Title: Thodi si Kaali-Peeli, Bahut si Rangeen Yaadein
Title translated: A little bit of black and yellow and lot of colourful memories
Sometimes some seemingly small discoveries in life sweep you off your feet.
My first work travel to Mumbai almost 8 years back, when I discovered the joys of travelling in a Kaali-Peeli was one such moment.
The Premier Padmini kinds, where the doors locked and made a sound, the cushions felt like old sofa seats, you saw the meter running and you just travelled.
I was amazed at how you could just wave, they come and stop, you sit and then tell them the destination and then they go. Zero fuss literally. And this was the story every time.
I also realised that they have back 1 Rupee 50paise if the fare was 48.50 and you paid a fifty note. The first time I stood gawking at the Bhaiya who had dropped us off and then realised that's how they functioned.
Another time at CST, a colleague and I had been just abandoned by a fancy taxi stating some random excuse. We had like 60 minutes to get to the airport in peak traffic. We stood with our luggages and looked worried. This Police Bhaiya came and just asked us what happened , stopped a kaali peeli and we got to the airport on time.
Mumbai during the rains is a love story to behold, in its own way. Life goes on and for people like me, the kaali peeli has often come to my rescue when there is ankle deep water and I just want to get back to the hotel safe and sound.
Imagine four of us close friends, who also happen to work together, travelling cramped up in a kaali-peeli post work on a busy day, have enjoyed the Vada Pav near Keerthi College without an iota of worry. The bhaiya patiently waited while we snacked and gappe- marofied. It may not be perfect, smelling all musk and lavendar, but it has a life and a story of its own, everytime.
Last month, I visited Mumbai and most of the local travel was in Kaali peeli. Many of them still didn't do GPay etc and so we had to keep cash. But then quick travel, mazedaar conversations and sometimes just perfect old Bollywood classics play in the background. What more can you ask for?
An elderly gentleman once told me when I asked him, "Bahut Baarish hain kya?"
"Nahin Madam, thori si boonda boondi bas. Yeh shahar toh rukhne wala hain nahin. Aapko aapki manzil tak pahucha denge jitni bhi baarish ho".
The beauty may be off the roads, but the stories are here to stay like little drops of rain and lots of sunshine!
#LoveMumbai #LoveKaaliPeeli #FriendsAndVadaPav #Conversations #KaaliPeeliStories
