I woke up early this morning. I looked out of my window – it had only just gone 7am, but Bandra was pretty much awake. The rain had just washed the streets clean and from my window I could see men on cycles delivering groceries to the shops in Pali Market.
I love that with just a short walk I can buy freshly baked, still warm pao. If I lean out far enough, I can almost see it being delivered. Bandra is a great place to walk around in – its noisy yes, and frustrating more than ever now, with all the SUVs and their shrill horns, but amongst the chaos, there is an intimacy you don’t find anywhere else.
With my iPod, I venture out into the still hazy morning. I watch, right outside my building a rickshaw full to the brim picking up another five kids to take to school. I walk down Pali Mala road bopping to my favourite Kings Of Leon song. The stall vendors are just setting up.
Sunil, the guy I buy my vegetables from, waves from across the road to me. Further on, the pao-vala on his cycle is still at Jude Bakery, talking to the owner. I get my pao, wrapped in
last week’s Mid Day, still warm, and I almost bury my nose in its smell.
On the way back I walk past a corporate firang, complete with briefcase and tie, sweating in an overly posh suit. He smiles at me, I smile back. And our eyes meet as I swivel my head around to look at him. Perhaps I could follow him. I decide against it and keep walking. I have a couple of dogs following me – they like the smell of the pao as much as I do. There’s one in particular that’s my favourite, and he comes bounding up and tries to jump up to get at the pao. Surely he deserves a little piece.
I notice a familiar car parked up ahead – its my ex-boyfriend’s. It’s been ages since I saw him. I run up to give him a hug. That’s the thing about Bandra – it’s perfect for intimacy. And sometimes it makes your heart skip a beat.
- Anshu Ahuja
Nice. I felt like I was there with you.