Phone - A Friend....

When I left home & came to the UK for my higher studies there were a lot of things I had to leave behind. Family, friends, home, my country were only a few of them. But instead of feeling sad, I slowly settled into a daily routine of studies and exploring this new place, and began to enjoy and look forward to each new day. 

However, there were moments when I felt lonely and homesick. I missed my friends, my family and I admit there were times when I wanted to pack my bags and go back home. But in times like these I found a friend at one of the most unexpected places.

It has always been said that books are a man’s best friend. You can spend hours reading them, treat them ruthlessly & still they will never complain. But in my case books weren’t sufficient. In fact every time I sat down to read a book, my mind wandered to my family, home & friends. Hence, in a dire situation that I was, a certain something came to my rescue; it was my HTC Smartphone. Yes, you heard me right and before you roll your eyes, just listen to what I’ve got to say. 

We both love to travel and hence it always carries an app called ‘Google Maps’. Many a times we lost our way while exploring Sheffield. All we had to do was use the maps to get back on track. It is not jealous of my other friends and in fact likes it when I chat with them. So it has the ‘WhatsApp’ messenger with which my friends in India are only a buzz away. I’m a person who loves music & like a true friend it stores all my favourite songs in its ‘Music Player’. Our best moments together have been captured in its brilliant ‘5MP Camera’ & so very often we check them out in the gallery and relive those memories. It’s also very multi-dimensional in nature. With a range of apps to download from the Android Market, it adapts quickly to my changing needs. Nevertheless, our friendship is not only because of all its qualities, my HTC has brought some changes in me as well. For a person who was content with checking his emails and Facebook only a couple of times a day on his laptop, now feels the need to check them every half hour. 

From the time I have bought the HTC, it has become a very close friend of mine. Like the books it loves to spend hours with me and immediately forgives me if I happen to drop it by accident. But that’s not all. We have got so much more in common. 

My HTC is indeed a reflection of what I am. Like a true friend is has also seen to it that its personality has rubbed off on me. I’ll never forget the contribution it had in my life when I needed a friend. It does everything for me except help with the dishes, but if I needed someone to help me with those, I would have hired a butler! Long last our friendship my dear HTC.

P.S – I would like to thank my Uncle who pestered me into choosing an HTC. If not for him, I would have ended up with a BlackBerry or something.

P.P.S – This blog is written in response to the contest 'CHANGE IS EASY' hosted by Dell Inspiron Laptop on Indibloggers. Dell has rid us of the monotony of single colours on laptops by introducing changeable covers. So go be a part of the Change!

                                                For people on IndiBlogger...Do vote for me!! :)

A Tale of Two Cities - Mumbai & London…

Mumbai at its full glory

Having lived in Mumbai all my life, it is quite natural that I feel attached to the city. But in my case there has always been more to this attachment. I have been in love with Mumbai since the day I lay my eyes on her. My love reached another level when I was allowed to go out on my own. Since that day I have been exploring and in the process discovering something new about Mumbai every time I go out.

I have loved everything about Mumbai, her glorious past, her architecture, the people, the glamour and most importantly the feeling of being at home. Like most Mumbaikars I complain about the state of roads, the pollution, the noise, the traffic, etc. But if you were to ask me to name a place that is as close to being a paradise as can be, I would immediately say Mumbai. I will even go on record to say that if ever there is a city where I would wish to settle down and eventually die, it is Mumbai.

When I left home last year, apart from feeling sad about leaving my family and friends, I was sad because I was also leaving Mumbai. Unlike those times when it used to be for short vacations, this time I knew I would be leaving her for good. All the memories came flooding back to me in the short time between the plane taxing to the runway and the take-off. The times on local-trains and the black and yellow taxis, eating at road-side stalls, sitting and staring out at the sea on Marine Drive, wading through knee-deep water during one particular monsoon and so much more. The montage of pictures, videos and sounds was simply mind-numbing.

Life at Sheffield has been good and slowly but steadily I have settled in quite well. I like Sheffield for its beauty, peace and I like how life moves about at its own pace here. But this is not a place which I would call home. I always get a feeling that I am living at a holiday resort. There has always been something amiss which I couldn’t put a finger on until 4 days ago.

A class trip presented me with the opportunity to finally visit London. From everything that I had heard, seen and read about London, I had always thought of it to be the Mumbai of UK. What I had not realised was just how right I was in my imagination. As I stepped onto the streets of London, I immediately felt as if I was home. Somehow having left Sheffield that morning I had landed in Mumbai. I was back among the crowds, the hustle-bustle of the city and I loved every tiny bit of it.

The city was buzzing with life. The traffic was endless. There was a purpose in the steps of each person either going to work or going back home after a hard day’s work at office. The buildings were a beautiful blend of ancient gothic and modern architecture. There was a sense of power in the air and authority to the place as if the entire country depended upon this place and it does. The rides on the Underground tube were reminiscent to the countless hours I had spent on the Mumbai local trains. I felt so much at home that for the first hour or so I was busy soaking it all in. Every step that I took reminded me of Mumbai.

The three days that I spent in London flew by at lightning speed. But it has left a lasting impression on me. I have finally found a home away from home. I do not know what the future holds for me and I cannot predict if I will get to live and work at London. All I know is until the day I return to Mumbai, if there is a place where I would love to live and call it my home, it is London. 

Leaving Home..

It has been a week since I have ventured out my house, courtesy my cold. So having nothing to do on a Saturday evening, I was just staring at my computer screen, when I was suddenly transported back in time. I went back to around this time last year when I had begun working towards coming to the UK. It suddenly seems ages ago.

It's been over two and half months since I have been here in the UK and more importantly away from my parents. Being away from the protective cushion of our parents is not easy at all. The decision to leave home was never easy too. A lot of times I wasn't sure if I was made for it, if I would survive and so many more kind of doubts. But a friend gave me the courage and assured me that I would be able to and that everything was going to be alright. From that point onwards there was no looking back.

I looked for Universities, checked their ranks, researched on the kind of courses they offered, the fee structure, etc. I also had to look for the kind of scores they required from me, be it entrance test or class test scores. I spent so much time on the internet reading, asking strangers on the net or asking my friends who have already had a stint abroad. They were all really helpful. But what really surprised me and touched my heart, was how supportive my parents were of my decision. It was evident how tough it was for them to see me take steps away from them, but they never came in my way. They would listen patiently to me when I would excitedly come to them telling about what all I had found. Though they did not have any idea about the place that I would be going to, they completely trusted my judgments. When I got good scores in my graduation and entrance tests and managed to get into the University of Sheffield, my parents were as happy as anyone. They did a great job of hiding their fears and pain under the hood of happiness and pride.

Then the day of my departure started creeping ever so close and the process of leaving was in full swing. The last month went very quickly and suddenly it was time for me to leave. I am a person who hates goodbyes. So you can imagine my state when it is my parents that I had to say goodbye to. For the last few days before my departure, I had nightmares about the scene which was due to unfold at the airport. But I am grateful to my friends, for they got me late at reaching the airport. This meant that a long and painful farewell was cut short and all I had time was for a wave and a hasty round of goodbyes to my family and friends.

In the UK, it has been a new beginning. Be it living alone, doing chores, cooking, buying groceries or taking decisions on my own, it has been a totally new experience. Maybe it is a change or just a new challenge, but I am enjoying it a lot. I cherish every moment and am thankful for getting this opportunity. But the truth is that I can't wait to go back home. As was immortalized in the words of Robert Montgomery,

"Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest."