From Day-dreams to Reality

I heard the bell rang when I was traveling to work. I could hear the murmuring and loud stomps of kids running, trying not to be late. Ah, remember the good ol' days when we thought adulting was all about bossing around in our pajamas, eating ice cream for dinner, and staying up late watching cartoons? Fast forward to today, where I find myself in the heart of Mumbai, amidst a sea of people who seem to be in a perpetual rush, and let me tell you, the reality of adulting is a whole different adventure!

As a kid, I thought moving out and getting my own place would be like a never-ending sleepover party. Little did I know that it actually means wrestling with IKEA furniture, trying to decipher the mysterious art of cooking edible meals, and embracing a newfound friendship with my laundry machine – which somehow thinks that eating socks is its sole purpose in life.

And oh, the rush hour in Mumbai! As kids, we'd eagerly await for the metro rides, picturing ourselves as cool commuters reading novels or striking a pose against the window. The reality? It's a battle of personal space, and sometimes I wonder if the locals are actually a dance floor for impromptu dance-offs during those inevitable delays.
The corporate jungle I once thought was a fancy term for adult playground has proven to be more of a labyrinth of spreadsheets, deadlines, and a never-ending stream of emails. I can almost hear my childhood self crying out, "Where's the fun in this?"
But don't get me wrong, amidst the chaos and occasional wardrobe malfunctions (thanks to the laundry machine's insatiable appetite), there's humor to be found in this whole adulting ordeal. The art of pretending to have it all together during team meetings while secretly celebrating a successful microwavable dinner deserves an Oscar nomination.

And let's not forget the "adult" conversations we imagined as kids. Turns out, discussing weekend plans now revolves around grocery shopping, comparing Netflix queues, and debating whether spending a weekend binge-watching is actually productive.
Mumbai, with its fast-paced lifestyle and energy that can rival a hyperactive squirrel, has taught me that adulting is like a rollercoaster – you laugh, you scream, you sometimes want to get off, but you also learn to enjoy the ride. It's about finding joy in the little victories, like successfully parallel parking in a city where every parking spot seems to be designed for toy cars or fighting for the  last seat on locals. 

Ahh, speaking about rains, remember how bollywood romanticized dancing in the rain with your beloved, later on them sharing a cup of hot tea? Mumbai and rains are a fight between the wind and umbrella. Reaching late during your work hours because you are drenched in the puddles that have been thrown to you by the cars. The only thing  believe people enjoy, is a cup of strong tea and vada pav while cursing and saying kadhi yenar he bus? It's as soothing as it sounds. Trust me, you should try it the next time when you face another puddle while wearing whites. 

So, as I navigate through the twists and turns of this "adulting" rollercoaster, I've come to realize that the reality is far from the dreamy illusions of our childhood. But in the midst of all the madness, there's a silver lining – the laughter, the lessons, and the memories that make the journey worth every wild ride. And who knows, maybe someday I'll look back at my adventures in Mumbai and laugh at how my laundry machine almost convinced me that socks are a delicacy.