8.30 in the morning and I hear a conversation between two people about how eventful the night went. My brain had barely woken up and was expecting to see the ceiling of my bedroom. To my surprise, I saw a lot of bright sunlight coming in from the door next to my bed. For 15 seconds, I was trying to figure out where was I and why was I there. Someone said “Good Morning Dude” and I looked around, to my left were Mahesh and Prateesh. My dumbstruck heavy head had a hangover on it. It took 3 more seconds for me to realize I had been for an offsite with colleages to some rural interiors of Maharashtra 200 Kms from Mumbai. As always, all my nights away from home land up in a hangover. So yesterday night was no different. To further justify my supercool attitude and to be polite to Mahesh I said “Good morning. Can one of you lend me a smoke? “. Prateesh reacted “ Don’t you wanna brush or wat?” I said – “ I will after my 1st smoke”.
I went to Ajay’s room borrowed a smoke and was staring at the clear sky. Fresh oxygen ran through my respiratory system reaching my brains after ages. People residing in Mumbai are always deprived of natural resources. I was one of them. I could see the rays of sun trying to attract the smoke I was exhaling. To my right, I could see a green belt with Sunshine trying to absorb the dewdrops on the surface. While I was trying to retrieve all the goof – up’s I may have done last night with 6 pegs of premium whisky on my 1st offsite ever in 3 years, my heavy head wanted to think about how beautiful nature is. The site of this rural area was nurturing the seed planted once upon a time, where I had thought of quitting Mumbai forever and shifting to a peaceful place closer to the nature. By now, I realized my smoke was almost over. Mahesh and Prateesh wanted me to get fresh and join them for breakfast.
27 employees from various departments handling the Consultative side of business at my workplace had been invited to bond with each other so that we could all slog our asses again through out the year for this organization. Actually, this exercise was repetitive for most of these folks as they would attend such off sites once in 6 months again with the same set of people. Only 3 folks out of these 27 were 1st timers - Ajay, Rakesh and myself. This was supposed to be a bonding exercise, but 3 of us surely were not enjoying as we felt like aliens cos we belonged to the back end and the others were FRONT END REVENUE GENERATORS for the company.
Mahesh exclaimed “it’s 9! Can we go?” I din’t wanna join them as I thought I should really spend some time talking to myself to atleast mend what I may have screwed last night. “You guys carry on . I’ll join you there” I said. Prateesh insisted I should tag along. I agreed.
I got the warmest welcome from this gang. I guessed, this was an outcome of my deeds last night. My guess was correct. I called Ajay, he has been my friend for 10 years. I was of course, extremely comfortable discussing things with him. We fetched a plate for ourselves. Ajay was extremely fit. His physique had grown 2 folds over the last 2 years. I was wondering if he intakes steroids. I could see him losing hair 3 folds in last 2 years. But he looked smart, dashing and well built. I thought if losing hair was directly proportional to good built, I would love the equation as I was losing hair anyways. Rakesh joined us at the table. By now, I could notice all good looking girls in the group were already looking at Ajay. I was a little jealous. I looked at Rakesh. I felt much better. His built was below average and if looked at our table, I sure would be the 2nd preference for all the babes. The only chance Rakesh had was if a blind babe had to join the group. Fortunately, there was none. For a person residing in Mumbai, the competitive edge gets right in to your veins and arteries not allowing one to miss a single chance to beat someone, I thought. Rakesh said “ So you guys had a good time last night.” I asked “Oh!! We did??” I was really curious to find out who screwed up more last night. Me or Ajay. Both of us were equally drunk. So like a patron of Mumbai, with the competition running in my blood, I wanted to beat my best friend to attain levels of satisfaction on WHO SCREWED UP MORE. I was thinking what’s wrong with me . I need not be so competitive at least not now as am not in Mumbai. Rakesh explained, “Both of you could barely walk.” I had known Rakesh for a while now. He had joined this organization a few months after me. He resided in Vasai - One interior shuburb where I would have visited not more than thrice in last 28 years I have stayed in Mumbai. I always saw trains crowded as if this was the last train to Pakistan and would wonder how and why people buy property beyond Dahisar? Actually on 2nd thoughts why even Dahisar. My brain had refused to answer stupid questions but I pushed it. All it said was everyone in Mumbai fights to make a living and you are no where in the competition. I was too embarrassed to push my brain to answer any more questions.
In the meanwhile, the co-ordinator for the day came in and wanted all of us to assemble near the centre lawn. I could see a set up which looked like a military camp. It was amazing to see a 52 feet building in the centre supported with ropes and a few people who were in military uniform but they all looked inferior to Ajay, Jaspreet and a couple of others from the group. I thought one punch from my right hand would be enough to flatten 1 of this chap. Thought Ajay’s left would be enough.
