The divine oyster in the heart of Mumbai

The last strain of the orange-yellow sun was gradually waning from Mumbai's glazed skyline, while teeming crowds were negotiating a busy traffic on a muggy May evening. Bright street lights permeated the bustling milieu -- for the rest of the evening they will show the way, to a city that quite-literally never sleeps. There is urgency; a rush everywhere i look, and a noise that is deafening almost. The cacophony of sounds wheeling in my head, i looked at the white structure at a distance, poised elegantly against the roaring sea waves, Zen-like in its appeal. In an instant my mind achieved a quietude that i was so long striving for. Simple, yet mesmerizing it charmed my senses -- the crowds, the sounds, and the clutter were now a thing of the past.
I walked on with my sights laid on the minaret of the Haji Ali Dargah -- the white edifice, like a divine oyster, seemed to say, "come hither, for here is peace". Beggars on the pavement called out for alms and a sprightly middle-aged lady egged visitors to purchase the sweet-scented white and orange flowers laid plainly on her outstreched hands. Dusk had set in by now and hundreds were quietly making their way into the holy shrine. As i neared the steps, the rustic strains of Qwawalli reached my ears -- the words incoherent to my untrained ears, yet its appeal (to the Lord) so profound and gripping.
Having offered my obeisance, i looked around; admiring this antiquated Islamic edifice - its serene marble courtyard, the intricately laid pillars and minarets, and the enticing mirror work...and with that time just flew by. Night, having now engulfed the sea, the occasional roars reminded us of its stark presence every now and then; i walked back to the clutter of Mumbai once again -- yet this time with a serenity of mind and spirit...i felt replenished!