City of Dreams, Mumbai, known for its ceaseless hum, had pressed the snooze button yesterday. Offices shuttered, streets unusually silent, even the pigeons had gone on sabbatical. Peace reigned supreme. Day dreaming was allowed provided you vote to save the democracy.
But wait….
…amidst this lull, one man refused to let the peace go to waste. There he was, slouched against the closed shutters of none other than Tata Mutual Fund's office in the Fort area of Mumbai, indulging in the most democratic of all luxuries—a free read.
He isn’t our average street-dweller. He’s a modern-day philosopher, a man on a mission to devour the day’s happenings, albeit for free. A forgotten stack of newspapers, carelessly left by a vendor in front of this closed office, was his newfound treasure trove. And boy, does he make the most of it?
Look at him, clad in the “been-through-it-all” attire—dusty pants and a tattered shirt—he sits cross-legged, flipping through the pages of The Maharashtra Times with the intensity of someone scanning for buried treasure. Is he reading the stock market? Checking cricket scores? Or perhaps unraveling local and global politics? Who knows? What’s certain, though, is that he’s hooked on to the news.
Not far from this spot is the iconic Bombay Stock Exchange, where fortunes rise and fall with the frenzy of traders, and famous Bombay House next door, but for this man, resting at the shuttered office of Tata Mutual Funds, on a cold granite step, indulging in the most democratic of all luxuries - a free read adding depth to his coffee-less morning is paramount. True. It is a difficult choice - Equity or Mutual Fund. When I offered him Tea and a Sweet Bun, he thanked me and signaled to the colorful bag by his side.
Thirst for knowledge knows no boundaries—or price tags. This stack of newspapers had become his treasure trove.
The newspaper—a medium we’ve abandoned for pixels—became his window to the world. And what a delight it was to watch.
His peaceful indulgence is a poetic ode to learning, survival, and the simple joys of a free read. Unmindful of what tomorrow will unfold for him.
I don't know what do you think about this, and if you want to share your thoughts, please share. I will be happy to know them.
Nice reading.
For your information, I love reading newspaper daily and still do. The Telegraph in all days of the month and The Hindu on Sundays. It's an old habit I would not like to change.
Thanks 👍
I loved the ' been through it all attire"....what a wonderful perspective you have!