It was when I moved to Mumbai with bag and baggage from Aligarh after completing my graduation. I used to be in Abdullah hall and I used to think of myself as an open minded girl who is ready to move into a metro city, like Mumbai, which has its own hyped image in a city like Aligarh.( UP).People think it’s a city of dreams but frankly speaking I found that people in Mumbai hardly have time to think about their dreams.Anyway, I moved to Mumbai, and after a bit of struggling I got an accommodation closed to marine lines, one of the good areas in Mumbai. (Here I will mention this was not my first trip to Mumbai. Before this also, I used to visit Mumbai once or twice but this was the time I started getting used to this city). I spent four years there and believe me I never even once had a thought of moving out from Botawala building. It was a Parsi building, but our landlord was a Muslim so definitely I got better privileges then my other flat mates. This was whole fourth floor which we almost 12 to 14 girls used to share. And in that after sometime we 5-6 gals made in a group. Believe me time was just flying by with them; I never realized when those marvelous days passed away.
My first experience which till today I think has change my thinking started with a girl named Neomi from Mizoram, a typical north-east girl. She was a pretty friend of my roommate Audrey. My roommate and I used to get along well. There are many lovely stories of me and Audrey which still make me smile. But hey, I was talking about Neomi, a ditto party girl, drunk most of the time she used to be in doping condition, I knew her for 3- 4 months only and in those times she almost had 15-16 affairs, among them 1-2 were serious for 15 days to 25 days. In her own words she had only one serious love affair which had last for 7 months with a naga guy, and when telling me this she kept giggling.. I never forgot that giggling of hers, whatever character she had but she had a beautiful Giggling voice..
My first impression towards that girl was very bad. I used to think about that girl as a spoiled brat. Among all party kind of girls Neomi had the worst name, which used to lead her in a very bad scene. But sometimes when she used to be in my room her passionate love stories and her exciting night experiences used to make me leave the room and sit in the balcony. It was no use complaining Audrey as she was also helpless whenever Neomi lost her senses.
Anyway, within 3 or 4 months she got a notice to move out on the pretext of drugs and she already had a very bad image. My landlord was an ex ACP of south Mumbai so it was an image conscious step as well for him.The reason I didn’t like this girl was coz of her image. She never bothered what people around her were thinking about her, she was mean and most of the time tried to use people around her, one of sufferer was my roommate (that’s another story though). Neomi once lost her cell phone in a party one night, but she never bought another phon. She used to pick up any of our phones and then would ask if she could make a call to a friend (the call would go on for no less than 30 minutes. There were lots of small issues which ultimately resulted in her losing some really good friends. She even had a fight with Audrey and in the later days Audrey, used to ignore her.
I was very strict to her and never allowed her to interact with me in any possible way. As my Abdullah hall type mindset never allowed me to mingle with her and understand her. For me she and a prostitute didn’t had much of a difference. Though, now I regret my thinking, even feel disgusted because of it sometimes coz I had assumed something about somebody without even knowing her.
Moving on with the story..... it was a night when new year party was on and there were hardly 4 or 6 girls present in the building that night. I had my exams going on when in the afternoon Neomi came into my room, and asked about Audrey. I told her that I had no idea of where Audrey is. This time she didn’t say anything, I guess she was not in her senses and was under the influence of some drug. I was anyway not so comfortable with Neomi and hence left the room with one of my friends for dinner. Before leaving I called up Audrey and told her that Neomi was waiting for her.
It was 10:30 in the night when I came back just to find her half lying on Audrey’s bed, and half on the floor, she had closed her eyes but was awake. I could hear the sobs and knew she was crying but something inside me stopped me from going to console her. I immediately left the room, and went into the balcony. Then something else inside me made me go back into the room and ask her what had happened and if she was alright.
Saying that she is alright, Neomi tried to walk out of the room, but she couldn’t even walk properly and hence she fell down. It used to happen a lot of time with her and was nothing new to me but this was the first time I’d to help her to get up. As I touched her I found that she was not alright as she had claimed to be, her skin was burning and she had fever. It generally happens when u drink a lot with an empty stomach. Your stomach can’t tolerate the alcohol so one needs to always eat a small meal before going for a drink. Thanks to Audrey I got to know this. Mumbai revelation I should say.. ). I took Neomi to washbasin, she vomited and I was standing beside her, I never thought I will do this for her ever. When all this was happening there were few girls walking in the lobby and smiling at me. I could read their mind and they were saying poor girl Naaz. But since I felt like doing this bit for Neomi so I did it.
