The Marine Drive Experience.. A Soulful Rendition

It was a Friday – 1837 hours to be precise.

I was sitting at the Marine Drive – the south-end part which is almost in front of ‘once sabotaged’ The Oberoi Trident.

Sitting on a tetrapod, I could feel the splendid sea when the waves hit hard on the shore and some odd drops flew over on me. It is an amazing experience and seems as if the magnificent sea wants to talk to you. It actually does; the sea talks to you, you just need to listen.

It was raining. Not the usual hard-hitting rain for which Bombay is famous. The rain was soft and cold. I always avoid carrying a raincoat or an umbrella lest really necessary. I like enjoying the rain by being in it. Sheltering my body under the umbrella doesn’t mean ‘enjoying rain’ for me.

The Sun had just set in. It felt as if it percolated right into the sea. The sky still had the flavour of Sun – a slight tinge of orange blended with a little of yellow filled the skies. The silhouette of the city’s mega-structures makes the view even more enthralling.

The pacy wind here is a breath-taking experience. Add some rain to it and you have one of the most beautiful experiences of Bombay with you. It is fascinating to see some birds trying to fly against the wind. If you observe carefully, the marine drive is full of meaningful metaphors.

On my left there was a stray dog which was as interesting as the old couple on my right. The dog was sitting happily moving his tail in sheer pleasure. The old man had his hand-in-hand with the old lady and a big black umbrella covering both of them from rain. The old couple did not speak anything at all. They kept looking at the sea as if they were awaiting the rise of something. They kept silent all the time. Well, I guess ‘silence’ is the best conversation sometimes.

The Marine Drive is no less than a ‘time machine’ at times, believe me. The magic of Marine Drive is that it transports you into a different mood altogether. Practice solitude here and you’ll know what I am talking of. You’ll relive the best and happiest of memories while you are seated here.

I sat there for more than 3 hours. Time slipped into darkness and I still could not hear anything except the waves of the sea that played a beautiful rendition of its own.

Light-years away from the worries of life and disconnected with the fellow existence, the soulful rendezvous with the nature seemed to have it all.

Go, have a bite of life.