Monsoon in Mumbai

Cataloging the small instances of "rains in Mumbai" is amazing. I remember my first experience of Mumbai monsoons! I left a little early from work as advised by my colleagues...it was a Friday evening and it had been raining for past 8 hours....I had to wait for about ten minutes in the rain till I got an auto-rickshaw for Chembur. I saw people leaving early as the weekend had started…and the first rain shower had ushered in. As my auto-rickshaw approached the LBS road (near Vikroli) I could see the water gushing down the slope...it seemed like a flood water to me! The water had a tremendous force…and was almost coming into the auto...I had my fingers crossed and prayed that Nirmal's words didn't come true! My (new) colleagues had warned me of the "rains in Mumbai"...and I made sure I had all their numbers handy. It was unrealistic to me ..the way the reckless rain water washed my feet every now and then…I would tighten my grip on the driver's seat and start talking to the driver…trying to divert my attention. The 'auto-rickshaw driver' stayed composed...he seemed prepared… The water level kept rising... and then we reached the 'Ghatkopar Bus Depo' and suddenly the water level around us had increased...Some of the auto-rickshaw's were emitting smoke like 'steam boats' …floating around and waves splashed to and fro…I was very scared...of the inevitable ofcourse… Our auto started to choke…the driver pressed on the accelerator…while I perched on the back seat…holding my (expensive leather bag) close to my body and praying hard….My praying obviously wasn’t good enough…the engine stopped….and I had this sinking feeling inside me, which was horrible! I pulled out my mobile phone and started calling… Someone would have to save me…from drowning…ok…wading through this dirty, black, filthy, impure water!!
I pleaded the ‘auto-wala bhaiya’ to do something…do a miracle and start the auto...cause I definitely wasn’t getting out of the auto...I have never waded through dirty rain-water…may be a little bit but not knee-deep water…even in Kolkata. The man on the wheels kept re-starting the machine…but it just wouldn't boot! Looking at my innocent face and listening to my frantic phone calls, he knew I was new to Mumbai…and something triggered his brain and he rolled up his trousers and actually got out of the auto…into the deep-dirty water…and started to push the auto forward…with me sitting in it like Queen Victoria! Our man managed to drag the auto for about fifty yards and then pulled it to the left-hand side…here the water logged was comparatively less. He then tried to start it again…we got talking…he concluded that the water had gone into the engine….but that the engine would start once after a few trials. I had no problem waiting…and by now I was acting ‘co-driver’! Finally the engine started and then there was no looking back…I will always remember that eventful evening and be grateful to that auto-rickshaw driver.