I then took her into the room, and made her comfortable and thought of giving her something to eat, it was 11:30 pm and by then I guessed that markets would have been closed. I took out Maggie packs which we kept as our mid night meal. I went to the kitchen and prepared Maggie with two cups of coffee. I offered her Maggie and coffee and sat on my bed sipping my coffee She said thanks and mentioned that she didn’t had anything to eat since morning. I felt like slapping this idiot girl asking her that who the hell asked her to drink, but somehow I controlled my anger and didn’t say anything. We started talking as friends for the first time. In between my papa called and I had to leave the room with my coffee and I went into the balcony. When I came back after 20- 30 minutes, she had finished eating. She had fever and I gave her a crocin. In an angry voice I asked her to see the doctor the next day to which she very innocently agreed. She then praised my coffee and Maggie while I smiled proudly.Then she said to me “, you are a nice girl, caring as well, Audrey keeps praising about you and you deserve it too”. I asked her that what did she do apart from parties and going out with friends, she said nothing and giggled and then told me she is pursuing some course in journalism from some random college, I found it interesting as at that time I was also looking for a career in media. I asked her, “wow, so you have interest in writing” and she said she didn’t know. I asked, “Why, you liked it that’s why you opted for this career” and she replied “No, I opted for this course so that I can leave my house and stay away from my family and so that I can live in Mumbai and party”. Very weird answer I thought, then I asked about her family and she replied, “I had 2 brothers and now only one, my mom and daddy they both work”. Stupidly I asked that what happened to the other brother and she said that he died in an accident, and then she cried. I was stunned; I hugged her and tried to console her.
I guess that was the worst thing I did that evening coz she kept crying after that. I gave her some water to drink, and asked her to sleep. Then she said to me, “I always enjoyed partying going out with friends, but I was not spoiled girl, I am not a spoiled girl, I am sure whatever people are talking about me is because they must have found some truth in it and that’s why they are doing it”.And she said, “You know I have seen my brother’s dead body lying at my house alone, nobody was there. He had committed suicide. Till today nobody has an idea why he did it”.
I didn’t know what to say to her at that time. She also told me that she had broken off with her, so called, boyfriend and that’s why she is a little upset. I think she enjoyed talking to me that night as she was telling me how immature she was when she someone had broken her heart for the first time. She kept telling me her stories and in between kept giggling. She told me about guys and their stupid thinking. She said most of the guys are confused they don’t know what they want and that’s why they make fool of themselves. We chatted for 3-4 hours randomly on parties, on drugs and on love. Then she said,” if you don’t mind can I borrow one pack of maggi I am feeling more hungry”, I smiled at her innocence as she went on telling me that after drinking one feels very hungry and eats more than his/her capacity. I asked her to sit with me and offered to cook another pack of magi. While preparing it I was thinking how sweet this girl is, but keeps portraying herself as a snobbish arrogant girl. After eating maggi we went to sleep.
Next morning I got up late, it was Audrey who woke me up. It was after noon and Neomi was not there. I asked Audrey where she is and she said that Neomi went out with one of her friends.
I saw her after a week, she was nowhere near to what she was that night with me. She came into my room kept chatting with Audrey and telling her about one week adventurous stories, about how she went out with a guy and stayed at his friend’s place and then stayed there for 3 more days. It was a nice house and only she and her friend’s friend (whom she had met for the first time) were there. It was not a big deal for her, knowing somebody for few times and went out with them as long as he is willing to pay on her and take care of her basic necessities. It didn’t matter much to her if she meets him next time or not. That’s how she was, lonely from inside. She never spoke to me in the same way as she did, she was never the same. She still irritates me but inside I know she doesn’t mean it.I spoke once to Audrey about it, I asked her to help Neomi out from this. She replied no one can help her except Neomi herself, and moreover she was not willing to say as she also sometimes used to go for the same doping pleasure. So her answer about Neomi was she finds happiness in that way only, so let her enjoy her state.Well after this incident she got a notice to move out from the building due to many logical and illogical reasons. Later, while my stay in Mumbai I also interacted with many girls who were involved in doping. I still feel sad for them, but never felt disgusted about them.I always felt if somebody is wrong and is opting for a wrong way that doesn’t mean he or she is bad. We always can take precaution to avoid but we make mistakes sometimes for pleasure and that’s why we are human probably. We are not divine and we better never make any perception about others without at least knowing them,Mumbai is one of the busiest city in the world, but still I found people there are lonely.
