Tuesday 26th July, 2005 will be a memorable day for us. I am working in a Public Ltd. Co. near Kala Ghoda. I have been in Mumbai for last 15 years and this is my second experience of not reaching home.
In 1998, on a Parsi New Year day there was heavy downpour and we left the office early thinking that we can reach home before the trains stop commuting. But we were strucked at Kurla Station and had to spent the whole night in the train in wet clothes. Next day around 5 a.m the trains started moving and we could reach home by 10 O'clock. Fearing our past experience, we didn't leave our office yesterday. Some of our colleagues attempted to reach home, but returned back to office late night as transportation was at stand still. This time it is doubtful that we will be able to reach home even on the second day. Although our Managing Director was out of station, he generously arranged for food and shelter and instructed our Administrative Officer to see that all are comfortable.
Yesterday i.e. on July 25th things were pretty fine till 11.30 AM. I wasn't even carrying my rain jacket when I left my place in the morning. Anyways around 11.30 it started raining, but nobody had a clue whats comin there way. After lunch i went as usual for SUTTA with Pandey Ji (Mind u i dont smoke) , but it was raining heavily so i came back and started my work as usual. At around 3.30 we recieved a mail from HR that due to heavy rains all railway lines have stopped and u can leave by 4. We thought of this as an oppurtunity for an early CHHUTTI, and left office. I had no umbrella or jacket, but i left in hope we'll get a cab and leave for VASHI (my place is in vashi,office in Bandra Kurla Complex). When i reached the ground floor (my desk is on 5th floor), i was totally surprised. The reception was filled with water, and that too around 6 inches. There was staff digging out water from that place.Anyways I got out of the office in hope we'll get a cab. I struggled around 1.30 hours in the rain. We tried to get a cab, auto, tempo, truck, anything but consistently failed. It was raining cats and dogs, so much that the water was hitting my body badly.
