How To Feel At Home

Dear Upa, 

                 Have you ever witnessed a moment which seems like it should belong in a movie? A moment which feels like it should be accompanied with theatrical background music and dramatic camera angles. A moment so strangely random, yet so strangely special, that you’re confused over why it means so much but know that it is significant. A moment which, for an instant, feels like more than just a moment. Because I have.

It was when, after an extremely turbulent and delayed journey because of a thunderstrom, I saw the clouds part and the Mumbai emerge from the greyness. The city, sprawled out beneath me,was beautiful. Every skyscraper was reduced to a beam of light, and the roads were gleaming trails of red and yellow lights. The whole city was illuminated, and I’m pretty sure at that moment no one could convince me that it wasn’t the most beautiful city in the world. All my annoyance and exhaustion instantly melted away and I was only filled with happiness.

Conventionally speaking, Mumbai definitely doesn’t top the list of the most beautiful cities in the world. It’s crowded and quite messy, and don’t even get me started on the noise.It’s beauty is unconventional. You won’t notice it until you really notice it, you won’t realise how much the sea, that you happen to look at everyday means till you just don’t look at it everyday. You won’t realise how beautiful the well worn streets are till you have to. It’s beauty lies in the fact that it’s different.

At that moment, looking at it made me so happy because I knew my dog and my dad were down there somewhere, and my friends who I hadn’t seen in AGES. It was beautiful because most of the people I love the most were down there.It was beautiful because it was home.

Meeting you guys again felt so amazing, it was bizarre. If I had to choose between north Mumbai and south Mumbai, I would choose wherever the hell you are, because that epiphany made me realise that I feel happiest when I am home, and my home is the people I love.

Bye for now,

Aditi.

 [Also, we started a YouTube channel with two of our friends, which is great and we should totally give ourselves a promo: click here ].