Mirror Mirror on the page

Wake up, go see the sea (I was staying at marine drive this time! Wow I love this bank). Go to balcony, scratch oops i mean stretch. Come to drawing room pick up a tabloid. First I thought the paper is not properly organized and someone has just kept the third page on front. I flip through the tabloid to find the first page and suddenly realize. The below is the front page .

Whoop! Can you beat it, this was the first page of a popular tabloid. And the name of the tabloid hits me harder, is it really a mirror of Mumbai. The poor guy in the photo does not even belong to Mumbai and has never played for Mumbai even in local day night tournaments ever. I am no expert on the media and the journalism but even to me the above piece seems to be a total rip off of the profession.

Mumbai never fails to surprise me.

Aadmi hun Aadmi se PYAR karta hun

Gay confrontations in Mumbai

The city seems to be a gay paradise. There are gay clubs, gay pubs and someone told me even gay gangs. Some people actually go overboard in announcing it. And some people in better jobs enjoy it while being on security duty at the Haji Ali entrance point. I have no issues with sexual orientation of anyone and I completely respect such natural tendencies. But at the same time I am opposed to any homosexual confrontations, just like I am opposed to eve teasing, harassment and molestation of the opposite sex. During my stay at the city of dreams I had some bitter confrontations. Here is the account on that.

Confrontation one: I am traveling on local train it’s crowded as it has to be. The compartment is jam packed to the extent that I am almost in the superman-taking-off position, not holding on to any hangers and still not shaking a micro centimeter, due to hoards of people. While standing in such a yogic position, I suddenly feel a hand moving across my crotch, first I ignored it thinking someone just might have accidentally hum ah… but the strokes continued and I was taken a back. I looked into all the faces around me; each of them was expressionless like that of a clerk at government tourism desk. With great difficulty I pulled back and tried to catch the hand. I failed. I am sure for the committer my organ was as faceless as for me his hand. But how can anyone even try something as absurd as this in crowded place like Mumbai local.

Confrontation two: Mastram was fellow trainee at the training I attended in Mumbai. Mastram, as the name suggests is cheerful and equally colorful gay guy. He did not confront me physically but threw vital hints and invitations. Couple of things he said were, “yar, I am kindda heterosexual male and like to move with lots of guys around. You know what I mean (smirk)”. Yeah I know what u mean but I don’t even want to understand why you telling this to me. When this did not work he invited me for a drink to his home, I tried to escape by giving excuse of traveling he said he will come over and gave a wide grin when I told him he could not have stayed over at the guest house, as there was only one bed. He was delighted to know that.

No complaints against Mastram, lots of straight people do flirt / chance maro with the other gender. I do. But the kind of physical molestation I underwent in first incident shattered me. I wonder, what would be going inside such a mind while doing something that. Was that person really deprived, desperate or was he purely experimental? Was it really his fault or is it because the system and society that discourage him to come out in open and admit his preferences? Was it him alone or there are many who go to crowded places like local only for such physical pleasure. If there are many, my appeal, stop doing it, your single action may make people generalize and hate the whole homosexual community. Also no one boards local thinking, “wow! It’s crowded today, let’s see how many of these people are interested in stroking me.” So do yourself a favor and resist the temptation.

Mumbai

I was in Mumbai for one week. Jotting down highlights of my week at the city that never sleeps.

Day one:
Marine lines and Charni road: Beautiful, awesome and romantic place missed motu. Did not smoke, the panipuri at the chopati is good.

Day two:
Haaji Ali: surprised to sea such a peaceful place at the centre of Mumbai. Was not crowded for a change, sitting in the backyard of dargah is blissful. Wanted to smoke, could not. Go after 9 in the evening on Mon-thu to feel the place.

Day three:
Totos at Bandra: Mumbai’s answer to Bangalore pubbing. Good ambience, rock(ing) music and surprisingly affordable. Was a chaos even on a Wednesday. Smoked, might not want to come back here.

Day four:
Market Area: I love markets, I find them more fascinating than a graceful woman. The hustle bustle of these trade intensive low margin markets keep Mumbai running. A larger part of the trading activity in India is affected directly or indirectly by these markets. Crowfard, Raminton and Manish markets are kind of price barometers of lots of products for rest of India. I will come here again. Went to Marine lines again, smoked.

Day Five:
Most amazing day. Went to Gateway for fairy ride, walked back to Churchgate and had beer at the best-view place in Mumbai i.e. Pizzeria. It’s the place with sea view on Churchgate sea face a must visit when in Mumbai; opp to Baskin Robins and mocha. Walked back till Charni Road, took last local to reach guest house.

Day Six:
Met the tamilian gang. They look so much out of place in Mumbai. KK, Gundu and the six guys had all the plans ready for the evening. I was the star of evening, as always, the Tamilian Mafia gets impressed by me pretty easily. I think that’s the beauty, they just give in. Half of us were drunk like fish when we decided to walk out and have dinner at a roadside dosa place (what if drunk, they are still Tamilians). He-man poured his heart out in front of me (dude I am not what u think I am, I might just spill it infront of someone else, I have never done this to anyone but I fear when anyone trusts me). KK, was all emotional to have spent one more memorable evening (see I have that effect on people I like). Kat was not drunk but he said an evening like this was not thinkable without me (Kat thanks if it was a compliment). I got good kick and behaved like a drunkard after a long time. Logged in late in the night, SW was not there. Good night to me, all the Tamilians were asleep already. Gundu went to her home.

Thanks KK, Gana, Kam and Kat for pampering drunkard me; like a kid. I ll always love you for that.

Day seven:
Hangover, a very bad one. Still gathered myself and went to Siddivinayak, see I am one of those religious types, this was my third religious place. Hangover. The place is over crowded, I may not go there again. Hangover. Boarded flight for back home with lots of good times. Hope hangover goes off after this black coffee.

Thank you KK, Gundu, Tam Gang, Udu, Kiddo and SW for making it a wonderful stay.

Checklist
Go to Crowfard Market Check
Go to Manish Market Check
Go to Siddivinayak Check
Pick up FF’s parcel Oops
Meet SW Ditched
Go to haji ali Check
Drink lots of beer Check

Next post: Gay confrontations in Mumbai.