Mumbai, the city of dreams as people fondly call it. Rarely does anyone mention it as the city of harsh reality. The deep, dark secrets lie hidden under the cloak of lights, glamour and all the razzmatazz. If there's a depressing poverty stricken largest slum in the world "Dharavi" on one side, then there's "Marine Drive" - a beautiful boulevard which when viewed from an elevated point resembles the Queen's necklace ; on the other. It's a city which is renowned for the spirit with which it's people lead their lives almost encapsulating all the other pitfalls. Here, half the life is spent stuck in traffic while the other half in running around to achieve stability in life (and if you're lucky, strong willed and thick-skinned enough - to carve an identity for yourself).
Naturally when a person is laboring all day, rarely does he get time to sit, relax, ponder or even reflect upon the day's happenings leave alone nurturing relationships. Relationships here are as fickle as Pakistan's stand on terrorism. One day you feel like you've known a person for ages while having the time of your life with them and just as you are about to bask in the glory flies a month where you don't even get to talk to the person on phone leave alone meeting them. Blow hot- blow cold relationships are a norm here. Equations between people resemble the scenario of driving on roads- there's more of clutch and break stoppage then exhilarating acceleration. Take me for instance. I have met my best friend (that's what I'd like to think of her and much more) once in the past 2 months though she resides in Santacruz which is about 4 kilometers from my place but have twice visited my parents who live in another city altogether in the same duration. I have invented a Newton's law of "No motion" where for every 100 plans strategically made to meet up, only 1 plan sees the light of day so your friendship is basically going nowhere. And if you compare these startling statistics with those of me meeting my relatives the law becomes Newton's law of "Forget Motion", though in my defense I'd like to say I don't like them because a model on the cover of GQ seems more genuine than them(Unfortunately photoshop doesn't repair character). Here nothing is permanent- neither friendships nor enemity. People seem more animated and elevated about others in their Instagram pictures with a million hashtags so the outer affability exists for all to "Like" but they lack the geniality that comes from within. Meetings have become a platform for photo opportunity than actually spending time with people. Agreed this is the age of marketing with your bosses and mentors telling you to sell yourself and bring out the best in you but it'd be a relief if relationships are kept out of the promotional spree that we all have befriended.
One of the reasons why people have become more of a sham is because they are highly ambitious. I too am extremely ambitious. Now being ambitious is something that is admirable but in the quest for reaching the zenith of their careers people disregard human relations. That's what disturbs me. Ambition could make you rich but not necessarily "happy". Unprofessional or roadblocks to success is what human attachment is labelled as among social circles here. Now what's the point of being successful if you can't share it with a loved one? Is success at the cost of loneliness acceptable? I feel there can be a balance between a professional and personal life. Both of them are interrelated. A peaceful personal space only keeps you in the right frame of mind to do well professionally. It's more of a fuel than a repellent. I have experienced the snub though. The snub that pushed me far away from the zone of familiarity and affection to an unknown territory of uncertainty and probably distrust of people. It's a bit hurting when your current equation with a person is more about in-person awkwardness, formal conversation and close-knit cherished memories albeit- of the past. Though I'm trying to understand the situation from another person's point-of-view as well so as to be fair but in totality the picture seems gloomy and the writing's on the wall. Imagine the only person who you could be uninhibited in front of, your only emotional outlet suddenly becoming busier than Warren Buffet or making it appear so atleast! That's when reality strikes you. Reality being change is inevitable, people are selfish and it's all about priorities (the sad part being you not featuring in the list of priorities). Don't get me wrong as there's nothing faulty with being selfish but selfishness to an extent that you completely ignore your loved ones is not acceptable. Too much of anything is also good for nothing.
