Mum Bai.

Guess what? I walked on the streets of Nariman Point. I enjoyed the breeze sitting on the sea-front at Marine Drive. I caught a glimpse of BSE. Sounds very normal, isn’t it? Doesn’t, for a non-Mumbaikar, who rarely visited Mumbai.

Last evening I was listening to this song, looping repeatedly, by JayZ ft. Alicia Keys called Empire State of Mind. The chorus goes like this:

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for New York, New York,
New York

And then remembered few days ago a friend visited New York and his status update was something like “WALKED ON THE STREETS OF TIMES SQUARE!!!”

Join the dots with this status update and blog initiated statement.

While looping the song again and again, kept wondering, what Alicia Keys sang for New York in the chorus completely synchs with Mumbai, for many. In fact even if you replace the word New York with Mumbai (Mum Bai, to be precise)and sing the song, it makes complete sense.

Try it.

Oh I forgot to mention this co-incidence. During one of those innumerous loops, I passed Wankhede Stadium right when Alicia’s word “big lights will inspire you” passed my ear. Apparently the flood lights at the stadium were on at that time.

Join the dots. Again.

All my point for this blog is, this city indeed has some mystery in it. Rest the song's lyrics fills you in. You just have to look it from a non-residing, rarely visited Mumbai person’s perspective.

Mum Bai, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin' you can't do
Now you're in Mum Bai
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let's hear it for Mum Bai, Mum Bai,
Mum Bai.