Sunday, March 25, 2012

Unsociably Yours

For the 2nd straight weekend we watched a movie at a cinema. I have long maintained that frequency of movie watching is inversely linked to quality of social life. In our case, it certainly holds true at least since we moved to Mumbai. Must concede I am a conversation- over -loud music person. Both of us are not fans of large dos and while I do indulge in Dumb Charades, Pictionary and the like, it's not really my scene. What compounds the matter further is being in the reverse situation while in Delhi and I look for half an excuse to retreat there on every 3-day weekend.

The irony is we probably have more people we count as friends in Mumbai than any other city in the world (well I have lived all my life in India but "world" sounds cooler ). And yet I struggle to create a "group" here. It's impossible for us to invite 8 of our friends together and not worry about somebody stepping on another' s toes or or an inebriated argument escalating into something more serious.

Heterogeneity is the thing I miss most. In Delhi our circle of friends comprised lawyers, journalists, the odd bureaucrat or politician, entrepreneurs and some people from the corporate world. 90% of people we know here are associated with the financial services industry. In turn, the people they seem to know are also the same! In the former, nobody competed with one another in any form. That made for way easier evenings. The diversity of conversation topics was an added bonus.

In Delhi one made friends thru friends. One got invited basis interaction at a common friend's place. In Mumbai that seems to happen only if your kids go the same school. (we have been fortunate with one exception ). People seem to guard their social circles with Masonic zealousness.

Some of our friends have moved here from other cities. We hung out together there too. Now, conversations inevitably move to budgets for home purchase, music systems, and the like. Either I didn't notice the materialistic streak earlier (which is unlikely),or it is the M-factor at work.

Coming back to the movies, "Kahaani" is a must-watch and "Paan Singh Tomar" can be given a miss.

2 comments:

namya said...

Heteroginity doesn't come with the difference in professions.. If you think that's how people talk different languages good luck to you. Everyone likes his/her place of being.. So YOU come from Delhi? And now you are in Mumbai.. you have to create the excitement within yourself to blend.. At least people in Mumbai are more REAL than those in Delhi.. so try and celebrate reality..

Anonymous said...

Mahesh, Namya...check this one out from Mint.....Interesting article on similar vein..

http://www.livemint.com/articles/2012/03/29200444/Why-is-it-better-to-live-in-th.html