far flung places and there you could see people jumping off from buses, tempos, cabs and running in the general direction of the station. Thanked my stars. Cabbies refused to get to Bandra, because, most drivers had spent the night sleeping there. But again, I repeat, it was ok.

But there was something in all the madness- Shukla walking with me at night, and then leaving at day break to look for his wife. The guy walked about 10 kms, through some of the dirtiest parts of town, looking for Shweta and I can imagine how the union must've felt. Streams of messages on news channels, heart warming etc etc. I could feel a certain moistness welling up at some of them. Stories told and re-told. Anand walking from Sion to Powai, leaving his brand new and beloved car with a new driver. It must've broken his heart, but what the heck, home is home... and on a day like that - it is almost heaven. Anuj taking the first available flight back from Delhi, and how everyone started clapping when the pilot finally managed to land. On Tuesday Town was uncharacteristically crowded for a weeknight, bars were brimming, so were hotels, people slept in the lobby of the Taj, and movie halls all over Town hung the house-full sign. There was nothing purposeful to do and Bombayites made the most of the rare opportunity. But at some point of time people had to head home, and leave. What to do...

Phones were down, and that was the most irritating part of the entire thing. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. Insufficient power back-ups I am told. So callous, I must say. The kind of inconvenience it caused to people, and the stress of not being able to stay in touch was just too much. First they get us used to constant connectivity and then they take it all away when it is needed the most. Too bad. Orange was the worst, and I have half a mind to withdraw from their services. Hate it.