I first went to Mumbai when I was a kid – about seven years old.  My maternal aunt lived in Mumbai.  Mumbai those days (as far as I can remember) was very Naval in nature, and my Mausa Ji was Captain of INS Vikrant.  They had had a very bad time.  There was a war on with Pakistan and INS Vikrant was one of the major targets and the family had lost all contact with my uncle.  He came back along with the ship once things were settled.  The HQ had told them to lie low and protect the ship, so they had severed all contacts with family and friends for that time.

At that time, it did not matter to us kids.  All of us cousins were together, since Mausi was surrounded with her kith and kin.  It was one whale of a party.  Adults were too busy getting worried, so there was no rules for us apart from “Dont break things” and “Dont kill each other”.  For us land lubbers the sea was bliss, and the swimming pool was luxury.  I think we came home to eat and visit the  loo.  We were submerged for most of the time.  Any more … we would have grown gills and webbing on our fingers and toes.  3 weeks of sheer bliss.  Childhood is wonderfully selfish and unconcerned with the sorrows and tensions of adults.

The next time I visited Mumbai was kind of stressful.  My Naani was diagnosed with breast cancer and her operation was in Breech Candy.  She was brave, wonderful and beat the disease, and lived for twenty more years.  I was older, in charge of younger siblings.  We learnt how to board and travel on the local trains.  I got introduced to vada paav, sindhi kadhi, dhansaakh and prawns.  I went overboard on them.  My younger Mausi was also posted here and so was Mamaji.  Really bonded with the maternal wing of the clan.  The fun part was that a few cine stars lived in the same building as my younger Mausi and we hung around like total taporis to see them.  (I must add here that my Mumbai cousins acted very superior and sniggered at us Delhi Yokels for our star struck craze!)

I was married when I visited Mumbai again.  Ex’s Mamaji and cousin are both musicians and actively involved with the movie industry.  I met a whole lot of movie people.  I actually saw Mr. R. D. Burman and Mr. Bhappi Lahiri!

Oh Kay!  I know I am a star struck yokel – so what?????  Humph!

It is not out of place to mention here that I have met a lot of movie people on and off, but I still get star struck!  My cousins studied with a lot of star kids, and are quite blase about it.  Sigh ……

Now, I have cousins in Mumbai, DIL’s brother and Bhabi are living there.

It is a lovely place … with the sea and the glamour.  Now with super cheap flights, one does hop across often.  Wish I had more time to spend there.

Mumbai tailors for women’s blouses and suits can teach there Delhi counterparts a thing or two

Love the sea food!

Wish I lived with and hobnobbed with the stars …….

Actually Naah!

Wish I had webbed fingers and toes and of course gills …..

The ocean is a greater attraction