"Akream"

Now in hindsight, Saturday was meant to be. You know how there are days that you plan and still are a total mess..but there are some that falls very correctly in the "meant to be category".

For a couple who has spent all their life in Mumbai, I can a bit shamefully admit that there is infact not much that I have indeed seen of this city..even more shameful that as parents to a rather inquisitive 5 year old. Mumbai starts at Bandra and ends at Andheri.

So Saturday was indeed planned as a day to actually Mumbai-ise ourselves. My daughter has been demanding a picnic for a while now, so it seemed as a good time to cram all her wishes in one mega day. We packed off at 1 pm in our little dented Swift. For some one who has had a lot of elaborate lunches in the train - managing a "picnic" in the Swift was nothing impossible. So somewhere on the western express highway as we crossed Bandra - the picnic basket opened. Out first came all the raddi paper, which was being put to the best of use - obviously we didn't want to dirty the newly serviced car. Little jars of chutney, butter, a packet of bread and kebabs were arranged, then neatly layered on the bread and passed around the car. In my head, I ticked off picnic as done - from the list of things that my daughter wanted for the day..

Just as the last bit of sandwich was down, I asked her if she had enjoyed her picnic lunch - she first looked at me quizzically and then asked "So mamma, every time when we get food on the plane is that a picnic as well?"

Stumped! & stupid..thats how i felt - I was obviously no better to the teacher's hammered image of a picnic..a food basket, a park, a mat to arrange the food and lots of games to play. 

Ok, item no. 2 on the list to the rescue. Our next stop was Tarapore aquarium, in her words "Akream". Just as we were 50 metres away, she asked me what kinds of fishes would there be? Would there be a shark or a blue whale? I could only manage to catch my husband's eye through the rearview mirror and hope for a better verdict than the picnic lunch. 

Ironically, as we parked and headed to get our tickets. We crossed 2 loaded tourist buses - that were out on Mumbai Darshan. The highlights of the Mumbai being, Tarapore aquarium, Hanging garden, Prince of Wales museum and the Gateway of India. Is this indeed Mumbai Darshan? For a city touted to as the one of the greatest in the world - there should surely be more to offer. 

I dont understand what it is as Indians that makes us so defiant to rules. A signboard at the entrance says "No photos allowed", those wishing to take pictures need to take a pass of  Rs.2000. Once inside, it was almost like no one had read the sign or most thought it was a dare to see  - how much faster they could click. But most suprisingly, I was wondering - what are these people clicking?. For any of you who wish to introduce children to the aquatic wonders, please get to on to Google, the aquarium in our city is nothing but shabby.

It took us less than half an hour to see all the fishes TWICE, pick up a fight with someone who kept insisting on taking pictures and to crib about the paan stains everywhere. In all honesty, if just the upkeep of this place was better, it could be a close to decent basic level aquarium. Looking at the turtles and fishes, I almost wondered how they were even alive. Once we got out, I didnt even have to ask my daughter what she thought. "Mamma, she said - "the Akream is disappointing".

Our next stop was more to beat the heat and give a much needed break to my husband from driving. It was a surprise I had told them. Confidently, we parked near Churchgate station, and walked to Resham Bhavan. 

2 pairs of anxious eyes stared at me, "Chalo yaar, you will like it" is all I said. As I opened the door to the Tea Centre, I almost thought I had entered the wrong place. I checked again if this was indeed the place -  I read once again Tea Centre written in bold lettering outside. 

But this place was nothing like what I remembered it to be. When I last visited, which was nearly 7-8 years back, it was a quaint place, which had a lovely old world feel to it.

The scene I saw today, was of a perfectly successful restaurant, packed at lunch hour. The old tea centre, did not even have these many tables and chairs!!! There were a lot more sofas, old photos lined one of the walls and soft notes played on the piano made it a perfect place to have the chai of your choice. Hmmm! Well 8 years was a long time and one of the waiters told me that the new management thought this was better. But the good part is, that they still serve some great chai and caramel custard.

The itinerary for the next few hours was decided, we would park at Kala Ghoda, then walk our way to Gateway of India – with the necessary detours in between. I am skipping the part where we thought the building opposite Churchgate station was the Prince of Wales Museum or when we got lost finding out way to Kala Ghoda!!!!.

