A kaleidoscope of men, matters & moments that make the madness & magic of Mumbai
Curiosity but of a different kind
Being a reporter at times you find yourself flooded with queries which is what happened with this diarist just before the SSC results were to be announced. Over the last two weeks, neighbours, friends, colleagues and co-passengers were regularly asking this reporter about the SSC results update.
Amongst them was an extremely curious neighbour who would religiously come each day to ask about the dates of SSC results. This diarist would patiently answer each query that this neighbour would come up with. To get update of results, this reporter was in touch with board officials.
Last week, there were repeated rumours on messaging application ‘WhatsApp’ which put the already nervous students in frenzy. Just to get confirm, this diarist called the Maharashtra board official inquiring about the dates. The officer who already had a very bad and long day answering calls appealed to not believe in such rumours.
Tired officer said that he received a call from the office of education minister himself asking for the date of SSC results. Finally, when the dates were out, the diarist informed his curious neighbour about it as well. However, out of curiosity the diarist asked his neighbour whether it was his son or daughter that had appeared for the examinations which was making him so anxious.
To the diarist’s surprise it was neither his son nor his daughter. The man further explained that he was a sweets shop owner in the city. The announcement of the SSC result is big day for him as there is huge order for sweets on result day.
Doggone it!
I have nothing against dog lovers who feed them at every street junction and corner. Let their tribe increase, but surely not at the cost of dog bites to people who are forced to travel post-midnight, especially journalists, hotel and hospital staffers.
Thanks to such charitable acts, stray dogs flood every street junction in the night awaiting their daily dose of biscuits and savouries which these so-called dog lovers shower them with. They just get down from a car, distribute the dough and disappear after patting the stray dogs on their heads. Duty done, they just vamoose.
Unfortunately, it is late-night birds like journalists and hotel staffers who have to bear up with the aftermath. Any passing bike or rickshaw becomes a target for the stray dog that doesn’t miss any opportunity to take a snipe at trouser-clad legs.
The point is that these animals get their energy to launch into their nocturnal adventures only on a full stomach.
A simple advice to such folks! Adopt a stray dog and take it home, don’t make street corners into terror dens.
Reunion of friends over a cup of coffee
Sometimes, life surprises you with its twists and turns and if you are lucky, they end up being the best memory. This reporter had come across one such incident which took her by surprise and turned out to be pleasant. This reporter was on her way to CST station from her office when she came across one of her college friends.
Just a sight of her old best friend from her degree college brought a big smile on her face. Following which, they both started screaming in happiness and gave tight hugs to each other. They decided to go to a nearby cafe and chat over a cup of coffee. Within seconds, both the friends started talking about their lives and how things have changed since college.
They both were discussing about how happy they are with their career and how they have succeeded to turn their dreams into reality. Throughout their discussion, they realised that how they have matured and grown since their college days.
At the end of their meet, they promised each other to go higher in their career and reach the pinnacle level of success; but to also remain the best of friends forever in life. Saying these words, they parted their ways with a feeling of happiness and warmth in their heart.
Origin of toilets on Indian trains
Toilets have been a part of trains for decades now. But it all started after a letter from a troubled commuter to a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).
This man, in his letter to the DRM, wrote how he felt insulted after he got off the train to use the toilet at the train like everybody else but had to rush out with guard’s whistle for the train’s departure. The man in specific letters mentioned he had to run with a ‘lota’ in his hand behind the train as it departed from the station and other commuters made fun of him. It was only after this troubled letter from the passenger did the railway officers thought of setting up toilets in the trains.
This instance was brought to light by a railway officer who now handles the setting up bio-toilets in long distance trains. The officer spoke on the need for improving sanitisation habits of the commuters on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Tail-Piece
Now, Nestle will be setting up manufacturing unit to produce pencils. This comes after the company is left with excessive stock of lead leftover from Maggi.
Contributed by Vishnudas Sheshrao, Nelson Pereira, Manasi Tahalani, Iram Siddique and complied by Iram Siddique
