Mumbai, the city that breathes.

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"ऐ दिल है मुशकिल जीना यहाँ

ज़रा हट के, ज़रा बच के

ये है बॉम्बे मेरी जाँ"

~

Every person that lives here, even for a while, takes with him abundant memories. Memories that never really die, that resurface every moment they want to feel closer to their dreams. The ones who stay here, know the ordeal. It isn't easy being part of this city. Many try to create their own names, either in their own bubbles, or in the whole world. Some succeed, some don't. There are many things that people call this city: The city of dreams, the city that never sleeps, Mumbai, Bombay; they're all correct.

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Mumbai is infectious. 

Once you start living in Mumbai, working in Mumbai, 

I don't think you can live anywhere else. 

- Yash Chopra

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Mumbai is alive. Every hour, every second. You might speak about ones 'life in Mumbai', but the 'life of Mumbai' is another thing altogether. This city is fast. It doesn't wait for anybody. Time is the greatest illusion here; you wouldn't know how it passes by. But people will not complain. Be as it may, the rush that the city offers, makes people want more. And why not? The city accepts everyone with open arms. As long as you do your part, the city will give you back everything it has to offer, and more. This city breathes. Yes, Mumbai is alive. 

As part of the Zonal War conducted by Tata Motors (http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/) and IndiBlogger, I'm writing about the city I've spent all my life in. Mumbai; with respect to three key features that give the city its heartbeat; Drive, Design, and Connect. 

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Drive: 

There are many roads in the city. The physical ones, and also the ones for your dreams. The need to do something is what drives people here. The daily chores might be mundane for a few, while a few might be doing what they love. Many might be struggling, while many live their life to the fullest. Be it rich or poor, any gender, any age, lives are aligned along the very same principles of hope, learning, accepting, and what drives them. From the time the sun rises, till the time it rises again, people keep running. Even resting here seems like something that prepares them for the future. Children grow in an open minded environment, which gives them wings, gives them many opportunities, making it easier for them to fly. The ones who aren't afraid to explore, and travel, are the ones that benefit most from this city's hustle bustle. For the city that never sleeps, one can always keep walking on the roads to his destination.

Design:

Lying on the western coast of the state of Maharashtra, urbanization in Mumbai can be seen in different ways. More than 50 percent of people who live here, live in slums. One can often find buildings, some very tall skyscrapers, right next to these slums, as they define the Mumbai skyline. The rich and the poor coexist. The city is designed in such a way, that every person is able to share something with the other, ensuring a balance of give and take. If you stand on the beach, look towards the horizon, the vastness of the sea will remind you about how insignificant, yet significant you are. The spaces where forests and greenery still thrives, will remind you how nature too coexists with the brick and stone in the city. Shops upon shops, work places, the nightlife, they all give to the city, it's different organs. This city is multifaceted, with every side, sharing a million stories.

Connect:

The very principle of growth forces one to connect. Mumbai, the financial hub of the country, has many businesses that thrive on its grounds. From simple products like the toys you'd buy off the road side, to complex ones like online services, it becomes important for the people to communicate easily, and fast. A single person here might know someone who works in the government, have a friend who works in the media, while mentoring a student, as he learns a different skill that would help himself get ahead in life, etc. You will know so many people, that a good friendship might always be around the corner. There's this strange Mumbaikar spirit that brings its people close every time there is a festival, and also during times of crises. Connections not only make ones dreams achievable, but also give the dreams that people have, meaning. There would be days when one would meet people out of the blue, and also days when one would feel utterly lost midst the crowd. In Mumbai, you're free to make your own connections. It's okay to not make them too, and you won't be judged because of that. 

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So there you have it. Mumbai, with the hopes and desires of thousands of people that drive them towards their dreams; It's design, making sure that its urban ecology is in balance; And the deep connections that run across its existence like veins in the human body.