Soon, we were given the schedules for the day, We had to follow a series of events and it felt like by the end of the we would either be trained military professionals or maybe our organization has arranged for additional manpower to carry us home as we would not be in a position to walk back home.
Soon, we realized we were heading ahead for an adventurous day ahead. My heart was all exited but my mind was equally lazy. This non-cooperation movement between my mind and heart is as old as the day this movement was started by Gandhiji. So I was preparing my self for the agenda – Rifle Shooting, Fox Flying and Rock Climbing. I had to prepare my body to support my heart and ignore my mind. I took a look at the group and shortlisted people whom I wanted to beat. Thought I could win against most of them. So, I changed my strategy to shortlist people who could beat me. The list seemed relatively small. Rakesh of course dint qualify for the 2nd list. The clear competition was Ajay and Jaspreet. Anyone with an IQ score of 0.001 could make out Ajay and Jaspreet will be a tough battle for # 1. I could see myself in top 5 if not 3. Rakesh for sure I thought in last 3 or may be last one.
Finally, the 1st event in the day was Rifle shooting. The competition was divided by 2 as most girls could barely pick up the air gun. My sleepy, drunk mind decided to react as if it had derived a new theorem bigger than the discovery of Pythagorous. It derived that I only have to compete with guys. I had this kind of an experience in the past and I could achieve the top 5. Felt motivated and my mind was getting ready to support my brains. Ajay and Jaspreet led the way and Rakesh was in last 3. Looking at these results, I thought I should have been Rakesh Junjunwala – the predictor – mover and shaker of the stock market.
Next event was Fox flying. There was nothing to compete in there but all that could be displayed were one’s guts to trust two safety ropes and some buckles entangled around you. The hook would support your back and neck to one rope and within seconds you would fly to the other end. No logic but faith on the rope I thought. The 1st couple of participants went with their hands tight on the rope. The next lot went with hands loose. The third and the final lot went with hands and legs flying. The third lot was the most gutsy I thought. I validated the thought by adding logic – Had to be a gutsy lot, I was a part of it.
The last event for the day was the most interesting one – Rock Climbing. The attire this time had changed. The vertical look of this 52 feet tall building was scary. The rock in there looked hard. The vertical apartment was of course the toughest task of the day. I took a quick view around to mentally evaluate – WHO WOULD DO IT?? By asking such a question to myself, I knew I had lost half the battle. The view around gave a clear indication, it would be Ajay or Jaspreet. When one knows he can’t win, suddenly he wants his friend to win. That’s another aspect of a competent asshole residing in Mumbai. I was no different, I extended all my support to Ajay. The event started. The 1st person climbed nearly 25 feet at a go in 20 seconds. Suddenly, all of us felt, this will be a cake walk. Little did we realize, after 25 feet, the distance between each grip increased marginally. So, it was obvious, the actual battle started post 25 feet. BASH – The 1st person lost his grip. Thanks to the safety gear I thought. The 60KG man, if he dint have his gear on would have landed on one of us ensuring our insurance company pays the claim to our families. The fear on his face could only be compared with the logo of Mercedes Benz. The logo symbolizes luxury, his face symbolized balls (torn apart). After his fall, am sure most guys lost confidence. Atleast I did. Finally, I had to go. Like me, most people believed I wont do it. Infact, no one cheered. I could read between the lines. My bench mark was 25 feet. I went on and on for 20 odd feet. The veins in my hand, were kind of paining. I got the message. I tried my last leap with all my force. The force reciprocated and I fell. The embarrassment of coming back without completing the mission was crazy. After a while, it was Ajay’s turn. Like me everyone was hopeful, he would do it. His climb was looking ideal. As if, he has done it 20 times before. Ajay managed the 1st 25 feet with ease. That was expected. He gradually moved ahead and above. His immense strength was visible from 30 feet below. His muscles were the version of a local Rambo. Everyone was cheering and BASSSHHHH. Lost his grip. The disappointment on his face could be compared to an IIM Ahemdabad graduate failing the examination by ½ a mark.
With Ajay failing, Jaspreet only looked more confident. He knew he was now the centre of attraction. I was wondering, what if one of the equipments in the safety kit fails. For example, the rope surrounding your waist decides to break. The gravity will pull you down like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. The fear of fall was enough to thank god and appreciate the fact that the safety equipment worked well when I started the climb. Jaspreet was all set. His climb started and all of us very keen to see him climb. He migrated from one rock to another as if he has practiced the climb all through the night while we were drunk. 30 feet in 30 seconds exclaimed the instructor. His physique sure was capable of getting him right there. He was almost 90% through. I thought he’s the only one who would walk away with all the fame back to office. Probably he thought so too. He turned around to proudly announce, NOT BAD. The moment he realized the height of this monument, he started shivering. I wondered if he would sprinkle pee on us from 40 feet above. Luckily, he controlled his pee but could not hold on to the grip. BANNNNGG. He was hanging in air supported by the safety rope but his hopes and pride had no safety ropes. So they fell on the ground.
