Dream!? Maybe something you can’t stop thinking of, something which doesn’t let you sleep and probably something you think, you’ll be satisfied after fulfilling it.I can still feel the same “Adrenaline rush” which I felt a year ago, when I was about to fulfill one of my dreams, living in “The City Of Dreams – Mumbai“.

Mumbai!! A place of attraction since my childhood. I had seen my cousins grow up here. I used to wait for the vacations, so I could come here and roam around the city with them. But now, there was no waiting for vacations, no permissions to be taken from anybody. Just me!! Independent and free in the city. While chasing your dreams, you have to make lot of compromises and there’s no exception for that. Though I luckily got into one of the best and reputed institute of Mumbai, like everyone else, even I had to leave behind my family, friends and so called old besties! I felt like a tiny ship leaving the shore on a voyage in the massive sea. The ship was about to sail, and I knew my life was going to change, but I was waiting for this change my whole life!

The crowded local trains, the rush. Everybody running around, trying hard to be faster than the clock! Every new day was a set of new challenge! People minding their own business, yet helping the stranger when needed. First time in my life I had seen the perfect privacy amidst the crowd. Soon I knew whatever I had heard and imagined about this place, was absolutely right. I was into the city which never stops, the city which never sleeps, yet the city of Dreams!! Throughout the year, I almost did all the adventures I had ever dreamt of. Many memorable night-outs across the city. Chilling out besides the sea at 4 AM and letting the cool breeze pass by almost every weekend. The sound of the sea waves splashing then, can’t be more mesmerizing! The feeling of that eternal peace cannot be described in words. Visiting various malls, cafés, clubs and concerts around the city, traveling 34 kilometers with your buddies just for a simple Pizza, getting caught by the Police on the highway at 2.15 A.M without Helmet, and so many secret house parties!! The list goes on… And the precious smile on my face while recalling all this will surely have much more value as the days and eventually years will pass on!

Months passed, and I was living my dream I had once seen. Life is all about ups and downs I had heard. Living independently in Mumbai made me experience that. Many new people came in my life. Many old ones, who mattered once, left for no specific reasons. And today when I look back, the power to withstand failure and rise high from it was given to me by this city! This city has literally seen me dance in happiness, as well as supported me in my lonely 2 A.M walks when everything in this world seemed wrong. Looking at myself a year ago, and looking at me now, everything seems to be changed and “Aapli Mumbai” has witnessed this slow transformation in me. Things which didn’t matter before, make a huge difference now, like I actually experienced the difference between 3.55 and 3.57 P.M. Independence to take my own decisions in this city, taught me how to prioritize my life and once we get to know that, half the problems seem to be sorted!

Mumbai is called “The City of Dreams” for a reason probably. Though people dream to live in this city like I once dreamt of, this city also teaches us to see new dreams! I experienced the fact here that “Dream Bigger, to achieve Big“. We start dreaming bigger as we achieve our small day to day dreams. The struggle to survive in Mumbai is real which indeed makes people realize their real potentials. (Aye Dil, Hai Mushkil Jeena Yaha) You’ll find the best value for hard work here, which makes you believe that yes, hard work always pays off well. My perspective on life changed, when I started understanding these things. Maybe living in Mumbai made me capable of experiencing this. At this point of my life now, however big the challenge seems, there is always a voice within me telling “Yes, I can do it“.

I left home to fulfill my dreams, but I never thought that, going back home will become one of my dreams! But the memories I’ve made with this city, never make me feel homesick. Time ain’t endless, it gives you the best gift called Memories! Hoping for some more exciting memories with this city in the remaining 3 years.

–Sanket