That FuNnY thing called LoVe!!!!

She stood at the window resting her front paws on the sill and watched the world outside. She led an ideal life which any mutt would only dream of. Her master had named her Scarlett –. Inspired, of course, from the very famous Scarlett O’ Hara. Well, Scarlett was very much like her…pampered, spoilt, loved!!! Scarlett, an attractive golden retriever, did things her way. She would only eat what was served to her in her silver plate and drank the best Soya milk brought home especially for her! In short…she led a life of a princess! Her family loved her and she loved them. Everyday post lunch, Scarlett relaxed at her balcony window. She would watch a bird fly by, the watchman stop a tramp at the main gate, a familiar car drive in… Scarlett spent a lazy and carefree afternoon every single day! She never thought life would be any different from this until that magical Sunday afternoon.
A truck overflowing with house goods parked itself outside the building opposite Scarlett’s. Furniture, bags, house supplies/electronics were being off-loaded and taken into the opposite building. Scarlett’s master and his wife watched from their window: - “A new resident! “, one said. It did not make a difference to Scarlett until she saw the new family get off from their car. A family of four- Husband, Wife and 2 kids…..and a youthful, good-looking, tall German shepherd. Scarlett wagged her tail in enthusiasm and barked piercingly. The German shepherd looked up at her and responded.
It was love at first sight! Scarlett had no idea what was going on within her! She waited every afternoon, now, when her master would open the balcony door for her and she would rest her paws on the window sill and gaze in the direction of the opposite building balcony. Elvis (the German shepherd), was going through the same emotions. THEY WERE IN LOVE!
Days passed by. Scarlett and Elvis reciprocated their feelings to each other through gestures, barks, and sometimes… just eye contact! They dreamed of their future together…running around in the meadow on quite Sunday afternoons, free from barriers of breeds, humans and especially concrete buildings…
Their love grew thicker and their respective families became aware of this. They smiled in amusement and discussed their ‘cute’ behaviour! Elvis and Scarlett were happy with their family responses.
A year went by. Elvis’s master was transferred to another city! It was time to leave…
The couple was unaware of the consequences. Elvis realised the day bags were being packed. He ran to his window and let out a painful howl! Scarlett was heartbroken. She could not believe it! The two looked at each other through the balcony banister. Their love story was going to end!
Scarlett watched the loaded truck drive out of the main gate. The car followed.
Elvis looked up at her through the rear car window. A tear twinkled in his eye.
Scarlett watched from her balcony….raised her paw from the sill… Almost to say Good bye forever!

Our Wounded hearts recall tiny town memories!

“Platform No. 2 par aai hui local 5:34 minute ki Andheri jaane wali dheemi local hai. Yeh local sabhi sthanakopar rukegi.”
A muffled voice echoed in our minds as we watched the Breaking News scrolls flash on our TV screens- “Terror, Firing at CST station! Blood Shed, Terrorist attack, CITY on Red Alert!”
Memories shared together for years as students, friends, citizens bounced back as we saw our beautiful city fall apart.
CST station, a place we were so familiar with … It was hard to believe!
After college we would hop into the first class compartment giggling, gossiping when suddenly one of us would run out of the train, seconds before it started, and buy a parleG and maaza from the cold-drinkwala stall on platform 1.
We always had our ways to kill time until our Andheri local arrived! We often clustered around that jazzy and noisy weighing machine at the entrance which generated “a picture of an outdated actor/actress along with one’s fortune for the day and weight!” An ‘all in one’ brown cardboard ticket! One of us would always pick up a mid-day at the newspaper stall and all would huddle around it to solve crosswords together on the way back home.
These tiny moments flash before our glum faces today as we see our very own cold-drinkwala stall blown apart. All there is left is a broken blood stained board which reads:- “BISKUT- Rs. 10/-“, A silent weighing machine with its immobile colourwheel now generating a cry for help and a tired newspaper stall displaying mid-days with headlines:- Terror attack aftermath!
A movie at Metro, Eros or Sterling and a few hours at Mondy’s or leo’s (that’s usually what the town teens call it), discussing how good or bad it was common for all. Café Leopold, A rustic irani style resto-bar-café where people met to discuss work, celebrate bdays, chat…or most of the times just Chill… today stands still, lifeless, traumatized and still recovering!


Each felt a sentiment of pride to see The Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel stand confidently by the shore.
We frequently visited the grand hotel after college hours…its restrooms, bookshops. We sat at the coffee shop for hours gossiping, making ambitious plans, and vowing never to break this bond of friendship…We felt so secure within its antique structure, like we almost owned it!
A shiver runs down our spines to now see a faceless, dejected, raped city, still trying to recover from the abuse it went through on the 26th of November 2008 for 60 long hours…
For a moment, we all went through numerous mixed, muffled emotions of being cheated,angry, depressed, and agitated but at the same time numb to India's worst nightmare !!!