Anyways, the next stop – Jehangir Art Gallery, made up for all the “Ops” moments through the day. The sculpture display, is really about art being clever. Waste items have been fused to create dramatic sculptures. Cycle chains, hand mikes, spades, wires, yes those uninteresting things suddenly were made to look so integral to a thought. Some really wow moments there. But what really makes you speechless is the price list.

Atleast one safe item on our Mumbai Darshan list! As we walked to the Gateway of India, we crossed the Chatrapati Shivaji Museum, erstwhile Prince of Wales Museum. After the aquarium debacle, it really took some convincing to go inside. But that is where all the reluctance ends. The near to perfect condition of the lawns and the professional management at the entry was enough to tell me – that this was one place that had received its due attention and makeover.

The makeover does not stop here, the museum has its own gift store, a nice cafeteria, clean loos and polite staff. It has a remarkable collection that ranges from the Indus valley civilisation to a variety of birds, animals and sea life found all over India on display (You can surely miss the aquarium and visit the ocean wonders here, though not alive their condition seems to be better than their living counterparts). 

We really did not cover all the three floors – but managed to leave with a sense of awe and pride. This item should surely remain on the Mumbai Darshan list.

The last stop for the evening was the Gateway of India. The grandeur of the structure hits you even as you approach it – what is also befitting is that it has as a neighbour – a monument that today embodies both beauty and pain – the Taj.

But all it takes is one look at the water to kill the beauty of the moment. Lining the surface of the water, is a layer of used bottles, wrappers of chips and every other waste that should be in the bin. The proud Gateway of India, stands silent to our relentless effort to keep this city dirty.

I pass one subdued thought at this juncture and then move on with a shrug. Well, its time again for a break and some refill before we start our journey back home. So this time, I play it safe with Café Moshe’s. Whatever, you order – please do try the molten chocolate. A perfect end to a not so perfect day. But I realise that its mostly the imperfections that make things and moments memorable. Over the last 24 hours, I have been trying to get my daughter to pronounce – “Aquarium” – but all she could manage was a confident “A” – and then  “KREAM”. Like all relentless mothers, I kept correcting her. This morning, even before she completely opened her eyes, she smiled and said “Aquarium”. 

Perfect!, I told her..but wasn’t the imperfect “AKREAM” more endearing. I smiled and hugged her – thinking of the irony of life.

 

The 2 women and a hut

The morning hours are strictly "do not cross my way hours". Living in a busy metro, with maids to coordinate with, the school bell to catch, the office muster to sign and the traffic to deal with..definitely does not bring out the best in me.
This is my constant state of mind 365 days.

Now for a couple of months..as the moring tarffic stops at the Milan subway signal - there is a new sight that I look forward to everyday. Admist, the smoke, dust pollution, cars screeching by, the ricks honking there is a world untouched. A tiny shanty - where an elderly woman and a younger girl (who i think is her daughter) stay

These 2 women have created a world around themselves..at a spot which for any suburban traveller is a nightmare. A tree near by acts as their cupboard, small scraps of cloth, plastic bags with their worldly belongings, a broken umbrealla -  are all safely tucked between the branches.

Off late I have also seen a latest addition to their family..a stray dog, who is loved, petted and hugged like any home pet.

I look out from my window..feeling like a stranger peeping into someone's house. The scene is like a serene morning, where the mother makes the tea (or whatever it is that I see boiling in the vessel). That also seems to be the only vessel her kitchen holds. Her kitchen surely surely needs a mention, it is a makeshift fire from scrap wood, a vessel, 2 plates and something between a tumbler and  a mug.
The daughter, fights the sleep in her eyes..sits hugging her dog..what am i seeing..how is this any different from any of our homes. They laugh, they tease, look at the busy people rushing by..they almost seem happy.

I sit fuming, counting the seconds to the green signal - the world with the 2 women and the hut is untouched. They smile, not knowing where the next meal will be managed from, how the hut will stand under the Mumbai downpour or how long will it be before they are shooed away from this hut..that they have built literally from scrap.

As I stare unabashed, our eyes meet..mine fuming with the daily drama and hers content with her world around. The signal turns green..I go back to my paper and the moment moves on..