26th July- Today is my friend’s birthday and as always it takes us down memory lane, back to 2005 where we witnessed our first natural calamity- Mumbai Floods. Hence I thought why not pen down my experience as it has etched memory for a lifetime and it will always remind us to be grateful to the almighty.

So let’s go back to the year 2005 during these unprecedented circumstances. Don’t forget to have a cup of coffee/tea as this post is long.

Let’s first give my friends names on this blog post. We are four friends:

• Ragini
• Shahnaz
• Astha
• And myself, Jenie.

2005

We were in the second year of the medical college in Pune and within these 2years of college, we had become quite close. We were always together, hanging around, eating, studying, and watching movies. Just like any dear friends do.

But one thing which I didn’t do with them was a sleepover. The three used to spend the night together sometimes at Ragini’s PJ and had the blast. I had to miss it because my family never allowed it, except for few occasions where I was given permission, that too at Astha’s home. After all, she stayed nearby and lives with her family.

July 2005

Then in July, we started making a plan to visit Mumbai to Ragini’s home to celebrate Shahnaz’s birthday.  It was a long wish of all of us to go to Mumbai together and enjoy Mumbai life. Thus, a birthday is the best time to fulfill our wish.

 However, I was skeptical as I knew my family won’t allow it. Still, my friends motivated me to not lose hope, and together we will ask for permission and even make Ragini’s mother make a call to my family to convince them.

Therefore, we all went to my home and started convincing my family. My sister helped a lot in this as it was because of her convincing power, my family finally permitted me to go to Mumbai without any hesitation.

I couldn’t believe that my parents got agreed so easily and I was on cloud nine. ( I guess that was my destiny)

MUMBAI! Here we come.

23rd July 2005

We all were ecstatic to visit the dream city because we have never gone to Mumbai to explore the places and visit tourist attractions. (I had only visited Mumbai airport for the departure/arrival of my family members)

We reached Mumbai via bus in the afternoon and then took a local cab to reach Borivali where Ragini’s family lives. Her apartment was in front of the roadside which means we will get the best view of Mumbai and they had a duplex flat on the ground floor. Wow! I felt she is rich but so down to earth.

Her family gave us warm welcome and soon we indulged in some delectable Gujrati dishes and snacks.

FIRST DAY in Mumbai:

After relaxing for a while, we went out for our first Mumbai outing.  Ragini took out her Maruti 800 (Wow! She knows how to drive a car? How impressive. She is the perfect example of a Mumbai girl) and we visited Inorbit mall, which was the biggest mall in Maharashtra at that time and it was my first mall visit because Pune didn’t have any mall that time.

While roving around the mall, I got to see “Aditi Sharma” she was the winner of the talent hunt show- India’s Best Cinestar’s Ki Khoj. I thought to greet her, but we had to return, so we left the mall.

Second Day in Mumbai:

We went to Bandra in Ragini’s car and we had lunch at a lavish restaurant which had a sea view. ( I don’t remember  the name ) We then went to Bandstand and collected stupefying memories.  We also did some street shopping.

Third DAY in Mumbai:

The next day we decided to visit Haji Ali dargah and its nearby places. We travelled through Mumbai’s lifeline- local trains. We had always heard stories of Mumbai’s local trains and now we were living that moment. As usual, the train was packed and we just had to stand, because you get automatically pushed inside & outside while travelling through local trains. It was wholly fun for us. Then we also came to know that Kandivali & Borivali passengers don’t get along and hence they block purposely their ways.

There was one more incident that took place on the train, one baggage was kept alone and soon all the passengers got frightened, we changed our bogies instantly. Later the bag owner came and asked why you are scared? This is my bag and I had kept it up because it’s too packed to stand with a bag. ( 🙂 what a memory)

 The visit to Haji Ali mosque was a soulful experience and it was during that time, the climate started changing. Then we went to a famous shopping area – Heera Panna Shopping center and then Bayside mall.

26th July 2005

Before coming to Mumbai, I had told them all that I want to go to Essel world as it’s my childhood dream.  Hence, Essel world was in our travel plans.

On the 25th night, we decided to go to Essel World the next day and I was stoked. We celebrated Shahnaz’s birthday at midnight and then went to sleep.

The next morning we wake up to the sound of heavy rainfall. I was upset because it means we may not be able to visit Essel world today. As expected, Ragini’s dad didn’t allow us to go outside due to rains and then we waited for the rain to slow down. I love rain but it was the first time I wanted it to stop badly.

But the rain didn’t stop and it was continuously raining heavily. Soon after, the light went off and the water started coming inside. Lights never go off in Mumbai until it’s a serious situation. Aforementioned, it was a duplex flat on the ground floor and therefore heavy rains led to waterlogging making the way inside.

Then we went upstairs i.e the first floor and patiently waited for the rain to stop. But it didn’t at all and soon the water on the ground floor had reached up to 4 meters making the furniture wet and maybe ruined later.

We peeked through the first-floor balcony and saw that small cars were flooded completely. My goodness! That view is still fresh in my mind. It made us scare, but thanks to Ragini’s parents we felt at ease.

As the kitchen was on the ground floor, so cooking was not possible. Whatever was left we had that and we also had snacks to eat.

My friend’s birthday went like that. What we had planned and what God planned!

I read on NDTV news that it was the 8th heaviest ever recorded 24-hour rainfall figure of 994mm.

27th July

The next day the rain continued, but it was raining moderately. However, yesterday’s rainfall had already done damage and the first time Mumbai stopped.

Fortunately, Ragini’s relatives stayed nearby, so we went there and had our food.

By this time, this calamity had affected our mental health and we all four were somehow frustrated and irritated. Now we three friends who live in Pune desperately wanted to go back and were just waiting for the right time.

Our parents were also worried, but they knew we were at a safe place with guardians so they were fine.

We three tried to help Ragini’s family in this situation by doing small chores and also tried to cheer them because it is very difficult to see your home getting drained & ruined.

The day went like that- raining but moderately & no lights. We could now see the upper part of the small cars parked down the apartment. The waterlogging was reduced on the first floor. We heaved a sigh of relief!

28th July

The rain stopped and we felt calm. Now it meant things will get better and we can go back.

We saw a local politician who was here to see and manage the situation.

The lights came back! The small cars can now be seen completely. The water subsided on the first floor. We had our food at Ragini’s relative’s home. We were mentally better.

So we discussed with our parents and Ragini’s parents to allow us to go back. Everyone said depending upon the situation will decide, thankfully things were in control, and roads were opened.

29th July

And then we boarded a bus to Pune! Our entire bus journey was all right and we reached our home safely.

We thanked God for keeping us safe!

As you have read, we were blessed as we didn’t have much difficulty and were safe. It’s been more than a decade now, but we can never forget the Mumbai floods and 26th July, even if we want to, because it’s Shahnaz’s birth date and every year on her birthday we look back on our difficult and good times spend together on that fateful date.

*Image Coutesy: Unsplash