By now, the day was hectic and all of us were hungry like the citizens of Somalia. I was waiting for the last few idiots to get through. Rakesh had by now got ready for the event. His safety gear on. It appeared as if malnourished man was being sent for American Football. I was sure he would not even beat me. Frankly, I was not even interested in competing with him. He started his climb. Slow and easy. He got to the first 15 feet in no time. That had been a cake walk for everyone. His next 20 feet were equally steady. He took most of us by surprise. My mind had begun the countdown anticipating his fall when he looked down. But he had his head steady. He pulled himself on the next step with level headedness. By now, he had moved to Ajay’s level. Ajay had a sad look on his face. I was a little more embarresed than before. He moved ahead. Jaspreet by now had started feeling the presence of a close competitor. I could sense the attention moving towards Rakesh. Suddenly the entire world was cheering. Rakesh dint bother. He moved ahead and higher. The benchmark created by Jaspreet was on the verge of diminishing. Rakesh pulled himself even higher. He was almost there. Atleast 45 feet. I was trying to figure out whats the source of this strength. By now the entire gang was looking at Rakesh. The men in military dresses had started cheering Rakesh. The girls were all gaga about where he stood. Rakesh took the final leap. 50 feet above the ground beating 30 people and beating 50,000 negative thoughts. Must be an amazing feeling I thought. He took the jump and climbed it up. He was at the peak. The crowd applauded. Rakesh had a blushy smile on his face. I had never seen such a smile on his face. He was sure feeling on top of the world. The only man to climb a 52 feet wall. WOW.
The funny looking men in military uniform unloaded the heavy safety gear from Rakesh’s exhausted body. He had started sweating by now. He had to now use stairs to come down 5 floors which he managed in 30 seconds. No one was surprised this time around. Everyone congratulated Rakesh for his efforts and achievement. Ajay and Jaspreet also congratulated him. Am sure that was the happiest day in his career with this organization. The event was over.
We were all instructed to take lunch in a buffet set up a couple of minutes from the centre. Rakesh, Ajay and me shared the same table. I could not help asking Rakesh, “What made you do this? How did you do this? ”
His answer changed my life. It inspired me to write this. Many questions ran through my mind. He answer was, “This was easy. I do this everyday. The only difference is I don’t have those safety ropes on me.” He continued, “I stay in Vasai. Everyday I have no choice but to hang on the gates and risk my life till I reach Bhayander, it’s a 20 minute ride. The ride is ofcourse not smooth. Compared with 6 fingers and half a leg in the train remaining 93% of the body hanging outside, this to me seems simple. The train moves at 80 odd kms per hour. The pressure is always pushing me to fall. On the other hand, my push is not enough to get 90 people out of the way to make way for myself. I got to push and sustain. Push again and sustain. The fear of death gives me the strength to hold on. My father passed away in 2008 and am the only earning member of my family. Every morning, my wife tells me “leave the train if its too crowded, its OK if you reach office late once a while”. I nod my head and leave the house. I have never told her what I go through. When am hanging on the gates of this supercrowded trains, her words resound in my head. The fact is when the train leaves the station, am not sure if I will be able to hang on till Bhayander. The hopes of my family don’t let me die. Like you I knew here that if I loose my grip, at the best people will laugh. But I know if I loose my grip hanging on that gate, my family will suffer for the rest of their lives.”
I was touched. Many thoughts ran through my mind. The city of opportunities – Mumbai, is survival in this city so tough?? Just to get to office in time, is it worth risking life everyday?? The city which deprives us of natural resources, the city where to survive you have to compete with everyone everyday, is it worth living here?? This city offers growth and lifestyle and in the bargain, one has to risk his life everyday. Why?? Every night when one sleeps, he hopes the trains are emptier tomorrow, he hopes the traffic moves swiftly and hopes he reaches office in time. Every evening when one returns home, he is too tired to kiss his wife, too exhausted to talk to the kids and too bothered to watch a movie. Everyday in Mumbai starts with a race. It ends in a race as well. No wonders, the mumbaikars get tired easily, get older faster and die early.
I wondered, If Mumbai is worth living in??? In case yes, should it be at the cost of LIFE EVERYDAY???
