Mumbai and Twin Hotels

For a boy born in a backward village inAssam, coming to Mumbai for the first time would have been a great adventure. Well yes, if only he travelled in a train! But here I was stuffing my ears with cotton to escape the noise and the subsequent ear pain. I seldom understood the science behind the air pressures that made me sick and suffer every time.

I arrived to the wonderful sounds of traffic of the never-sleeping city.  And as the taxi whizzed passed other taxis, I let my hand out of the window, as if to touch the tall buildings. I don't really remember the route but somewhere I felt I saw Antilla. One of the many buildings I abhor!

The good thing about being in touch with seniors and friends, is that a lot of money spent on accomodation are saved. I planned to stay with Shahbaz Sir, who was my senior at XISS. He lived in Thane East. However, providence had a great surprise for me. Just as I embarked on the pre-paid taxi, my phone died. Literally. I tried switching it on and it said "low battery shutdown". The taxi wala was generous to lend me his phone, and the voice at the other end asked me to come to Hotel Twins. After about half an hour, I was there at Twins Hotel. The taxi-wala tried calling Shahbaz Sir, but he didn't mind ignoring my call!

I disembarked and off I stood before the hotel. A long wait later, I thought I would search for a PCO. Well didn't find any. They had become extinct. Back in Assam, they are an endangered species, but Mumbai, obviously, didn't have good forest guards!

As my search took me to Thane railway station, I found a young boy and asked him directions to lead me to find a PCO. He offered me his phone instead! I called, but no one picked up the phone. In the meantime, another person came and asked about me. I told that I was from Assam, and then he remarked, "Kisiko bhi phone de dete ho...Assam mein bahut ugravandi log hote hai...!". Shocked and disappointed, I sent a msg to Shahbaz Sir from the same number, telling him that my phone was switched off, and that I couldn't contact him.

I waited and waited. People began to stare at me. The paan wala, peeped at me, again and again. Then the hotel wala began to make me conscious. I felt anxious. Then someone began to speak on the phone while staring at me. I looked around. I have heard a lot about how friendly MNS was to outsiders. I thought it was better to go to a hotel and spend the night rather than in  the interrrogation cell of Mumbai Police. Ab tak chappan, anyone?

A few yards away, I found a hotel offering lodging. Well, it was also named "Hotel Twins". So, here I was waiting infront of "Hotel Twins"...when Shahbaz Sir was waiting in front of the other "Hotel Twins"!

Oh! So, it was owned by the same person. And since he had two hotels nearby, they were twins. And so he named them "Twins Hotel". LOL.

A few laughs later, I was in his room sipping cold water. But the pain in my ears persisted!