Hello Mumbai!

I have always wondered what comes first-Destiny or Decisions??

Whether “Our destiny is shaped in the decisions we take” or “We take decisions because we are destined to be there”

Coming to Mumbai to start my work –life has been one such incident that has forced me to ponder over the above two phrases once again. Professionally, I feel that it has been one of the best decision of my life, but personally, it has been the most difficult decision till date. Leaving your family and coming to new city has to be a tough choice. I call it choice, because inspite of working in an Investment Bank, it was not by chance that I landed here. But, even after almost four months of stay here, I have not been able to figure out whether I am happy with this city or still like my City of Joy, Kolkata.

One of my friends, with prior experience of staying in the city had told me that Mumbai is a very fast city. One has to keep pace with it to keep going, else one would perish. I still wonder what he means by a fast city. He meant it in a being a party (social) animal. He seems to be hinting towards the three “W’s” (wine, Wealth and Women!)

Last day, I heard a conversation among two females while coming down from the elevator. One of these two females who seems to be new to the city was narrating her experience of staying here (which I seemed to have missed) to which the other remarked-“If you stay here for a couple of months, you would not wish to go back.”

Barely two months in the city, my friend remarked-“I am love with this city.”

Another friend, who has been staying here for almost a year, feels that it is the spirit of people in the city that makes it so different.

“How is life in Mumbai?” Is a very common question which I seem to answer almost every day. But, I answer it without even knowing what I feel, because I am yet to get an answer to this question. I, for sure, do not hate this place, for one very strong reason…”My amazing work life”, but not hating is not equivalent to liking, for me. At best, it would be Indifference.

Being born and brought up in Kolkata, it’s a home for me. Liking the city has been a natural choice. I have stayed in Bhubaneswar for two years during my masters, and its close proximity to my hometown, never ever had brought a thought in my mind as to whether I like the city or not, or what other feel about the city. And the two years had passed by. Given a choice, I am not sure, whether I would be inquisitive enough to go back to Bhubaneswar.

What is it that makes one fall in love for this city? Is it the lifestyle in the city or the people around? Is it one's ambitions for growing bigger in career (It is the financial hub, afterall!) that people fall in love with this city?