Mumbai Musings:
Got up early morning for my (irr)regular swim schedule! Somehow had the feeling “it’s gonna be a god day” just one of those days….
Done with the swim, finished my morning chores and started getting ready for my consultations. Usually we (doctors) don’t bother much about dressing/ smelling good, however today was different, I had that ” good day” Wala feeling.
The positivity creeps into everything including dressing style.. dapper clothes, shiny shoes and a suave perfume. Ready to leave and I realize I still had time on my hands; so I catch up on some news and gossip
positivity influences everything, including getting an instant cab!!
And I’m before time again.
Somehow there’s no traffic on these ” good” days and a drive over the freeway seems more like a long drive than the usual grind.
Grooving to some cool music, I saw A dark, chiseled face staring at me through the car “window” sweat dripping from his face as he dragged a hand cart near Carnac bunder ( the south end of the freeway) in the scorching heat.
The only thing between me and that man was the car window and yet we were in two different worlds.
There he was sweating like a tap, but with well toned bisceps showing through his vest, and a determination in his eyes to pull the cart through heavy traffic and potholes come what may. Doubt if he had water.
On the other hand was me, a dapper shirt covering my abdominal fat and untoned muscles, an AC cab to prevent sweating and a strong perfume just in case. A lunch bag packed as if I were leaving for a picnic!
What had I done to deserve this luxury I wondered? Why do I get the “privileged” life? Why do I have a lunch bag so full I probably would’nt finish whereas he would struggle for water? Is this what we call modern civilisation?
People sitting in air conditioned offices with practically no physical hard work are the dictators. They make money and manipulate it to multiply it several fold. Whereas the really hard working people like the daily wage labourers, farmers sweat it out with guaranteed income!
But mind you this privilege comes at a cost:
lack of physical work leading to multiple ailments, no family time or free time leading to psychosocial issues and most of all no time to enjoy the hard earned money!
I have on occasions passed through phases with practically hand to mouth situations, but I fondly recollect those days as some the best days of my life as I had maximum time for my loved ones and was closer to them than anytime else.
Wondering who was on the wrong side of the “window”then?
