Visiting Mumbai

I wasn’t too excited about coming to Mumbai for the stay experience. However, I was looking forward to meeting a few people. I’d already had an overdose of city stay. Mumbai stay was going to be longish. We couldn’t return to Barkheda till rain subsides. I spent long time in discussions at home with papa for the first 2-3 days. Meeting people is a tricky issue. I am changed person. I’m aware that not all people I knew look forward to meeting me. I too don’t find it relevant to meet many of them. Thus I end up evaluating almost every meeting afresh. I had a list of ‘to meet’, but when I gave it a second thought, the list shrunk. I had nothing to buy, didn’t want to eat out. I had no option but to stay indoors most of the time. I decided that I will not visit my ex-office. The prospect of meeting people there wasn’t exciting at all. I could have caught up with college friends. Two weeks ago, I was told that a meet will get planned. The excitement to meet up is just not there, perhaps mutually.

I don’t know if this phenomenon is something to be sad about, but it appears to me that I don’t belong to this world at all. I don’t understand their world, though I was very much there less than a year back! We used to discuss economy, stock markets, property markets, schools, work, increasing mediocrity and many issues. Nothing, absolutely nothing seems relevant and interesting. There is almost nothing I can talk about with people. I can talk about my new life and people listen. But I don’t see the point in talking about it. They’re not seeking it. I’m not preaching it. Talking seems such a waste of time!!!

I just wanted to meet Master (under whom Rekha and I’ve learnt Martial Arts and Yoga) and Dixit Sir (my prof in MBA college, who I’d look up to and who’d probably be happy to meet me after so many years).

A week in Hyderabad

The prospect of meeting Anu and Srinivas and living with them for a few days was exciting, but not very  exciting. There was almost nothing about their life that we were yet to know or vice versa, thanks to the long telephonic calls at regular frequency. In a way, the telecom growth has dampened the excitement in personal meetings. I later figured out that the lower excitement was also due to my prejudices that Anu is too judgemental and that it is difficult to converse because I can never identify with her fears. I found my prejudices misplaced.  The highlight of the stay was the equation between Siddharth and Aditya (Anu’s son, 1 month elder). Kids surprisingly didn’t fight much, despite differences. I wonder if the dose of mannerisms is at work or if they genuinely believe in talking rather than quarrelling.

I didn’t have much to do there. They stay in what can be said as a satellite town and there is generally no reason to go to Hyderabad. We had no intention of sightseeing. We spent most of the time indoors. Rekha and Anu spent some time in domestic chores and un-packing (they’re relocated less than a month back). I got an opportunity to update my blogs on Anu’s laptop, spend time with kids and help the ladies as and when desired.

Visiting Aditya’s school reinforced our views of what has happened of schools and strengthened the conviction in our decision to pull our kids out of an urban school. In a discussion, Anu shared that she was not happy with the school, but she wasn’t able to identify an alternative as yet. She felt that the methodology followed by the school in London was better. When I listened to the methodology, I found it to be too structured and would only end up creating a stereo-type even in a creative area like a language. Anu seemed to agree with this point of view as well, but agreement to conviction and conviction to action is a long long journey!!!

Rekha decided to stay back in Hyderabad for a week more and I moved to Mumbai .