Lights. Camera. RCNM.

An experience that completely changed my life makes me go back in time. I was 25 or maybe 26 then. In Bhopal, there is a lake which is famous for attracting love birds, the ones that don't have wings. I out of habit used to tell my mom wherever I was and where I was supposed to go. It so happened that on my friend's birthday, he took me to the lake. I had informed my mother about the plan. When I went there, I saw my aunt in the vicinity. But it doesn't end there. She saw me, with those doubting eyes of hers. Then she moved her gaze to my friend, scanned him as if he was some alien. With all dignity, I decided to approach her. Slowly I moved towards her and her eyes became bigger and bigger. I don't know whether this was because of the decrease in distance or the increase in the level of shock. Finally I stood right in front of her. I asked her about her health and various other silly, non-sensical questions, which we ask people out of courtesy.   ...

Mumbai, the city of dreams. Shifting to a new city is always a humongous task. It becomes even more difficult when you come to a city which is bigger than your hometown. Well, not for me. I have lived all my life in Ahmedabad. The calm, peaceful and slow moving city. So Mumbai was a refreshing change to the laid back outlook. You know you are in Mumbai as soon as you step in the city. The culture makes its presence felt. When I stepped into an Auto Rickshaw, I was treated to a peculiarity which only a Mumbai Rickshaw-wala can have. I was given a 'Free of cost' visual tour of all the celebrity bunglows. He'd say "Saab woh na Mannat hai, apne woh Shah Rukh ka bunglaa "  or "Woh Jalsa hai, Amitabh Bacchan Saab hai na, unka ghar ". He also went out of the way to show me Sachin Tendulkar's Bunglow! I knew Mumbai was famous for its rains. I happened to arrive in Mumbai just in time for the rains. Initially it was fun, the cool breez...