Has Mumbai changed ?

Whenever asked this question: " So Nishchal, where are you from ?", I spontaneously answer in what might appear to be a well prepared answer: " Born and brought up in Mumbai". For the past 28 years this line has always been delivered with a lot of pride in the voice, back straight and head held high. And this holds true with every Mumbaikar around the world. The only other people I have noticed having a similar pride in identifying their hometown are Delhi-ites. Just that it generally comes with this this distinct accent which is rather hard to miss and you think to yourself " I could have figured that out where you are coming from without really asking you".



Anyway, this post is not about Mumbai vs. Delhi (cos I have this thing for Delhi girls), but is about Mumbai. After being away from this city for about a year and a half, I suddenly see things in a new perspective. The daily conversations have all changed:



From:

Wow, the monsoons are about to begin. Its so beautiful.



To:

Is the city ready for it ? Is the annual drain cleaning done by the BMC Will the city mke it this time or drown ? The traffic will cometo a stand still.



From:
Lets go out somewhere

To:
So which mall do we go to ?

From:
So where is your office ?

To:

How much time does it take you to get there ?

From:
Its a truly cosmopoliton city
To:
Marathi manoos versus the infiltrators/migrants/encroachers

And the biggest tragedy:

There suddenly seems to be a shortage of people from the opposite sex. Ironically everyone is hunting like crazy for a partner and has the same thing to say " There is no one worth it around ". Yet, the favourite qs. : " Why are you not getting married ?"

I am sure this list can go on and on: you can chip in your's.