My first experience which till today I think has change my thinking started with a girl named Neomi from Mizoram, a typical north-east girl. She was a pretty friend of my roommate Audrey. My roommate and I used to get along well. There are many lovely stories of me and Audrey which still make me smile. But hey, I was talking about Neomi, a ditto party girl, drunk most of the time she used to be in doping condition, I knew her for 3- 4 months only and in those times she almost had 15-16 affairs, among them 1-2 were serious for 15 days to 25 days. In her own words she had only one serious love affair which had last for 7 months with a naga guy, and when telling me this she kept giggling.. I never forgot that giggling of hers, whatever character she had but she had a beautiful Giggling voice..
My first impression towards that girl was very bad. I used to think about that girl as a spoiled brat. Among all party kind of girls Neomi had the worst name, which used to lead her in a very bad scene. But sometimes when she used to be in my room her passionate love stories and her exciting night experiences used to make me leave the room and sit in the balcony. It was no use complaining Audrey as she was also helpless whenever Neomi lost her senses.
Anyway, within 3 or 4 months she got a notice to move out on the pretext of drugs and she already had a very bad image. My landlord was an ex ACP of south Mumbai so it was an image conscious step as well for him.The reason I didn’t like this girl was coz of her image. She never bothered what people around her were thinking about her, she was mean and most of the time tried to use people around her, one of sufferer was my roommate (that’s another story though). Neomi once lost her cell phone in a party one night, but she never bought another phon. She used to pick up any of our phones and then would ask if she could make a call to a friend (the call would go on for no less than 30 minutes. There were lots of small issues which ultimately resulted in her losing some really good friends. She even had a fight with Audrey and in the later days Audrey, used to ignore her.
I was very strict to her and never allowed her to interact with me in any possible way. As my Abdullah hall type mindset never allowed me to mingle with her and understand her. For me she and a prostitute didn’t had much of a difference. Though, now I regret my thinking, even feel disgusted because of it sometimes coz I had assumed something about somebody without even knowing her.
Moving on with the story..... it was a night when new year party was on and there were hardly 4 or 6 girls present in the building that night. I had my exams going on when in the afternoon Neomi came into my room, and asked about Audrey. I told her that I had no idea of where Audrey is. This time she didn’t say anything, I guess she was not in her senses and was under the influence of some drug. I was anyway not so comfortable with Neomi and hence left the room with one of my friends for dinner. Before leaving I called up Audrey and told her that Neomi was waiting for her.
It was 10:30 in the night when I came back just to find her half lying on Audrey’s bed, and half on the floor, she had closed her eyes but was awake. I could hear the sobs and knew she was crying but something inside me stopped me from going to console her. I immediately left the room, and went into the balcony. Then something else inside me made me go back into the room and ask her what had happened and if she was alright.
Saying that she is alright, Neomi tried to walk out of the room, but she couldn’t even walk properly and hence she fell down. It used to happen a lot of time with her and was nothing new to me but this was the first time I’d to help her to get up. As I touched her I found that she was not alright as she had claimed to be, her skin was burning and she had fever. It generally happens when u drink a lot with an empty stomach. Your stomach can’t tolerate the alcohol so one needs to always eat a small meal before going for a drink. Thanks to Audrey I got to know this. Mumbai revelation I should say.. ). I took Neomi to washbasin, she vomited and I was standing beside her, I never thought I will do this for her ever. When all this was happening there were few girls walking in the lobby and smiling at me. I could read their mind and they were saying poor girl Naaz. But since I felt like doing this bit for Neomi so I did it.
