Don't break your shoes - tread carefully

Just across my office window sits an old shoe repair guy. He sits in a cocoon of plastic, away from the rains and general hullabaloo. His cobble-ering tools are kept locked neatly in a wooden cupboard.

His interest is not in repairing shoes. He hates people who need their shoes repaired. They distract him from his primary activity of people watching. He frowns and declares that most things taken to him cannot be repaired and ought to be thrown away.

Then he gets back to people watching. There are enough exciting things going on in this street after all.
- A crow gets caught in a building and an ambulance is called.

- There are regular processions of Jains, Monks,Eunuchs, Teachers, Papad eaters, Weekend cricket association and Feminist movement associations and so on.

- There are violently fighting motorists who can't wait to get down and beat up the opposition for the merest scratch on their treasured vehicle.

- There are cinema actresses swishing past and gym-goers hobbling away...

What a treasure trove of humanity to study! The cobbler is definitely trying to complete a thesis on what he sees. Please don't break your shoes, watch where you put your foot in the rainy season. He will get disturbed.

A Soothing Rain poem

Another rainy day in Mumbai and another poem. This one is more soothing and relaxing than the earlier one which was about a more violent rain.

Drippy drizzly drowsy day,

Nibbling crispies at home, I stay.

Nursing a warm cup of tea and

Oh! What a rainy rainy day!

Washed window panes and roads

Soothing aromas of fresh leaves,

Cardomom and bay leaves,

Sneak up and caress my nose.

Curled up on a comfy sofa,

Nuzzling a cozy cushion

Reading a thrilling novel yet

Relaxing in a dreamy vision...

Mumbai Sloshed

The city - Mumbai is drunk. There is water coming out of her ears. She is tired carrying the burden of millions of ungrateful humanity. But she is still beautiful - like a water colour painting.

Her bright lights look like god playing holi with the city. Mumbai in the rain is a lot like a prancing heorine in a coloured sari, singing and dancing, all the while being heedless of after effects...