..Sent!

Dear K,

Let’s not talk about what happened. Whatever happened, happened & we can’t undo it.

I hope your father has gotten better and aunty and you are there for him and each other. And Di is good. Also that you are home and safe.

I know with the pandemic and self distancing, you aren’t going to Mumbai. But if you ever happen to, which you eventually will- You should visit these places. I’m doing my bit, as promised:

Top 10 places to see, visit and eat at:

1. Watch a movie at Eros, Churchgate or Sterling Churchgate: It’s one of the oldest British-Gothic-Deco Architectures of Mumbai. Idk if you’ll really be able to feel it, but look around. It was Bombay that rocked it! Jazz and the other shenanigans of it.
2. Gaylords, walking distance for Eros and Churchgate station, has the best bakery items ever. Vegetarian alert: must try the French croissant and blueberry muffin.

Or, because I know you don’t like non Indian food so much, go to Shiv Sagar for Pavbhaji and some fresh juice or head towards Fort side and please go to 5Spice (Try the pot rice, don’t go alone, you’ll need two more people to eat with you there) or

1. Ramashray, Matunga- right outside the Matunga station. They serve the best south Indian food. Must ask for filter coffee and some gunpowder chutney on the side, no matter what you order there. And if you have time left, try some Mango barfi at the Mysore cafe nearby.
2. Gurukripa, near sion circle/ old SIES college, is the ultimate place to eat Samosa Chole. There’s a small shop opposite to this place and they supply samosa to all theatres in Mumbai.
3. Irani cafe near Sion Circle. Just go and ask for Special Irani Chai and Bun Muska,
4. Sadguru outside Chembur station, I needn’t say more.

Other notable mentions are Candies (must visit) in Bandra, Manas Sarovar (Mix Kulfi) in Chembur.

Places to see/ Visit:

1. Marine Drive: I know you have gone there a thousand times, but incase you are there and it rains, walk the entire belt, will take you around 45 mins. It will change how you look at the sea face.
2. Prithvi theatre and Cafe: You know why!
3. Kitab Khana: I know you aren’t so much into reading for fun, but I bet you’ll pick something up. The place will make you pick up a book. And if you go there, you’ll know why its called Kitab Khana.
4. Church Street in Bandra: walk down the street, rest is an experience for ones own.
5. Railway Museum at CST: Its all about locomotives!
6. Elephanta caves: although a cliche, if you ever feel like roaming around on your own, This place won’t disappoint you.

I know you’d be thinking why do this in the first place? Why write to you after all these months? Frankly even I don’t know, I still don’t know if I should be sending this to you. But I had put some of these together, way back, when we spoke about it- So I think, I should share this with you.

If you ever happen to be in Mumbai and hoping things get back to normal with Mumbai and the world… You should go see these places, if not eat- then experience how surreal feels.

Hoping you and your family is safe.