I then took her into the room, and made her comfortable and thought of giving her something to eat, it was 11:30 pm and by then I guessed that markets would have been closed. I took out Maggie packs which we kept as our mid night meal. I went to the kitchen and prepared Maggie with two cups of coffee. I offered her Maggie and coffee and sat on my bed sipping my coffee She said thanks and mentioned that she didn’t had anything to eat since morning. I felt like slapping this idiot girl asking her that who the hell asked her to drink, but somehow I controlled my anger and didn’t say anything. We started talking as friends for the first time. In between my papa called and I had to leave the room with my coffee and I went into the balcony. When I came back after 20- 30 minutes, she had finished eating. She had fever and I gave her a crocin. In an angry voice I asked her to see the doctor the next day to which she very innocently agreed. She then praised my coffee and Maggie while I smiled proudly.Then she said to me “, you are a nice girl, caring as well, Audrey keeps praising about you and you deserve it too”. I asked her that what did she do apart from parties and going out with friends, she said nothing and giggled and then told me she is pursuing some course in journalism from some random college, I found it interesting as at that time I was also looking for a career in media. I asked her, “wow, so you have interest in writing” and she said she didn’t know. I asked, “Why, you liked it that’s why you opted for this career” and she replied “No, I opted for this course so that I can leave my house and stay away from my family and so that I can live in Mumbai and party”. Very weird answer I thought, then I asked about her family and she replied, “I had 2 brothers and now only one, my mom and daddy they both work”. Stupidly I asked that what happened to the other brother and she said that he died in an accident, and then she cried. I was stunned; I hugged her and tried to console her.
I guess that was the worst thing I did that evening coz she kept crying after that. I gave her some water to drink, and asked her to sleep. Then she said to me, “I always enjoyed partying going out with friends, but I was not spoiled girl, I am not a spoiled girl, I am sure whatever people are talking about me is because they must have found some truth in it and that’s why they are doing it”.And she said, “You know I have seen my brother’s dead body lying at my house alone, nobody was there. He had committed suicide. Till today nobody has an idea why he did it”.
I didn’t know what to say to her at that time. She also told me that she had broken off with her, so called, boyfriend and that’s why she is a little upset. I think she enjoyed talking to me that night as she was telling me how immature she was when she someone had broken her heart for the first time. She kept telling me her stories and in between kept giggling. She told me about guys and their stupid thinking. She said most of the guys are confused they don’t know what they want and that’s why they make fool of themselves. We chatted for 3-4 hours randomly on parties, on drugs and on love. Then she said,” if you don’t mind can I borrow one pack of maggi I am feeling more hungry”, I smiled at her innocence as she went on telling me that after drinking one feels very hungry and eats more than his/her capacity. I asked her to sit with me and offered to cook another pack of magi. While preparing it I was thinking how sweet this girl is, but keeps portraying herself as a snobbish arrogant girl. After eating maggi we went to sleep.
Next morning I got up late, it was Audrey who woke me up. It was after noon and Neomi was not there. I asked Audrey where she is and she said that Neomi went out with one of her friends.
I saw her after a week, she was nowhere near to what she was that night with me. She came into my room kept chatting with Audrey and telling her about one week adventurous stories, about how she went out with a guy and stayed at his friend’s place and then stayed there for 3 more days. It was a nice house and only she and her friend’s friend (whom she had met for the first time) were there. It was not a big deal for her, knowing somebody for few times and went out with them as long as he is willing to pay on her and take care of her basic necessities. It didn’t matter much to her if she meets him next time or not. That’s how she was, lonely from inside. She never spoke to me in the same way as she did, she was never the same. She still irritates me but inside I know she doesn’t mean it.I spoke once to Audrey about it, I asked her to help Neomi out from this. She replied no one can help her except Neomi herself, and moreover she was not willing to say as she also sometimes used to go for the same doping pleasure. So her answer about Neomi was she finds happiness in that way only, so let her enjoy her state.Well after this incident she got a notice to move out from the building due to many logical and illogical reasons. Later, while my stay in Mumbai I also interacted with many girls who were involved in doping. I still feel sad for them, but never felt disgusted about them.I always felt if somebody is wrong and is opting for a wrong way that doesn’t mean he or she is bad. We always can take precaution to avoid but we make mistakes sometimes for pleasure and that’s why we are human probably. We are not divine and we better never make any perception about others without at least knowing them,Mumbai is one of the busiest city in the world, but still I found people there are lonely.
