Journey

Textual content by Shirin Mehta. Pictures and captions by Milonee Madiyar.

“A poor life this if, stuffed with care,

We now have no time to face and stare.”

–Leisure by William Henry Davies

“Bandra has one thing for everybody,” says Milonee Madiyar, supervisor at Veronica’s, Mumbai’s in-demand sandwich store and cafe positioned within the suburb — and a current mannequin in Verve’s vogue editorial. “Individuals flock to this space to seize a chunk on the eateries that dot the quite a few bustling lanes. Many children now reside right here amongst their new-found group of freelance creatives. Previous-time residents have seen this small village gentrify and alter lots over the previous few many years.”

Desirous to transcend the crowds that typify this space, even when only for moments, Madiyar trains her lens on the suburb’s quieter facet, discovering flashes of solitude in an area largely identified for its energetic hustle. “It’s been a journey to expertise ‘gradual’ mornings in Bandra, which isn’t the obvious adjective that involves thoughts whenever you consider the suburb,” she stresses. The concept of observing the “on a regular basis, seemingly mundane occurrences” is what she finds enthralling. “You’ll step out and you will notice neighbours popping their heads out of their home windows to see what the neighbourhood ruckus is about, or a cheeky cat hopping from roof to roof….”

Right here’s Bandra by Madiyar’s lens of solitude…

Shadow Play
“Individuals don’t have time to face and stare. But when we cease and go searching, we are going to see issues that in any other case would’ve been missed — just like the solar creating shadows. After which, for a quick second, we might get pleasure from some childlike enjoyable.”

Puckering Up
“One of the best a part of working in a restaurant is to have the ability to have contemporary espresso as and when desired. The sound of the espresso machine and having the ability to see the brew being made first-hand — from bean to cup — is a superb expertise.”

By The Meter
“For individuals residing on this a part of the town, that is what their every day commute appears like. Right here, we witness a second of silence earlier than the neighbourhood autowala will get able to swoosh by the maze of the suburbs.”

At Break Of Day
“An early-morning smile could be very contagious. Some individuals get up sooner than most to get small chores completed — like washing automobiles —and get issues able to sparkle for the day.”

It’s A Signal
“Veronica’s is known as after the road that the cafe is positioned on. Each time we open the cafe door and see the signpost, we smile.”

Aware Supply
“How tough it should be to at all times run towards the clock and cope with the town’s incessant site visitors…all in an effort to ship happiness.”

Go Native
“Recent veggies, proper across the nook. The expertise of venturing out to purchase your greens has normally grow to be a rarity because of hyperlocal apps providing dwelling supply. The odor of contemporary greens is a straightforward pleasure.”

Neighbourhood Watch
“Surveillance carried out by honest gents, stress-free cross-legged, fuelled by a well-earned cup of chai.”

Solar Dried
“A pleasant sunny day. Nice for hanging issues out to dry. A easy mundane process that every one of us do, nevertheless it appears so totally different relying on the place and the way we reside. Right here’s a fast peek at a neighbour utilising his area creatively.”

At Play
“The happiness of biking across the bylanes of Ranwar village in Bandra by no means will get outdated — the wind in your hair and the solar in your face. This straightforward pleasure captures the carefree spirit of childhood. Watching youngsters zip round these slim streets, with the infectious pleasure radiating off them, reminds us to savour life’s little moments of pure, unbridled enjoyable.”

Sleeping Vehicles
“Some well-maintained automotives. The covers don’t let the mud settle. It’s a typical observe — maybe quintessentially Indian — that we’ve got seen unchanged throughout time.”

Inquisitive Neighbour
“Ranwar village, located on a busy avenue that has seen many adjustments over time, is stuffed with outdated houses and locals, a lot of whom are shocked by the best way the setting has altered.”

Time Out
“Don’t all of us sulk when our playtime is minimize quick? Some issues by no means change. And the easy joys of childhood that make us lose monitor of time stay common throughout generations. This scene captures a quintessential second of a kid reluctantly pausing whereas having enjoyable — the emotion little question resonates with any grownup who recollects the carefree days of youth.”