City of Dreams.... Really?

Mumbai - the city that houses a million and plays host to another million (visitors). Where every individual learns about its true essence ever since birth. The city which promises to fulfill the dreams of practically everyone; the ones born here and also the ones who migrate to the city. With the ones who are born here do not really have too much choice at their disposal, but those who migrate here are the ones who need to be acclaimed. (No any offence to any community or individual) I truly wonder what is it that people really like about this city. Until about fifteen years ago, a person could atleast think about living here, earn substantial amount of money, build a steady career and yet find the time to socialize. As of today, a regular Mumbaikar still does all of these. Yet, one other huge factor that has been appended to all these is the ‘stress’. Stress that makes people go to office for sure but with a baggage and a looming burden of passing through the day. Stress, that definitely allows a person to attend social obligations but under the pressure of fixing up a smile on their face and the worry of pacifying the egos of friends/relatives. Stress that lets us attend the midnight party at the nightclub but under the fear of being caught by the moral police for a crime never committed. Stress that allows us to go on a vacation but only with the incessant emails we receive on our phones, perpetually reminding us of the impending work.

There are several cities across the world buzzing with so much activity and life as Mumbai. They too are stressed. Yet, when it comes to Mumbai, the levels of stress are simply much more. So why is it that we are living under so much anxiety inspite of so many ways that we could in fact espouse to make the quality of our life way better? Why is it that we are caught in this deep well when all we need to do is just take the plunge and set free?

They say, Mumbai is a city of dreams, especially for every other Indian citizen residing beyond the city limits. Everyone here wants to fulfill their dreams and the city apparently provides the ways and means to attain them. Well, it is true. The city does have a lot to offer and there are more than a zillion who are geared up to grab the offer as well. Everyone wants to make it big here. Everyone works very hard and struggles to get to their goals. Putting efforts day in and day out, until the midnight oil gives way, everyone slogs. Waking up way early in the morning, with no time for breakfast, swiftly getting ready to go to the office. Getting the scheduled train or bus at the same time every day. Struggling to even stand in the excessively crowded bus/train. Cramping up in an auto (after a long altercation with the driver) which is shared by strangers who are gasping for breath and sweating profusely. Standing in the long queues for hours together at railway stations only to update the monthly pass. If you are not a seasoned traveler then doing so as a ritual everytime you decide to take the train. Dingy train compartments and filthy platforms decorated with paan spit all over. Women and girls being subject to frequent molestation at railway stations and buses. The roads are specially fabricated to accommodate zillions of potholes, making the average Mumbaikar refrain from buying a new car, yet the traffic jams cease to ease out. And with all this trauma, as one reaches the office he/she is expected to perform and come up with the most innovative strategies to enhance the business. After putting in ten hours of daily work on an average, when the person reaches home, with little or no energy whatsoever, the woman is expected to prepare scrumptious meals and the man is expected to either help or complete some pending work. With Saturday as a half day working (which is as good as a full days job), there is hardly any time for rest. And then arrives the grand Sunday where the first half of the day is spent gulping down the fact that it is Sunday indeed or sleeping or just a little further, attending to an important obligation or catching a movie. The second half is spent worrying about the Monday which is the official evil every Mumbaikar dreads, while on a trip to the nearest mall. And with all this trauma and tribulation a Mumbaikar spends weeks over weeks translating into years gone by doing what? Achieving goals and earning money. And when the time really comes to enjoy the success and celebrate it, one is so tired that all he/she wishes to do is nothing.

Apart from Bollywood, nothing about Mumbai is glamorous any more. All it has apart from this is a job for every person from any background, education, caste, creed or sex. Jobs that can fetch good money but not a good quality life.

The watchdogs of our system are busy repleting their pockets and the people are habituated to living in the rut. No zest to go against the system with so much stress haunting them already. Each of us is tried tested and troubled. People have given up although they may try to put up a brave show each day. And yet, through all this jazz, everyone still aspires to scale new heights in the city. Yet there is a sharp rise in the number of people migrating here each day. Everyone wants their share of Mumbai however sweet or bitter it may be. Here, everyone wants to run the rat race and win it too. The race would never end but only if the system is improvised, it would atleast be worth the run.