Top 10 Signs You're a Townie

I live in South Mumbai or town side as its more commonly known. People here are Different from the rest of Bombay. They're like a totally different species from the usual bunch you find in the other parts of the city. Live here for a while and you Become the city. A few signs to let you know you're turning into a Townie:

1) You actually think "Sophia" college is pronounced "So-fa-ya" and not "So-fee-ya"
2) You go to Cafe Royale and know every item on the menu with 6% alcohol or more
3) You Have a really nice car, but everyone's looking at the chick in the passenger seat with you
4) You have a really nice chick
5) You have an accent, even if you're 13 and have never been outside the country
6) You know all streets by their Anglicized names, and a Cabbie wouldn't know where to go if you used any other variant
7) as far as you're concerned, Mumbai City is what's south of VT station
8) Whenever you travel by a local train, you're in an empty compartment by the window seat, and people moving in the opposite direction are either squashed into a giant sardine can on wheels or are above the train dodging electrical cables
9) If you want to take a trip to the sea-side all you have to do is walk for a couple of minutes as opposed to planning an outing and driving there
10) You're biggest worry is which pub/disc/club to go to on a Saturday night

7/11

Two days ago, 7 serial blasts on local trains changed the city forever... Or did it? mumbai is back on its feet, with life going on, just as it should. I love this city, not because it recovers, but because it refuses to die, or to be passive. This is the city where people form human chains during the floods to prevent people falling through open manholes. This is the city where people set out with water, biscuits, and blankets for those stranded. That was during the floods, but the real spirit of this city was transparent two days ago. It takes the worst circumstances to bring out the best in these people. The people of the city did more rescue work and damage control than the cops or the ever-present (yea, right) railway protection forces.

And yet, in the news today there was an article indicating an informant revealing potential targets as local trains (mumbai mirror, cover page "i told you so") and C.S.T as one of the main locations. I was at C.S.T that day, and I remember seeing Rapid Action Forces assembled in one of their trucks (not sure if it was the RAF, but they had the blue-white-grey camo) and that got me thinking something was afoot... That was at 5.15 PM, well before any of the blasts. They got it wrong, of course, it was churchgate trains that were the intended target. The right intel, the wrong location. Will we never learn? does it take another attack for us to be vigilant on all fronts? I hope not. This city deserves better.