Mumbai Monsoon 2009: Rain, Floods and Unforgettable Memories

June 23, 2009 - the day Mumbai welcomed its monsoon! 🌧️
And when Mumbai welcomes the rain, it doesn't arrive quietly!
Within hours, roads are flooded, waterlogging becomes common, umbrellas become almost useless, and getting to college, work or even the vegetable shop becomes an adventure.
The Mumbai local trains move slowly, people struggle to reach their regular trains, and everyone starts calling their bosses or lecturers with explanations for being late.
Yet, amidst all this chaos, children happily continue playing in the rain. 😄
I remember one such day from the previous year.
Buses and auto-rickshaws had stopped, so my friends and I had to walk through the flooded roads to reach Malad Station. We held each other's hands tightly and somehow made it.
At the station, we had to part ways. I took a Churchgate-bound train while my friends took the Virar-bound train.
I managed to reach Goregaon, but the real challenge began when I got off the train.
The stairs were flooded and people were standing there, unsure of how to get through.
I desperately wanted to get home because there was no mobile network. I couldn't contact my parents, and they couldn't contact me either.
Finally, I stepped onto the road.
A shopkeeper saw me and warned,
"Behenji, mat jaaiye! Wahan drainage khula hai. Paani mein pata hi nahi chalta ki drainage kahan hai."
I was scared, but I had to get home.
So, with a little prayer and a lot of caution, I continued walking.
Looking back, that day was frightening—but unforgettable.
Because that's Mumbai during the monsoon.
Flooded roads. Slow trains. Endless rain.
Mumbai may get drenched, delayed and disrupted by the rain, but somehow, the city keeps moving.
And that's what I love about Mumbai. ❤️🌧️
P.S. This post is based on my own Mumbai monsoon experience. 

10 Rupee Coin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, In today's Newspaper I read that, People are excited to c new 10 rupee coin...Especially, Bhelwala, Vadapav Wala, Sabji wala.....

This 1 rupee coin I got nearly 6months back itself...But, I ve retained..Ve not spent yet!!!!!! first I got 2coins from my neighbor & after few days, dad gave me 5coins......I ve retained Rs.70/-.....Dont feel like spending that 10 rupee coin :(

I really like this coin a lot :) Its having a quite different look :)

Well, let me share one incident -:

When my neighbor gave me 2coins, small kids were getting down from 6th floor and they landed on to 2nd floor where, we were discussing about this new coin....they were really tempted to have that coin...but, Didn't give them...not that I dont want to give....but, I felt they r really young to have it..but, some people develop coin collection as their hobby..So for them, its useful & some feel like showing new coin to their near & dear ones and some feel like spending :) Different tastes of different people......

A small kid, studying in Kindergarden asked me, Didi, mujhe wo wala coin dekhao :) then she said, Didi, mere pappa bhi RBI mein kaam karthe hai..per abhi thak mera pappa nahi laya....aapki pappa laya hai na??

Then, my neighbor told them, areyy...unke pappa nahi...mere MR. ne laya tha..mein isko dene keliye aayi..aapki pappa bhi layenge beta..I just smiled by the way, kid expressed her innocence :)

Me & my neighbors r very close to each other :) We r staying in 2nd floor and 2 of my neighbors, very close to me :)

I like to share 1more Incident :-

Once my Mom had been to Blore, So my neighbor's never allowed me to close main door :) I had to open all through the day..I used to get up by 5am to do early morning puja & to prepare breakfast, lunch to my dad...By 6.30 I would ve finished puja, breakfast & lunch..I used to give to my neighbors also, saying, "Just for taste".....I told them, Just taste mine...u ve tasted my mom's ,but not mine :) My Dad used to leave house by 7am to reach his office by 9.30am..So from, 7am-9.30pm my door was open and even my neighbor's.....Noon, I used to take a nap..may be for an hour..Only that one hour I used to close my door but, almost all through the day, My neighbor's and my door used to be open....

We all used to have breakfast/lunch together.....They used to bring, Roti, Sabji, Jeera Rice, I used to prepare, southIndian Rice, Sambar, Rasam.We all used to share & relish the food...Mean time, others used to come and visit me..enquiring about my breakfast/lunch and if I needed anything :)

When My mom was back, Every1 told her, ur daughter, took very good care of us and we enjoyed a lot......Then I told mom that, I missed u...But, Still, In some angle, I really didn't miss u mom :)

I love my colony people a lot :) In One of my posts I had shared about our RBI family :) Younger or older all r very friendly :) I really love my colony members a lot :) Wish to stay forever in such an environment :)

Well, I think, I ve bombarded with lot many feelings...now, let me go....haa...if u ve missed with RBI family posts, visit here.

Have A Nice Day :)

Discipline :)

Today, morning, me, mom & our maid were discussing about Mumbai Monsoon :) In between our discussion, heard crow calling us..kaaaa..kaaaaa..kaaaaaa....I thought he is waiting for his breakfast in balcony..when I didn't find him in balcony, I told mom, that crow is not in balcony..then, she Said, that he is sitting in kitchen window.......

He is so well mannered & disciplined b'coz, Mom had kept skin of vegetables, which she had peeled today morning..mom grinds, vegetables skin and place near the roots of the plants as manure to them :) crow has thought that, there is some food stuff and he can relish....he called us to take permission whether he can relish or not........

When, Mom entered kitchen, myself standing near kitchen door, saw crow being very well mannered and decent..Mom gave him Britannia Marie Biscuit, he took it from mom's hand and flew off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was really astonished to see such a disciplined, well mannered crow......Sometimes, being literates, we forget basic mannerism, discipline, behavior....but, Does Crow go to school or does any one takes classes to them ??

of course there r circus, where animals r taught..but this is not a crow coming from well trained professional...he is just a ordinary crow :)

I would ve taken photograph..but, since, I had kept cam in my room I couldn't take his photograph...I had to come to my room, take camera, by that time, I would ve lost chance of seeing that disciplined crow :)

I really enjoyed about that crow :) Everyday, by sharp 9am, one crow comes to our balcony, I ve named him as Office Crow..He will come sharply by 9am.....he never delays either by few seconds or minutes..he will be served with the breakfast, what mom has prepared....even in noon he comes, we give him Chawal, Sambar, & what all has been prepared for lunch..again in evening he comes, evening, he will served with snacks......he likes all our dishes...

I heard from my neighbor that, a crow visits their house tooo..but he likes only cashew nuts.....He comes to kitchen window and keeps calling his owner....if she gives him, chapathi/roti/chawal he threw it away..until & unless she gives him cashew nut, he never goes.....only she should give him..he never accepts, if any other family member serve him :( once she opens, fridge door, he understands that, she is taking out cashew so he stops his kaaa...kaaaa....kaaaa...!!!!!!!!! Whats amazing about crows right??

If its possible, anytym will take pix's of office crows and post it to my blog :) I am not a good photographer :(...but, will try to do at my level best :)