When Mohan first got to know that he had been selected in the college of his dreams, his joy knew no bounds. He was extremely excited to finally move from Pune to Mumbai where he had been accepted in the reputed JJ school of Arts. His plans to pursue B.Arch. and become a reputed architect had been brewing for the past two years. He had prepared extremely hard for the entrance exams and when the results came in, every effort seemed to be worth it.
While Mohan’s parents were equally excited about his victory, they were also slightly worried. He was the youngest of their three children, and both his brothers had lived and worked in Pune all their lives. Mohan’s father, Krishna Chand, had a hardware store where he earned a decent living along with his elder sons. When the news of Mohan’s selection had reached him, a pang of nervousness hit him.
He had never lived outside Pune in his life, and suddenly having his son go away to a massive city like Mumbai had taken him by worry. Mohan had spent the whole vacation explaining how important this college was to him, and so when he made it through, it was no question that he was going to move, despite the nervous glances the family passed onto each other.
And hence the packing started. The move was well planned, with all necessary items placed neatly in boxes that Mohan would take with himself. Everything from clothes and shoes, to towels and bedsheets, was set aside to go with him. If it was up to his mother, she would even pack the meals for the first few days of him being in Mumbai. However, Mohan’s father insisted that it is time they set their son free, and off he went in a sturdy passenger train that dropped him at Dadar on a sunny June afternoon.
The station greeted him with a warmth that was reflected in the excitement on his face. He carefully unloaded his luggage and booked a cab to the PG accommodation he had finalized for himself on the internet. The grin he landed on the station with was pasted on his face throughout the ride. Even the dilapidated building, which was far from the picture he had seen on the internet, could not wear his excitement off. He paid the cab driver with the see-off money his father had sent him with and picked up his bags to enter a soggy room on the ground floor. The landlord perfunctorily asked him if he needed anything, and left the room impolitely before Mohan could even open his mouth, shutting the door behind himself.
Reality rang on Mohan’s face. It hit him that he was now on his own, and he had to survive, no matter how unpleasant the circumstances were. So, he wiped off the sinking feeling and decided to get to work. How was the question though? He knew he had to start by cleaning the room and washroom, but there were no cleaning supplies. He thought about going to buy the supplies, but the lack of knowledge about the neighborhood limited him. And so, he did what anyone from his generation would do. He Googled. As the very first search result, LoveLocal flashed on his screen and the familiarity he seemed to have with it brought the smile back on his face.
He immediately saw through all the local vendors listed on the platform and was delighted to know that the app listed everyone from local grocery stores and supermarkets, to bakeries, medical, and even general stores across the city. He quickly selected the supplies he needed to scrub the dust and dampness off his room and placed an order. Pleasantly, a local store was offering a discount on some of the supplies, which helped him save some money on the overall order. He had the option of getting the supplies delivered to this new house, but he decided to pick up his order of household products from the store in an attempt to explore his neighborhood and grab a bite.
As he walked the street, following the map to the local retailer he had ordered from, it was as if LoveLocal was familiarizing him with the place, like an old friend in a new city. Ordering dessert on the app, from one of the bakeries listed on it, was the perfect end to his excursion. Not to mention that he needed the sugar for the giant cleaning gig that was awaiting him in his new home. He picked up the pastries from the bakery and walked back home.
Laziness was trying to get the better off him, but he knew he had to shrug it aside and get to work. Three hours later, a brand-new life greeted his room. He quickly put the lights on and made the group call that his family had been waiting for. The sight of Mohan cheered the family, and they got on with their dessert date with the pastries that Mohan had ordered, not just for himself, but also for his family back in Pune. They all celebrated the move Mohan had managed to make, delighted to know that he was growing up, after all.
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