Miss Mumbai too much during Ganpati season

Saw the Lalbaugcha Raja reveal video today - full feels! I never meant to leave Delhi. It was home - comfortable, familiar, safe. But life had other plans. A series of events I can barely remember now landed me in Mumbai for college. Scared shitless doesn't even begin to cover how I felt that first day. Those first few weeks were a blur of homesickness and culture shock. The constant noise, the crush of people, the relentless pace - it was overwhelming. I'd call home every night, trying to hide the tremor in my voice. But then, something shifted. Maybe it was the first time I successfully navigated the local trains without getting lost. Or the night my roommates and I stayed up till dawn, sharing stories and dreams. Suddenly, I wasn't just surviving - I was living. Mumbai stripped me bare and rebuilt me. I learned to cook (sort of), to budget (badly at first), to stand up for myself. I made friends from corners of India I'd never even heard of before. Their stories, their struggles, their dreams - it all became a part of me. The city's energy was infectious. I found myself doing things I'd never imagined. Volunteering at a shelter. Interning at a tiny startup. Trying my hand at photography. Failing, learning, trying again. There were tough times, god knows. Nights when the loneliness felt crushing. Days when I wondered if I'd made a horrible mistake. But each challenge made me stronger, more resilient. And the people - the people of Mumbai showed me kindness I never expected. My local friend’s mom who'd slip me home-cooked meals. The classmate who spent hours helping me prep for an exam. The stranger who shared their umbrella during my first monsoon downpour outside CST. What amazed me was how Mumbai had something for everyone, regardless of their budget. I had just 5k a month for all expenses beyond hostel rent, yet I managed to party, watch movies, and hit bars. We'd hunt for the cheapest vada pavs at 1 am, find bars with dirt-cheap beer, and sneak into college fests for free entertainment. Every month was a thrilling balance between having fun and making ends meet. Years later, in my first job earning over 1L a month, I realized the city scales with you. Suddenly, there were fancier restaurants to try, better areas to live in, more experiences to splurge on. Yet, surprisingly, it still didn't feel like enough. Mumbai always had one more adventure to offer, one more hidden gem to discover. Looking back now, I realize those three years in Mumbai shaped me more than the 18 before it. It taught me independence, yes, but also interdependence. It showed me that family isn't just about blood - it's about the connections you make, the community you build. To anyone considering the leap - do it. It's terrifying and exhilarating and absolutely worth it. You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll grow in ways you can't imagine. Delhi will always be where I'm from. But Mumbai? Mumbai is where I found myself. And for that, I'll always carry a piece of this beautiful, chaotic city in my heart. And you know what? This isn't just about Mumbai or Delhi. It's about taking that leap, about stepping out of your comfort zone. It's about learning to stand on your own feet, about discovering who you really are when no one's watching. So wherever you're from, wherever you're going - take that step. The world is waiting, and trust me, you're ready for it. Now that we're all working professionals, I can't help but want to push our younger cousins, siblings, or any 18-year-old I meet to take this leap. If I had one piece of advice for a school kid just turning 18, it would be this: Choose the path that scares you a little. The growth you'll experience is worth every moment of doubt and discomfort.