Too much can change in a span of two years. I still feel it was just yesterday when the day began with a sweet kiss from mom and a tight hug from daddy. Looking in the mirror today I find a complete different person who, with the new city, has evolved in a complete new version.
"Where would you prefer living, Salalah or Mumbai?" Every person I came across has this question for me and I still cant figure out what the right answer would be. One city reminds me of the nostalgic childhood days and the other city teaches me to stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Sixteen years in the Sultanate of Oman made me a lot like one of its city, Salalah! The not so very busy city made me calm and composed. Every morning would be fun time with friends at school and each evening turned into family celebration. Finally the day came when the school fun ended and I had to shift to know life better. Bidding farewell to parents was the most difficult thing i had to do I believed. That wasn't true though. It was not until the flight took off that I realized I would no longer have the same way of life again. It all had to end so quick! From the heavenly city of Salalah, I flew to the vibrant city of Mumbai.
CHAOS! Nothing would describe the city more than the term chaos. I was too slow for this never resting city. Mumbai started its tortures once I was all set to start with my graduation. New city, new hostel, new college, new people, new lifestyle and obviously new currency. Among all the new, there was only one thing still old. I was still the same shy, not so very confident and quiet girl. Flowing along the crowd was the first challenge. Lessons of life started with the advent of my hostel life.
Friendly people is the plus point of this new city. But the problem comes when you want some work to be done. The very first lesson of life started with the second day at hostel. Getting a permanent room in the hostel was more difficult than getting a house in Salalah. Visiting the office a dozen times only got me into another temporary room. After moving to three different rooms I was finally allotted a not-so-very clean room. I was even confused whether to tell the truth about me being an NRI as it may give people an urge to bully me. But they digested the fact without any trouble and I was all glad about the place. Soon the drama started. It is a selfish world after all. Understanding people was a difficult deed. Those whom I thought would be great friends proved me wrong and the others who didn't even exist for me came ahead to help. Some were manipulative and had me nodding when they wanted. A few others smiled only when they wanted help. All I did was learn from each and every person I came across, be it bad or good. Solution to each problem was ignorance. Such a bunch of people was not something I was very familiar with back then.
Finally, Mumbai was successful to completely spoil the innocent girl who had landed here two years back. She now knows that no one can decide what she wants to think or speak. The hesitating student was gone for good leaving behind a more confident version who wants to make a new mistake everyday. The shy new junior in hostel became one of the popular seniors who would not be messed up with. Fake smile was no more difficult. Crowds became a habit and swearing just a way of speech.
Both the cities have had their impact on me and have moulded me in different ways, channelizing my thoughts of simplicity and independence together. It is famously said when in Rome, do like the Romans. In my case, I was more influenced by Rome than by the Romans. Even Today, I try to be calm like before, but not taken for granted. I stay quite when the situation is not right, but make my point when ever I get the chance. Finally, it is adjustment that I prefer, not compromise!
Cheers to the cities!!
"Where would you prefer living, Salalah or Mumbai?" Every person I came across has this question for me and I still cant figure out what the right answer would be. One city reminds me of the nostalgic childhood days and the other city teaches me to stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Sixteen years in the Sultanate of Oman made me a lot like one of its city, Salalah! The not so very busy city made me calm and composed. Every morning would be fun time with friends at school and each evening turned into family celebration. Finally the day came when the school fun ended and I had to shift to know life better. Bidding farewell to parents was the most difficult thing i had to do I believed. That wasn't true though. It was not until the flight took off that I realized I would no longer have the same way of life again. It all had to end so quick! From the heavenly city of Salalah, I flew to the vibrant city of Mumbai.
CHAOS! Nothing would describe the city more than the term chaos. I was too slow for this never resting city. Mumbai started its tortures once I was all set to start with my graduation. New city, new hostel, new college, new people, new lifestyle and obviously new currency. Among all the new, there was only one thing still old. I was still the same shy, not so very confident and quiet girl. Flowing along the crowd was the first challenge. Lessons of life started with the advent of my hostel life.
Friendly people is the plus point of this new city. But the problem comes when you want some work to be done. The very first lesson of life started with the second day at hostel. Getting a permanent room in the hostel was more difficult than getting a house in Salalah. Visiting the office a dozen times only got me into another temporary room. After moving to three different rooms I was finally allotted a not-so-very clean room. I was even confused whether to tell the truth about me being an NRI as it may give people an urge to bully me. But they digested the fact without any trouble and I was all glad about the place. Soon the drama started. It is a selfish world after all. Understanding people was a difficult deed. Those whom I thought would be great friends proved me wrong and the others who didn't even exist for me came ahead to help. Some were manipulative and had me nodding when they wanted. A few others smiled only when they wanted help. All I did was learn from each and every person I came across, be it bad or good. Solution to each problem was ignorance. Such a bunch of people was not something I was very familiar with back then.
Finally, Mumbai was successful to completely spoil the innocent girl who had landed here two years back. She now knows that no one can decide what she wants to think or speak. The hesitating student was gone for good leaving behind a more confident version who wants to make a new mistake everyday. The shy new junior in hostel became one of the popular seniors who would not be messed up with. Fake smile was no more difficult. Crowds became a habit and swearing just a way of speech.
Both the cities have had their impact on me and have moulded me in different ways, channelizing my thoughts of simplicity and independence together. It is famously said when in Rome, do like the Romans. In my case, I was more influenced by Rome than by the Romans. Even Today, I try to be calm like before, but not taken for granted. I stay quite when the situation is not right, but make my point when ever I get the chance. Finally, it is adjustment that I prefer, not compromise!
Cheers to the cities!!
Its always nice to read an outsiders take on the circus of life that we have here..
ReplyDeletea good read..Keep writing I'm reading them :)
I would not disappoint anyone. Next soon to come..
ReplyDelete