18. MUMBAI DIARIES- PART2

22nd May, Friday

12.25 in the afternoon.

I am writing this while lying on Nilofer’s cozy sofa, the fan spinning lazily above me, the whole house wrapped in one of those slow, sleepy Mumbai afternoons. The kind of afternoon where time itself feels soft.

On the morning of 20th May, after finishing my breakfast at the airport lounge in Kolkata, I sat there for some more time sipping on a chilled, refreshing buttermilk. I remember feeling strangely calm. For months, my mind had been heavy with paperwork, plans, and disappointments, but that morning felt lighter somehow. Maybe because I finally had somewhere to go. Maybe because someone was waiting for me with excitement on the other side.

After a while, I picked up my bag and walked towards my gate. I wandered around the airport shops for some time, looking at perfumes, books, chocolates and little things, I did not need but still loved looking at. Airports always feel aesthetic to me- bright lights, polished floors, sleepy travelers, expensive coffee, and the silent excitement of departures.

Soon it was time to board.

I had two flights that day- first from Kolkata to Nagpur, and then from Nagpur to Mumbai. Thankfully, both times I got my favorite spot: the window seat.

As I settled into my seat, I looked outside with quiet excitement. The sky was perfectly clear, and honestly, even my mind felt clearer that morning. Throughout the journey, I kept updating Nilofer, who was eagerly waiting for me and of course Smith too, somewhere far away on his ship, wanting to know every little thing I was doing.

The flight took off smoothly. I was excited to watch Kolkata slowly disappear beneath me, but within minutes the clouds swallowed everything below. White clouds everywhere. For a second I felt disappointment, but then I smiled to myself and thought, I have seen this city from sky so many times already. No need to be upset. And somehow that little thought comforted me.

The first flight was around one hour and forty minutes long. I landed in Nagpur around 9 in the morning. My layover there was about 1.5hrs. Nagpur airport was much smaller than Kolkata’s and packed with people. Long queues everywhere, security checks moving slowly, sleepy faces dragging cabin bags behind them.

After finishing the security check again, I grabbed a hot cappuccino from a CCD counter near the gate. Standing near the giant glass windows with that warm coffee in my hand, I watched flights taking off one after another into the bright morning sky. There was something deeply satisfying about it.

Peaceful, almost cinematic.

Soon it was time for my second flight.

Again, a window seat.

This one was shorter- around one hour and fifteen minutes. Before take-off, I video called Nilofer to show her that I was finally on my Mumbai flight. Both of us were smiling so widely through the screen, like schoolgirls excited for a sleepover after years.

Just the evening before leaving Kolkata, I had bought a packet of chips from a local store specifically for this journey. I had imagined myself eating them while enjoying beautiful aerial views. But once again, the sky outside was full of clouds. So instead, I plugged in my earphones, opened Dhurandhar Part 1- my current obsession and got completely lost watching Ranveer Singh on screen. His acting, his energy, his ridiculously good looks combined with crunchy chips and airplane silence, made the journey pass so quickly that I barely realized when we had begun descending.

And then suddenly, there it was.

Mumbai.

The endless high-rise skyline beside the sea, stretching under a hazy golden light. No matter how many times I see this city from above, it always feels magical to me. Familiar and exciting at the same time.

The flight landed, and I slowly made my way through the airport, collected my luggage from the belt surprisingly quickly and walked outside. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport looked exactly how I remembered it- massive, spotless, bright and beautiful. I booked a prepaid taxi and finally started my journey towards Nilofer’s home.

It actually was not very far, but Mumbai traffic had its own plans, and the ride took almost an hour. But I didn’t mind. I kept looking outside the window at the city rushing past me- flyovers, crowded streets, cafes, palm trees, honking cars, tiny shops squeezed between giant buildings.

This was not my first time going to her home. I have been there many times before. I already knew the roads, the turns, the little landmarks on the way.

But this visit felt different.

This was the first time I had come to stay with her for a longer time with no rush, no ship joining, no fixed plan- just to live slowly, enjoy Mumbai, and spend time with one of my favourite people.

And finally, I reached her home.

Its 12.54 on Friday afternoon 22nd May, and I am still lying on Nilofer’s sofa while she attends an office meeting in the other room. Her voice occasionally drifts through the quiet house while I continue writing this, feeling strangely peaceful.

When I finally reached her home, she opened the door and pulled me into the warmest hug. The kind of hug that instantly melts all tiredness from a long journey. I was genuinely, deeply happy to see her. Some people just feel familiar to your soul, no matter how much time passes.

And then, the moment I entered the flat, someone else came to inspect me.

WISH.

The most beautiful yet gloriously arrogant Persian Cat I have ever seen. She is pure love hidden beneath royal attitude. She acts like she does not care about anyone, but somehow, she is always nearby, silently watching everything with those dramatic eyes. I already adore her.

After that, I hugged Aunty. She welcomed me with warmth, blessings, and the kind of affection only mothers know how to give. Outside, Mumbai was hot and humid, but honestly, it felt less exhausting because Kolkata had already trained me well enough for worse heat. Nilofer had already pre-cooled the house with the AC before I arrived just to make me comfortable, and that small gesture touched me more than she probably realizes.

She has a beautiful home.

Technically, it is a small 2bhk flat. But to me, it feels much bigger than that because it feels like a real home. And homes are never measured by square feet. They are measured by comfort, warmth, safety, laughter, and the people living inside them.

The moment I entered her flat, I feel that comfort.

There is a cozy hall with a soft L-shaped sofa and a huge TV, an open kitchen that somehow always feels welcoming, one smaller room where she works, one bigger bedroom where she and Aunty sleep, and two washrooms neatly tucked inside the house.

But this hall is my favorite place.

In fact, I am writing this sitting here only.

The sofa is unbelievably cozy, the giant windows let in soft daylight filtered through green trees outside the society, and the whole view feels calming to the eyes. Wish quietly sits nearby pretending to ignore everyone while secretly wanting company. The fan spins lazily above, curtains move gently with the air, and the entire house feels slow, soft, and peaceful.

Beautiful in the simplest way possible.

Nilofer handed me a chilled glass of mango juice, and then we did what best friends do after meeting again- we started talking endlessly.

Talking nonsense.

Talking memories.

Talking over each other.

Laughing at things that made absolutely no logical sense.

And somehow, those are always the best conversations.

Connect

contact@douxsourire.co.in

© 2025. All rights reserved.