Old Divide, still deep

We, my family, had been residing in dad's office quarters since the time I was born. All was convenient - nice neighbourhood, good convent schools, docs, infrastructure...everything external that makes an abode location perfect. Internal too. Beautiful Chembur. But it was always known, ofcourse, that it was temporary.

Dad started his house hunt pretty early. Himself having been new to Mumbai at the time, he managed to buy a flat in Pune when i was in kindergarten. Pune, then, was the next big thing. Mumbai, too expensive. Navi Mumbai, huh?

Soon enough, though, Mumbai grew on him, in him, and in us. So a few years after using the Pune flat as a vacation home, he started his hunt closer to Mumbai. Started with Ambernath (for some reason still unknown to me), and after a lotta flat trots and final selection, the broker beaming with pride, was taking us to the builder in an elevator. Still joyous about his commission-to-come, he beamed, "This place is just perfect (it was, really), all amenities, good society and best of all..(dropping his voice a tone lower and leaning closer to dad)..we don't sell any flats in this society to muslims!!" Oh the pride in his eyes for his beloved society's perfect rule! We were aghast! Politely refused the flat offer and left, without comment. He never ever did come to know we were muslims.

Many years, many hunts (mostly Navi Mumbai, yes it was in), and many such 'prefect rules' later, it was time for dad's retirement, 2 months back. There were multiple instances, where the broker/dealer either 'happily' (always happy and proud) claimed they don't sell to muslims "even if they pay us 3 crore for a 30 lakh flat!" or the builders/owners almost stopped short of sealing the deal when they heard dad's name. We don't look muslim, that is all the deception on our part. Post retirement, we're now living in Navi Mumbai on rent. Found and booked a flat just a month ago, its a majorly muslim area. Some owners here sell exclusively only to muslims, stating they are victims of previous refusals themselves.

I strongly oppose the reverse stance of 'selling only to muslims coz I was treated so', no 'treatment' justifies religious divide among citizens of the same country. Taking the guilty to court is also a bit far fetched what with builders these days being equipped with the underground, for all we know. But mostly, when one is hurt thus, by a fellow citizen who you take to be your kin, you are too moved inside to be able to stand up and fight. Too hurt. Too shocked. Too sad. Anger doesn't have a place, revenge is not an option, yearning to be understood, foremost.

Mom, hurt, would point out, "But we do have a flat in Pune, which is now really well developed as envisioned, so why don't we move there?? Why fight and hunt and get hurt here so much where they don't want us??!"

Why really? Because even if some part of the land won't own up to us, we've loved, and hence cannot leave.

Navi Mumbai travel quirks [Chapter 2]

Been a good day! After yesterday's Nerul exploration, today it was Belapur! :P Jumping buses to 'understand the roads and routes' against public (others at the bus stops) opinion of 'why don't you catch a train, its easier you know..', I spent a lotta time waiting for the buses, admiring (spoilt for choice :P) Cidco Bhavan and Konkan Bhavan and a bit of Reserve Bank of India in the backdrop, and ofcourse the magnificent railway station in its entirety. Belapur is bella!

Though I reached school (the kid sis') late -'NMMT 21' does a full 'Belapur Gaav' darshan before getting to anywhere useful - the sis was somehow satiated by veg rolls and mazaa mangoes. Phew! The return trip was all of the above repeated. The 'wonderful' exploration was topped with a 7 floor climb up the steps to home, the electricity supply in here knew I needed it just then.

All said and done, for now we'd be sticking to the trains, for sis. For me though, I have so many buses and routes still to explore... :)

Navi Mumbai travel quirks [Chapter 1]

I was supposed to check out bus routes today to find an easier option to pick and drop my kid sis to and fro school. We currently do a long shot with walking, share rickshaws, trains, more ricks, more walks, etc. No, the school bus doesn't come this far. Kalamboli home and Seawoods school. (why we chose a school so far from home, is a chapter in itself!)

So well, I happened to forget the l'il bus adventure I was supposed to do before picking sis up from school today noon, so decided I might as well do it with her, after school. Took the right bus wrong way, as per expert guidance given by my friend which I thoughtlessly accepted. Can't blame his wrong with the threatening 'navi mumbai guidance' demanding calls and texts I make to him :P His presence here (Sanpada, Navi Mumbai) since over some 6+ years has made it mandatory in my eyes for him to know every nook and corner of Navi Mumbai (henceforth ref to as NM) and guide me so. He must by now regret inviting me to NM so cheerfully :P :P

So anyway, his route totally misfired. Useless depots, clueless people, some bus stops trotting, some anger texts to the above friend, then one good samaritan with excellent direction-guiding capabilities and more Nerul exploration later, we finally made it to the bus stop we were supposed to be in. Few buses later the sight of '503Ltd. Kalamboli' was bliss.

But it was worth the rounds. NM is really well connected both by road and rail. The sheer number of BEST and NMMT and ST buses that ply here are awesome!! And how much ever I have commuted around here so far, I haven't come across any road blocks and traffic jams yet, *touch wood*. And there always seem to be too many people getting on and off my stops. And I thought only Mumbai was crowded and friendly :P

So that's one up for NM in all these days that I've been cribbing about places all being too far to connect. Cheers to that! :)