The Unseen City

Divya Raviraj

01 Ab niklegi toh kab pahuchegi?

02 Meri shakal pe mat ja!

03 Upar wala sab dekh raha hai

04 Fashion hai!

05Bhagam Bhag

06Yahan saab milta hai!

INDEX

CHAPTER ONE

AB NIKLEGI TO KAB PAHUCHE GI?

In this city, all are in a rush to get somewhere; it doesn’t matter how: rail, road, water, air or even underground. Transport can only get more cre-ative here. In the 14 years that I have lived here,

I have found out that the fastest way to commute in heavy traffic prone areas, is a cycle. Sounds simple?

It’s basic. Healthiest option.

Imagine yourself, in a four-lane road, stuck in traffic amidst of traffic, buses, vans, pollution and heat. Just waiting there for the green light to get on and for the rat race to begin again, all just to escape that one red light again. To get to where they are going. While I, in the middle of all this chaos, take a turn into a differ-ent path. The footpath where cyclists are accepted. I take my cycle and walk past the crowd. Leaving the

big trucks, buses and posh cars behind and just move forward onto the road I have to take to get to where I want to be. It’s a beautiful breezy ride from there on. As they spend their time on waiting over a light to

turn green, regardless of how much their asset cost. I have spent less on something this thin could save me time; leaving the world behind and moving forward.

CHAPTER TWO

MERI SHAKAL PE MAT JA!

CHAPTER TWO

It’s a welcoming place, once you can offer some-thing back and not just take and take! You could find yourself a spot around the corner here. That

is if you can afford it. The city is divided into many categories. There are connotations attached to differ-ent areas around the city. There is an understanding that the more south you go to live, you are probably getting prosperous. As it takes a lot of money to live in the south of this city. The more northern you go.

The ora, atmosphere and the sense of the city chang-es. But it’s a place where you cannot judge one from

where they come from. You’ll never know who the person sitting next to you on the train could be. All

race, caste, creed, religion, gender etc. get accepted here. Mumbai is much different from the other cities. We are known for our influence, fun and wealth. You

could never tell yourself you got nowhere to go. Even 14 years aren’t enough, because as time passes by and seasons change, so does this city. You may not

see the same shop again 2 years later.

CHAPTER THREE

UPAR WALA SAB DEKH RAHA HAI

CHAPTER THREE

People will know what you do. Day in and day out. You get judged and treated according to what you do, what you wear, where you live, how much you earn, who your friends are, how

you speak and what your lifestyle is like. Regardless of how good of a person you might be, no matter how kind, helpful, loving & generous you are. It all still comes down to who you are on the outside. Here, the emphasis is on social status, there is a constant pursuit of happiness and inner peace, a happier life, to eradi-cate loneliness, a longing for a happy marriage. You get judged differently here. They might not speak to you but they will judge you. You may not like them, they might not too, but if they want their way, you won’t be shocked if you get a call with their name on it. Your kindness may get used for their selfish motives. This city is such. Once you get the taste, you’d want more and would want to climb higher and to get on top, re-gardless of what it may take one to do. Yet, this too is not fully true as there are people who are completely

opposite to this, both coexist together here..

CHAPTER FOUR

FASHION HAI!

People here, throw money like garbage on things that give them validation from others. They do not want to end up not living this one life; just for getting so much to prove one’s worth to the

rest, while it all comes down to nothing. Meanwhile, there are those who live on scraps & then there are those who earn by looking like them. There is so much pain, abuse and struggle everywhere. Nobody seems to lift their chin up, look into someone’s eye and see their pain. Their heads are held high along with the

tags that come with their name.

CHAPTER FIVE

BHAGAM BHAG

Day and night, night and day hustle and bustle, no one stops to appreciate the beauty around, nobody seems to care about the lives around. A bubble of isolation where one dwells in,

proximity can’t pop. All are at the brim of life, one drop more or less will choose life or death. They tell you lies, we buy it. They tell you that you are not enough, you believe that. They tell that you are not up to the mark, you accept it. We are, no matter what, never good. But that is because we stopped seeing ourselves through

our lens a long time before greed crept in.

CHAPTER SIXYAHAN SAAB

MILTA HAI!

Resources here are unlimited. You won’t strug-gle to find what you need. Whether it is a group or a tube; but the city does make you put an effort for you to get what you want, it could

be travelling miles away, earning hard to get or, just contacting someone you never thought you’d have to. It feels like hard work, but the reward is worth it. It is a task; but when done right, one can move on to the next agenda. While for the rest, they get creative finding new strategies, improve on their problem-solv-ing skills, communication skills and most of all, get-ting pleasure in sorting yourself meanwhile all around you try to do the same. It makes you feel grateful, be-cause not everything that looks easy is easy to have, not everything that looks pretty is pretty to get, not everything we thought was happy up high is nice after all. The sheer bliss just when we scratch the surface is enough for many. Just the taste is enough to many to have a drive towards it or run away from it. A lot goes on in one’s mind when there are so many options to choose from, you may never be able to trust yourself after a night of regret. There are two sides to all, one who they wish they see themselves to be and the ugly side they wish to leave. Priorities regardless of what circumstance prevails but a place that brings comfort

wins.