I returned to Mumbai after 20 years

I was born and raised in Mumbai, lived there through the first 17 years of my childhood. I had a very abusive mom who neglected me. As a child, I saw Mumbai through her eyes and it was impossible to understand the toxic mess. Then at 15 years old, I had a life-altering event. A politician and his goons physically assaulted me at Centaur hotel. My mom was nowhere to be found when I really needed her. I realized then, that I had to get independent quickly. Two years later, I hugged my dad one last time at the Sahar International airport gates, never to see him again. He passed away in 2021. This year, I finally felt prepared to return back to Mumbai. I had tears in my eyes when my flight landed. The first thing I did was head to Juhu beach for paav bhaaji. Over the next week, I went to all the places I’d always wanted to go and splurged - rooftop bars, cafes, from the best luxurious spots to the cheapest vada pav and bhel puri stalls. Finally, I got to leave through the same airport that I left twenty years ago, now CSMIA. This time around, my cousin greeted me with pictures of my dad. It felt like a “coming around” moment being able to take my dad through the airport this time. The heat was unbearable and the pollution was terrible. But for the first time, in the traffic, the chaos, the heat and smoke, I saw the nice side of Mumbai. The ability to get along with my auto drivers, the extremely helpful locals and a diverse crowd that somehow get along, laughed and smiled with me. I realized that Mumbai had offered me a lot of love - I just never got to see it. Mumbai is no longer my home. But I’m proud to say I was born there.