Girls Night Out, literally!!

If there is one reason for which I would openly admit that Bombay beats Delhi hollow, it is the freedom and safety that girls feel when they move out in these cities. For example, can a group of girls feel brave enough (forget about feminism for once) to travel in autos and enjoy the night air of Delhi (not that the layer of pollution over the city makes that too much of a possibility). However, by personal experience I can say, that a similar scenario in Mumbai can not only be concieved but be enjoyed to the fullest.

Now let me come to the point of this post. Mumbai happened in the summers of my second year at Symbiosis. Internships, careers and all that, you see. But Mumbai presented a host of opportunities which, being a dweller from North India, seemed unique and alluring. I shared a flat with two of my friends from college. That, in itself, is something which is unforgettable. But even more so is the one night that we all decided to go out for dinner but landed up at one of the most coveted spots of the city, Juhu beach.

All three of us had different office timings. However, one evening all three of us were at home, rested and in the mood for some fun. So, exchanging nods of agreement at the first suggestion that was under discussion, we all decided to go out for dinner. This would be our first roommates get together in the two weeks that we had been in Mumbai. Getting ready, all of us hailed an auto and started out at around 8 p.m. towards our destination, unknown even to us till this point. One of us had randomly heard of some good restaraunts in Andheri, not very far from our flat, so we decided we would go there.

Reaching there in around 45 mins, pretty early according to Mumbai standards, we decided to go in for an Italian dinner. Ahhhhh, what ecstasy. I have to make a stop here and remember the unique blend of sauces and spaghetti that melted in my mouth that night. Eating so much that all of us felt bloated towards the end, we were now looking towards heading back and going off to sleep (at least I was...you see, I am an early bird...:D). However, precisely at that point when all of us were full from the delicious dinner, one of my friends got a call which bade her to come and experience the Juhu beach at night.

We were tired after a full day at work and then a superb dinner. But who could not agree to such a proposition? At 11.30 p.m., all three of us piled up inside another auto and made our way towards the very famous Juhu beach of Bombay. The roads of Mumbai after 11 in the night are a sight to behold. So empty that they seem almost desolate. However, the emptiness helped us reach our desination in less than half an hour.

Now we were faced with the most surprising element of all. Even after 12 a.m. at night, the beach was crowded with Mumbaikars. All three of us were shell shocked. We had to walk the length of the beach to search for a qwuite spot on the beach where we could sit down and enjoy the beauty of the night with the waves overlapping at the helm of the beach. Finally we came upon a comparatively empty section of the beach. All three of us sat and enjoyed the calm, balmy night for a while, talking about nothing in particular and mostly just listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. According to me that is one of the most amazing sounds that nature has created.

We enjoyed the scene for another hour and then reluctantly decided to head back. The auto ride back was without incident. We reached back home at around 2 a.m. that night. Tired but exhilerated we decided to finally settle down for the night. However, one thought that dominated my mind was that walking on the sand of the beach, with the sand sifting through my feet was an experience that will stay etched in my memory till a long time to come. And beyond that, I have this blog to remind me of that one night when we all celebrated freedom and a girls night out, literally!