The welcoming

As I was walking down with vikas, Sudarshan and Vinay towards Mahalakshmi temple on the 31st night, I couldn't help but wonder about the significance of the day. I mean it isn't actually New Year for me. To the uninitiated, many of us Hindus celebrate New Year on the 14th of April, and many others during Diwali. But as I sauntered down, it struck my mind that I was regaling the onset of a new Gregorian Year, it wasn't actually that big a day. Here is why...

I caught sight of this small tea shop outside Bombay Central station, above a sewer, on a dingy (to give it a compliment) street. He sat there, staring in to the street, eyeing people who might end up giving him a profit of a rupee or too. I was too excited at this point of time- Marine Drive, with ten thousand similar Bombayites, was awaiting me- and didn't pay the attention that I am now giving him. At this point, I would like to say this is not that sullen post which many people associate me with, its just that I have been a very self reflective mood lately. Coming back, we then continued on our merry way to Marine Drive.

Landing at Churchgate, we stepped out, to be welcomed by a hammered 25 year old who had puked all over himself and the road, with his friend desperately trying to get him to his feet. And the clock read just 11:15 PM. Its amazing at times, how people in the mood to revel forget basic social etiquette. First of all, I do not see the need to be drunk and lose control of your senses, often cited as "getting yourself loose". But then that's me, I am just weird I guess. Reverting to the description of the night, people were clamoring over a railing that adjoined Churchgate like fugitives on the run, refusing to use the subway. I tried my hand (or should I say leg!) at it, and came well short, much to the amusement of my three colleagues.

Now began our quest for food. Poor Vinay, not having had anything he was starved. I had promised them to take them to "Khau gully" and when we landed there we discovered all of them had shut shop for the day and were either asleep or were squibbling over a bottle of whiskey. So we trooped back to Churchgate where we then found out this restaurant that is being operated by the food giant FoodWorld. Must say that its value for money, and the food is good too. By the way, for me value for money when it comes to restaurants is inevitably quantity of food for the price paid, we can always compromise on quality.

Its amazing how almost all Chinese restaurants across the country have these "Chinese" waiters. Its great to see them being employed, but are we really that gullible? But now, after having visited so many of them, I do opine that they lend an authentic feel to it. At this place, we met this Chinese waiter who only spoke English! Now that's service for you! I have this habit of making small talk with almost everyone and speaking to this guy, found out he would be working till 1 in the night. That was his New Year.

After grub, we set out for Marine Drive. We spotted college mates, breaking up couples, a sea of people, heard the music of a thousand duck horns being sounded at the same, set sight of beautiful (fire)works, (according to Vikas-I have decided to abstain from leering), spotted even more people, managed to make calls just passed midnight, spent some time waiting for Pranav, but couldn't catch sight of him, and also saw a disc atop a building, the burning of an old man that almost seemed to take out the electricity of a building, and finally managed to take a couple of pics of ourselves as well.

The journey back to VT saw me buying myself one of those painful duck horns. I just couldn't see that poor mother huddled up with her infant without a blanket on that cold night. The kid, like all other kids was beautiful to say the least. It was almost as if he could sense my intention and gave me this warm toothless smile that illuminated his entire face as soon as he saw me. Tried my hand at blowing and successfully blew out a "phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooo". Sudarshan was more successful at getting out a loud cry for mating with a duck, and he seemed not to wish to part with it after that. But I thought better and gave it away to the first beggar I saw. That child was sitting right outside the Ambassador, and was witnessing the city elite entering to make merry. They were ofcourse oblivious to her presence. I really hope we could do something for those kids. We spent literally thousands on New Year, not even thinking about these faceless souls. No, I am not the epitome of compassion, but I really hope even I contributed to them. And anyone who has read the post till here, don't post any comment regarding this, else it will look like I am some kind of social reformer cum evangelist.

We took the last train from VT, a train crowded than most rush hour trains, and made it back by around 2:30. It was nice being able to spend some time with Vikas; I miss him after he moved away. The only regret was the train ride, I was too close to too many men who weren't exactly sober. Anyways, this post has run its course. I am tired of rambling about my New Year homecoming. Good day/night ladies and gentlemen. And yeah, since you have read so much, A happy New Year to you.