Is this the dream I rebelled with my family to get?

It is so weird that we think, "A city fulfils your dreams," and not we ourselves. We give this city too much credit for our dreams, our hard work, our life. A city just living within India, that feels like a stretch and a sketch of the world. A city of and for everyone. Before coming to Mumbai, I thought I would make this fast-paced city my own in a slow fashion, but the possibility of it remaining just a thought is huge. And after coming to this town, I am certainly saying, "Ami ekla cholbo re!"

A girl from Kolkata with Bollywood fantasies, who does not dream of going to Mannat but of getting to her own Manzil, did not see the other aspects. From the time I landed in Mumbai, I felt it was Kolkata with the sea at its side. Just after leaving Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, while I was heading towards Navi Mumbai, watching those old architectures, going through Atal Setu reminded me of Kolkata, building a familiarity in my mind. However, not so gradually, the city unveiled its horrors: sudden rain, light or heavy, being swindled by a cab driver, getting onto crowded local trains, and still getting late, getting sick often, not enough street food options, and getting overwhelmed by people always on the run. Life isn't fair, or so I thought!

In search of the serenity I was craving, I found Marine Drive as my best friend. Yes, once I got scammed, but once a cab uncle made sure I got home safely to my apartment like a guardian, as it was late at night. 'Bhalobashi', a word every Bengali says — it has become cringe because of the non-Bengalis — but whenever I watch my classmates say it, I feel it is kind of sweet. Maybe I was seeing through a black and white lens when it was grey.

This city made me more of a Bengali than I ever was. I got to know the grace in the art of solitude; I was used to being alone, but started enjoying it after coming here, and also, on the contrary, practised shying away from being shy. Sometimes I feel Vada Pav doesn't deserve the amount of dislike it gets.

Mumbai is like any other city, just fast. This might not be my dream, but the city is definitely making me work harder to get to it.

I rebelled with my parents for a smaller dream, but got a bigger dream to chase instead. Starting my day with Bun Maska and ending with Bhaat-Mangsho (staple Bengali dish, rice and chicken) — now I am proudly a soul with two cities.

By Aatmajaa Sarkar