The Chronicles of South Bombay (1960s-70s) Page #2

Bombay’s Hidden Heart: A Love That Defied Time and Transformed a City

• History
• Romance
• Short story
• Fiction

								


As he finished speaking he approached Ashok with a warm smile. “You look new here,” he said. Their eyes met, he went into a moment of dreaming about him. His voice was calm, and something about it put Ashok at ease.

Ajay clicked his fingers, “I just moved to the city,” Ashok replied, still nervous and lost in his sight. “I’m Ashok.”

“I’m Ajay,” he said, extending his hand. “Welcome to Bombay.”

He couldn't help but keep looking into his eyes while speaking with him. As they both shook their hands Ashok felt a warm craze in his heart as it started to palpitate with more excitement than usual with his one touch. It was all new and something that Ashok had never experienced in his life. 

Allured by Ajay’s spirited thoughts and his captivating sight, Ashok decided to join Ajay in his efforts to save the Library. He was thrilled as he started to feel he had found a friend in this new city.



Over the next few weeks, Ashok kept a stable balance between his job at the law firm and the new challenge he had embarked upon in assisting Ajay to save the library. Ashok thought it was a great way to socialise with a new set of people in a different city that would help him learn about the customs and ways of this new city. He started to spend the evenings at his place, researching the library's history and mobilising community support for its preservation. 

Their shared passion for the united cause brought them closer, and Ashok found himself increasingly drawn to Ajay.They started to hang out more often. When it used to get late, he started to stay over at his place. Even when he was at work, he always used to think about what Ajay would be doing now, is he still in College, or with friends, is he thinking about him or not? He used to spend his tea breaks ruminating about him. He wasn't sure why he was feeling this way, and thinking of him so much, it used to drive him crazy at times when he couldn't see Ajay when the workload at the firm increased.

Ajay used to live alone in Bombay, his parents passed away in an accident. He had always lived in a great sense of freedom as there was nobody to question him coming home late, but at the same time, he used to miss them. He often used to wonder if he would ever find love in his life that would bring him peace and the great sense of belongingness that he had always longed for.

Each time, they would take a break while researching, with a chat over chai, they used to  talk about the city, their lives, and their shared love for books and art. Ashok was captivated by Ajay’s stories, his dreams of travelling the world, and the sense of freedom he felt in Bombay with him. It started to feel like home to him.

Ajay always used to say this to Ashok, “I have never met anyone like you before, you make me feel seen, in a way that goes beyond words.”

Ashok replies, “I feel the same way, it is after so long I have been close to someone in such a short time.”, with a big smile turning his face all red.

And asks him, “For a change, would you like to go for a walk tomorrow? We can go for dinner as well as it's Sunday.”

Ajay got confused with his decision to respond and fumbled through his words.

Ajay with a smile, “Yes we can.”

They both decided to meet at the Asiatic Society of Bombay, hidden away in a narrow lane. “This place is special,” Ajay said. “It’s one of the few places left in the city that hasn’t been touched by all the modernization. But not for long”. The library was old, with dusty bookshelves and crumbling walls, but it had a certain charm. It was during these moments that Ashok began to realise the depth of his feelings for Ajay.
 It wasn’t just admiration—it was love. A love he had never allowed himself to feel so openly before. He just wanted to spend more time with Ajay, at all costs. Within himself, he was fighting this feeling of liking a man. He never thought he'd start to feel this for a man. 

As the evening approached them, they decided to grab dinner at an old Irani cafe. The diverse city of Bombay, with its captivating mix of cultures, has always been a cultural hub and a celebration of diversity. Its unique appeal emanates from every aspect - from the bustling local trains, the bustling yet harmonious chawls, and the towering skyscrapers, to the upscale neighbourhoods, all combining to form the city's identity. An integral part of this cosmopolitan blend is the heritage of its longstanding Irani cafes.

“These delightful establishments, deeply ingrained in Bombay’s cultural nest, have a fascinating history that spans more than a century. The history of Iranian cafes in Mumbai is truly intriguing. Established by Zoroastrian Irani immigrants in the 20th century, who fled religious persecution in West and Central Asia, these cafes became renowned for their famous Irani Chai and Bun Maska. Despite their declining numbers, the Irani cafes continue to be the lifeblood of the city, echoing the spirit of Bombay.”

As soon as they finished eating, they hugged each other and parted their ways home. That hug lasted for more than 10 seconds. When Ashok reached home and was standing in front of a mirror, he was terrified of what was happening to him. He asked himself, “Is he falling in love with Ajay? Is it normal to be this way?”. His eyes were filled with tears, as he covered himself in the sheets and tried to fall asleep.

As the days passed, he was over those feelings calling them a phase that he would eventually outgrow with time. The next morning he started to pretend as if nothing happened and left for work.

“In the 1960s, Bombay was going through a series of cultural corners that were facing a threat from the rise of urbanisation to attract for foreign investments and businesses. The city is rapidly modernising, driven by a booming economy and an inflow of migrants seeking opportunities. This period saw the construction of new skyscrapers and the expansion of industries, such as the Air India building at Nariman Point, built in 1967 a 23-story skyscraper that became one of the first high-rises in the area, Express Towers, in 1968 which also served as one of the tallest buildings in South Asia, the famous Oberoi Trident Hotel (formerly known as Oberoi Sheraton) (1973), and many more. Even today when you visit these places you will find a great sense of magnificence about these buildings.”

The library faced strong opposition from a real estate developer who had already received approval from the Bombay Municipality Corporation to proceed with the demolition. He wanted to capitalise on this growth. The developer planned to demolish the library to make way for a commercial complex hoping that would help him gain double what he is investing for now, echoing the city’s push towards modernization and economic progress. 

Everyone was thrilled. The developer’s argument was simple: progress required sacrifices, and the old library, barely frequented in recent years, was a small price to pay for Bombay’s future as the financial capital of India. Ashok and Ajay’s drive to save the Library brought out the tension between preserving Bombay’s cultural heritage and embracing the future.

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