Musings

Mumbai

Being a part of the city - though spordiacally only - I feel attached to it. She is fast, furious and yes, cooperative. While reading the post blast bomidic analysis, I became aware of the hefty contribution the city makes to the kitty of the Center. In its return, however, she only gets a big thumbs down. The city, arguably, has the highest population density in the country. Demographics of the city do not limit to the Maharashtrians and the Gujrathis but includes people from all parts of the country and all strata of society. She is feeding them all. But then there is a limit to her potential. Those who are left hungry, snatch the piece from the fortunate one. The lackadiascal attempts of other states' clergy, towards development (read job creation and inturn, increasing per capita income) has contributed a lot to the overcrowding of Mumbai. No visible growth encourages the citizens to look for other places, to earn the day's bread - if not more, just once a day. Metros being the obvious choice, pay the penalty. It's not just Mumbai that suffers rather, all metros have the same story to tell. Mumbai being the erstwhile commercial hub, pays the higher fraction.

Carrying such a huge crowd to their offices and back home is a daunting task. While Mumbai Suburban locals have always been a target of despise from the non-Mumbaikars, for the perrinial Dhakka-Mukki and people being stuffed in like vegetables, et al. To speak truth, however, there is no other effective alternative to locals. It takes two hours to reach Noida from Gurgaon; cities that are hardly 80Kms apart, during the business hours (the free dose of propah Hariyanvi dialect is complementary). For a commensurate amount of expenditure in the local, you can travel from Borivali to Churchgate within an hour. Mind you, both are much farther apart. The fact that local is Mumbai's lifeline, is nothing less than truth. If you blow it - and it's god damn easy to blow it - it will sure affect the common man. Next day, if the same mob boards the same coach, there is nothing to wonder and applaud about the spirit, for it has nothing to do with the any spirit. There is just no other alternative to it!

So, please stop that bravado of the Spirit of Mumbai. If you want to do something, then follow the fellow Mumbaikar: Mind your own business. They didn't stick to TV - jaws open - watching videos of fellow passengers. They went office, to work. Follow that, rather than lighting the candles. About bombing the hell out of Pakistan, forget it. Our figher planes are destined to fall on our own towns, rather than bombing.

Water

Rainy season is my second love. First is winter. The water cycle of nature is really amusing. Ocean > Evaporation > Clouds >Air Currents (for cloud movement) > Condensation > Rain > Percolation > Lakes, River & Esturies > back to Ocean. Wonderful, isn't it?

Even more wonderful is the percentage allocation of water-

77% - ice glaciers & polar caps,

10% - oceans,

10% - water table,

3% - rivers, lakes and ponds (potable).

Use the last variety, carefully!

Exercise

The figure consciousness bug finally caught me. One fine morning while I was brushing teeth, my torso visible on the mirror showed a tad fat on the belly. I flushed clean the mouth and stared at it. It was really visible. A small little pretty tummy!

What next, was the obvious question that rocked my head. Now that's something really serious because a belly at 22 means pot-belly at 44 and may be, a pit fall at 66. Agasht of this forevision, I instantaneously made my mind to workout. No excuses, nothing. Just exercise.

10 waist turns, 10 waist bends, 20 cross waist bends, 10 chair pushups and thump! It was really exaustive. Pushing the fatigue away, I finished ablutions and started the walk to the bus-stop.

The day went fine. In evening, I started feeling a bit dizzy. I attributed it to the ICH food. A perrinial excuse that always works! The night was eventless, as always.

Next morning, I reiterated the workout. Agog of the achievement, I reached the stop. The journey was adventurous, undoubtably. Office is going on fine. Just a small problem: I am unable to bend, anymore. Ouch!