Mumbai meri jaan

Literally means Mumbai, my life. Speaking to Avik over hot ginger tea made by Kamlesh (his fantastic cook from Bihar), he casually mentioned that Mr K would be joining us for breakfast. Mr K was a typical businessman who was particular about what he wore (Mont Blanc belt, Hugo Boss watch). We spoke about work culture and how it is to work with Germans. I felt a new found confidence which can be characterised generally among Indian businessmen, where instead of just aping foreign work models, they see the need to find a compromise on both sides to work together. 'This is how we are and if you want to do business with us, then we find a way to work together, not that we will change ourselves to suit you'. We saw a long queue of people on the street. They were presumably waiting for getting government supplied items like Kerosene and rice. I asked Avik where these street dwellers sleep. "Dont ask questions like a Foreigner" Avik replied.

On 14th evening, we were brainstorming over a name for a new Tea brand which Mr K's brother is launching soon targeting restaurants along the highway (Dhabas)frequented by truck drivers. I am a nobody in this project, but felt included and we came up with some interesting names. By evening, we went to 'High Street', a mall which was a textile mill before(one of the many now defunct ones in Mumbai). We crossed a crazy street with no pedestrian crossing and in seconds were inside a swanky building(after a quick search and x-ray scan of our wallets). I could be in Hamburg or Frankfurt in terms of sheer opulence, choice of brands and prices. On the roof were overpriced restaurants and people were waiting to go in ! There were pens to be sold for thousands of euros and toilets with polished granite and marble. We ate Chinese. There was a small cloth roll which grew when the waiter poured some solution on it! It was a face wipe cloth. Exotic candles lit the table and the menu sported a wide choice of Belgian beer. Avik paid what it would have cost us in any European metropolis. We came down to the chaos on the street.