Mumbai Kaleidoscope

It was the sixth day in the month honoring the Roman god of war: Mars and i had a very important interview to attend in the commercial capital of India, Mumbai. The month honoring the god of war was an interesting coincidence since I too was fighting my own battle at that time. A battle of survival, of defending my right to exercise the options that life throws at me and not be reduced to a human equivalent of a lab rat running inside a wheel without quite understanding why. This opportunity that came my way was like a light at the end of a tunnel through which i was desperately crawling and digging my way out and when i alighted at Dadar I suddenly had a feeling of pure white light filling up my soul, in the same way when the sunlight gushes through the windows of the bus in a torrential flood as u exit a tunnel, i closed my eyes...and had shivers running down my spine and tingles in my finger tips. During the taxi trip to my churchgate hotel i was unusually calm, with a slight smile on my serene face, drinking in the larger than life kaleidoscope sights of mumbai life.
In the evening i took a stroll that took me through the old mumbai streets of Homy Mody street where the Tata Sons office is located, past the Reserve Bank of India and Bombay natural history society museum. The sky line was dotted with british era architecture and i was unconciously following a path that lay between the two tallest towers visible to me i.e The bombay stock exchange building and the Taj Mahal Hotel and Towers.
Despite the humidity there was a cool breeze blowing and a crispiness in the air that i couldn't quite place. I walked in a straight line when suddenly i saw bustling crowd ahead and numerous thelawalas crowding all over the road selling their wares that ranges from socks to bangles, from plastic flutes to balloons and countless stalls selling snacks. The road ahead was blocked and there were no vehicles plying on that part of the road. I wondered why... i crossed over dodging and avoiding numerous over-zealous shopkeepers trying to sell me stuff and suddenly i was out of another tunnel, under the open skies looking  at the beautiful Gateway of India and out and beyond at the immense expanse of the Arabian sea.....

The river cascades down my body
washing away the remnants of a past so shoddy.

With sparkling eyes and buzzing ears
i feel a warmth within, as i feel my tears.

The peace envelopes me
as i smile at the lone tree
steadfast at the Gateway holding the eternal decree
welcoming me at the abode of the free.

I bow low, humbled by the invitation
I look beyond at the immense expanse of creation
I dream to fly
over the rainbow so high
as i see my wishes reach consummation.