This is a story from my childhood. I am from Nashik and this is my first visit to Mumbai. I do not remember the exact year but I was probably 5 years old, probably in the summer of 2005.
At the time, I had the impression that there were only two countries in the world, 'India' & 'America'. I was very attracted to America. I used to tell my parents that when I grew up I would go to America for work. I knew that America was a very rich and beautiful country but very far from where I live, across the ocean.
After going to Mumbai, and wandering around some tourist attractions all day, in the evening, we decided to go down to Marine Drive for the sunset. I was very happy to see the sea for the first time, but there was a lot that bothered me. The sun was setting over the sea, and we were circling the sun as a farewell. But I was looking for something else. I was trying to find America, very far from the sea across the ocean. Even looking for a long time, putting a lot of pressure on my eyes, I did not see.
After returning home, I asked my father, 'Why have we not seen Americans and Americans on the other side of the ocean in Mumbai?'
He replied ‘you have not seen America !! I thought you could see it. There were many Americans. Didn’t you wince, they were wrestling with that case ’.
I was very much in love with America and knowing that I had missed the point was really closing in on me.
To me, this was the big story of the day, but many other things happened when they were full of disappointment. but I will mention 2 other episodes from that day printed with all the details in my brain.
EVENT 1
We went to Mumbai by train. We had to get off at CSMT station. We were on a train to our destination, when the train stopped at one station. I can't remember its name, but it was a very good channel. I asked my father ‘where are we?’, He replied ‘this is Mumbai, but we will get off at the next station.’
It was love at first. I desperately wanted to get off the station, I first asked my dad but he refused as he had planned all day. I started to cry. But he refused. I would fight with my father to show him how we needed to get down when I first heard the vibration. The train vibration begins.
I have felt that this is an opportunity once in my life and I need to get down here. I started shouting, ‘Dad !!! Dad !!! The train is leaving !! at the station !!, we need to get down here ’but he did not show any response.
I became very angry. At the time he had a pen in his pocket (I think it was Cello Gripper). I took it out of my pocket and threw it out of the train without even giving him time to react. The person sitting next to me started laughing.
When we got to CSMT, I realized how stupid I was. CSMT was much better than that channel.
EVENT 2
My dad is a schoolteacher and likes to tell me science stories when we encounter any mysterious situation.
We traveled by boat on the sea. And my father used to tell me that seawater is always salty and the reason behind it, is that rivers carry a small amount of salt in the ocean and evaporation makes the water more salty. I was completely taken aback by the idea but it was a little confusing.
My father read the curiosity that was on my face. Then he dipped his finger into the sea and gave me a drop of sea water to drink.
And gentlemen, I assure you, sea water is really salty.
So this was my first trip to Mumbai. I have been there many times after this and seen many famous places there. But most importantly, I always had a good time
The story of Vipul Nikam
B.tech Computer Science, Indian Institute of Technology Dharwad (2022)
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