God's own country!

I was walking on the streets of Mumbai this morning. It was 10.30 am. A crowded street filled with people to board a bus had a stretch of vegetable vendors by the curbside. A bridge construction had blocked the other side of the road. Under the bridge, cabs and rickshaw drivers had turned that area into a parking station. People had occupied a part of the road negotiating vegetable prices with the vendors. The line of people waiting for the bus was increasing.

I saw the bus cross the intersection. Before the bus could reach the bus stand, a big Honda Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)car was trying to make its way on that street. Meanwhile, the bus crossed the signal and was waiting behind the car honking away. The driver in the car was on his cell phone talking, ignoring the honking of the bus.

The people in the line were shouting. The car was parked diagonal blocking the street. There was no chance for a bus to make its way through.

A few young men approached the car driver and started abusing:

“****-Dee-Ke, dikhta nahi hai kya…itni badi bus khadi hai…hatt yahan se”.

The car driver shut the car windows and decided to stay parked.

The bus kept honking, the car driver stayed adamant parked in the middle of the road, the people waiting to get into the bus kept screaming, the vendors by the curb side gathered around the car driver. Amidst all this, I was still trying to figure out how to make my way through, to reach my doctor’s office to make it in time for my 11 o clock appointment.

The hawaldar (traffic police) was called. He had tobacco in his mouth and was also talking on the cell phone. 5-10 minutes after he was explained the situation he spoke with the car driver. The conversation was as follows:

Hawaldar: Arrey Namashkar Saheb. Kasa Kaay? Suresh Saheb kashe aahe? Aaj Andheri mein kaise? (Hello sir. How is it going? How is Suresh Sir? How come you are in Andheri today?)

Car driver: Sagla theek aahe (all is well)

Hawaldar: Bara bara, kaay saaheb, bus ubhi aahe maage. Thoda pudhe park karta kaay? (ok ok. Sir the bus is standing behind the car. Would you mind parking a little ahead?)

Car Driver: Mala shivya deto toh. Tyaala saanga Sorry bolaayala mala. Mag me gaadi pudhe ghetto. (He cursed at me. Tell him to say sorry to me. Then I shall move my car ahead)

The hawaldar went to the 4 young men standing there still furious. He told them to apologize to the MLA’s son. He explained to them that if they don’t apologize, the car will not move and he won't be able to do much. He cannot put his job at risk and argue with the MLA’s son. The men refused to apologize.

There was a huge fight between the people screaming at the bus driver to take a different route, between the hawaldar and the young men, between the bus driver and the MLA's son.

Meanwhile it was 11 o clock and I was already late for my appointment. I decided to take a different route and make my way through to the doctor. It is 2 pm now and I am on my way back home. 2 in the afternoon and that road has now been blocked with the MLA’s son not budging to move the car, the bus is in the same place it was but empty, the people have dispersed.

I am left writing this article wondering how does this city and country operate on a daily basis.

God’s own country indeed!