C U 2MROW @ 9 (October 26, 2016)

“Comfort hotel ka kya charge lagega?” He asked an auto driver who was gazing Mannu from a long time.

“Comfort hotel?” the driver questioned and Mannu nodded in reply.

The driver turned the meter down which was a sign that he was ready to go. After seating himself Mannu wondered which Comfort Hotel was the driver taking him? There may be hundreds of comfort hotel in Mumbai.

“Kis side hai hotel bhaiya?” Mannu questioned. There was no reply from the driver. He braced up the speed and soon Mannu saw a sign board reading Comfort Hotel. The meter showed thirty eight rupees, but Mannu ended up paying forty. After a long search Pia had found the hotel fulfilling the main concern of cost and proximity. She lived somewhere near it. The area around had a loud marketplace. Shopkeepers were busy opening up shops, setting the items for display and talking in fancy about the expected sale for the day. From confectionary to stationary the area had all sorts of shops linearly outlining the street. Queues of auto rickshaws were lined up. Girls, styled up in dresses less seen in Jaipur and even Lucknow, boarded them without even enquiring about the destination and fare. Mannu learnt a quick lesson that he had to be smarter here.

The hotel rooms were at first and second floor the sign board read. As Mannu crawled up  it felt the roof was tumbling down to stop him. His young mind had started anticipating the nature of Mumbai. It was one thing from out and the other from within. The inside of the hotel was in stark contrast to the name and banner that flung on the outside. As he moved up to reach the reception another contradiction was visible. He had never thought that a staircase like that would take him to a hotel with plush sofas, cameras and TVs.

The receptionist knew Hindi, but that was not enough to fetch any sort of concession.  There was no use checking the condition of the room and the facilities. Straight away Mannu paid six hundred rupees for an hour’s stay. The receptionist himself accompanied him to the room. A staff was called upon to put water and bathroom necessities. It was well ventilated with windows, which had sliding doors. A stool with a broken leg resided next. The wind and water had softened the wood. The receptionist left the room without informing. Mannu kept the bag on the bed and hurried straight to the bathroom. He bathed buckets to wash away the nervousness and every speck of dust. He had to look the best he had ever looked. The mobile phone kept on ringing with messages and calls. It took him forty-five minutes to dress up. There were several messages and calls. Mannu searched for Pia’s name. She had called twice.