Part 4:
Day 2 in Mumbai: This city just never sleeps. Then how can I sleep when I came here for work?
I dragged Addu with me to the nearby temple in Ganesh Chawl. My neighbor was saying that at this temple, if you keep something near the idol during puja and then start the work using it, the work will not just be completed but also successful.
When we reached the temple, I was overwhelmed at how much it resembles Juna Mohalla back in Indore. The only difference is we have Shiv mandir and here it's Ganesh mandir. The idol was so tall that I felt I was watching a movie sitting in the first row of the theatre.
There was a lot of hustle bustle. We managed to fight through the crowd and reached the front. The priest came to us. I took out my pen and placed it in the plate. I told the priest, "Please do the puja in the name of Megha Mohan Bhatnagar, Navika and Aditya Bhatnagar. This pen is my fathers. And I have come to Mumbai to achieve something. I hope this pen will give the courage to achieve my goal in Mumbai."
The priest went near the idol and started reciting mantras. I closed my eyes and prayed, "Spiderman, I know you didn't believe in God. But now you are with him. Instead of fighting with him, please bless your chawanni that my work in Mumbai finishes faster and I can do a good job with my show." I heard the bell ringing loudly for aarti.
Once the ringing came to an end, I opened my eyes and was about to take the aarti and my pen. We heard some men forcing into the mandir and surprisingly people willingly moved away.
They were shouting that Vasu bhau is coming. I wondered if my work is going to start so soon. After all, I came to Mumbai to research on these people. Just as I extended my hand to pick up the pen from priest's plate, one goon shoved my hand away and shouted in my ear, "Bhau is coming. Move away."
I was furious and tried to grab the pen once again, but unsuccessful once again. Addu held my hand and pulled me away from those goons. He asked, "Nanhi didi, you are here to know about these people? Come on, you better run for your life." I was already furious and Addu was adding fuel to the fire by saying so.
I decided it was not time to fight. I had to get my pen back. Its the last memory i have of my Spiderman. How can I lose it?
I asked around about why they are making such a scene. A lady in front of me turned to me and said, "Today is last day of the month. It is tradition at Ganesh Chawl that the last aarti on the last day and the first aarti on first day of every month are done by Bhau." I waited till the aarti got over.
People left the place and slowly I could breathe again. I ran towards the priest to whom I gave my pen. But alas, didn't find the en in the plate. I asked the priest and he said, "Beti, I thought you forgot and Vasu Bhau really liked it. He said it is a beautiful memory to keep. So I gave it to him. I am sorry."
Gave it to him? Gave my Spidermans pen to a ruffian!! This can't be happening. Addu came to me asking what happened that I looked so shaken. I told him about it and pleaded with him to bring the pen back.
We saw that Vasu Bhau hasn't left the place yet and people were talking to him. His cronies had surrounded him and I couldn't see his face. I said out loud "Once I see this Vasu Bhau, he will have it from me. I will not leave any of them, neither him nor his cronies." The priest heard me and warned me, "People consider him God of Ganesh Chawl. There are stories that if his enemy goes to meet him they never come back."
While I was listening to the priest, from the corner of my eye I saw Addu walk towards the crowd.
Amidst such hot situation, it crossed my mind that if I should name one thing the Spiderman, Ma, Addu and I share in common is our anger and ego. When people say you can't do, we just can't stop ourselves from doing it. That's probably what I can call Bhatnagar attitude.
One day this Bhatnagar attitude will unite us.
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