A Butterfly and Mumbai

Met a business relation friend after almost a decade. The last time we spoke, as agency - client relationship, we were to catch up on a drink but somehow it never happened. I still remember how she gave me a quick sermon on 'what are your plans in life'.

Thanks to a mutual inkling and social media we were in touch quite regularly. Her 'full of life' and 'super positive' attitude combined with sparkling eyes and a hearty laugh has kept many like me in her friend zone.

Her rise to the celebrity league with her sudden change of career, finding her 'calling', and also finding a partner for life, a la mills & boons style, is a story worth publishing. A book can also be written with all the interesting stories she keeps sharing while on the road, in a cab, standing in a queue, generally observing people or in her professional avatar.

Hesitatingly and with obvious guilt, when I called her to check if she can spare some time, her bubbly, honest and warm response was so assuring it can't be put in words. Her infectious smile was all that was needed to start from where we left when we finally met over lunch. I couldn't but resist to hug her, simply overwhelmed by her gesture.

Food ordered, my selfish reason requiring her help explained and assured for support, it was time to hear her story. And what a story it turned out to be.

Like most caterpillar stories she had to go through a tough transition to become this beautiful butterfly with even more beautiful wings. After quitting the comfort of her well settled job and taking the entrepreneurial plunge, in her own words, one fine day she was literally 'down on the mat' and 'simply surrendered to the divine forces'. She did rise from the ashes, slowly & gradually but steadily.

It was also as if she was narrating my story with characters, situations and locations changed. Too spooky a similarity. Yet with a big difference. A difference only her prayers and destiny could make.

Today she is shining both professionally and personally. She is helping a lot of people find their calling. She is also bringing like minded people together providing a networking opportunity while sharing their unique stories. She is back to being a rockstar and more.

Our conversation somewhere changed tracks and meandered towards the growing religious fanatism all over the world and in our country. How things are flying off the cliff on things pretentious and definitely senseless.

What she shared next was something I had read and heard only in news. Something which I always thought was to gain TRPs and grab headlines. I couldn't believe it was factually true. Even now it has not sunk into me.

Being a muslim she had struggled like hell to find a house on rent in Mumbai. She thought buying her own place would ease out the pain but it turned out to be equally tormenting. She did eventually succeed in finding a place but after great difficulty. Unbelievable yet true. Difficult to fathom in the city which embraces one and all.

I am a die hard Mumbai fan. My love affair with Mumbai began from the day I started working. All through my career work brought me to the city every other month. Work became pleasure while in Mumbai. I used to look forward to the monthly or quarterly reviews.

Then, as luck would have it, I got posted here and had the privilege to live here for more than five years with my family. We all adore the place, have very fond memories and would love to come back.

As destiny would have it, my elder kid got his campus placement in this very city. Our story with Mumbai continues to bloom. In all these years we never ever came across a situation where people were identified due to their religion. We just made friends. Infact I find this is one city where religion is the last thing on people's mind. Working on week days like machines is first and partying on weekends like no one's business is second.

One can find the prefect fusion of the entire country in this one amazing city. All the states and communities converge here and make this the one and only 'dream city' of India. How can Aamchi Mumbai be biased. It doesn't suit its DNA. The bug has to be removed, the error has to be rectified, the melting pot of cultures and religions has to always and all ways remain inclusive.

In this 21st century technologically savy India, aspiring to be world leader, this is definitely not 'achchey din'