A Hard Day's Night

Mumbai, a city that actually never sleeps. It is constantly humming with the hectic economic activity that goes on almost without let up, everyone is earning a living. Every inch of the pavement is a market, suburban trains, big shops and small shops, houses in tiny lanes, people working all day and then again all night; all this and more constitute the hive that is Mumbai. Despite the swirling activity, people are kind, considerate and allowing,  they have time for you. In this maelstrom, there are tiny eddies of calm and solitude and privacy. in a three night photography workshop I gained a tiny peep into a small part of the hard lives of these lovely people.  
 The Beatles immortalise this in their eponymous song which says it all.

"It's been a hard day's night, and I'd been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log"

Lady Selling Fish
Mumbai is a city of commerce, big business houses and street retail, all busily humming to earn a living. Here at Chapel Street in Bandra a lady sells freshly caught fish to what appear to be regular customers.  Her wares are sold in less than an hour.

Yes Young Ladies how can I help you?
These young girls find safety in numbers I guess, late night in Bandra Market street, they are the customers in a multi-specialty shop.

Counting his money
It has been a good day possibly, or is he wondering if he has enough to pay impending bills, buy more fruit for the morrow? The busy street is bustling late into the night.

Waiting for a customer?
With a variety of vegetables on sale, this man tends his stall waiting for the next customer. sometimes business is fast and furious and sometimes slow.  He looks tired or is that worry?  It's obviously been a long day.

Social meet as well?
It may be business, but these ladies on a late night shopping spree, gather around the fruit seller to exchange light hearted gossip. 

Preparing for the morrow
A lady selling flowers in Worli Village, prepares for the next day, it is in the build up to and days preceding festivals, Ganpati in this case, that she has the most business. 

Desi Soup anybody?
Sticking posters and preparing hoardings for the start of the Ganpati festival, this expert has a bespoke gum bottle that he can hold in his teeth. The night preceding the start of the ten days of Ganpati is very busy

Late night shopper returns
Many people, like this lady, do their essential daily shopping after a hard day at work.  Her house is amid tiny lanes, often only accessible on foot. Proximity living also fosters greater friendships and I saw many people of an area, sitting out and chatting late into the night.

Catching the late night air
This elderly couple, very graciously allowed me to photograph them. They were sitting in companionable silence by the sidewalk in a tiny and crowded street.  It was possibly cooler here than in their house.

Hope and despair?
Seafarers and fishermen are amongst the most religious and superstitious people mainly due to vagaries of the sea on which their livelihood depends. here next to a Crucifix in Worli Village ladies and girls sit late at night, dreaming of what is to be, or just catching a cool breeze before bed?

Bustling City
early morning, by the first train into town, traders ferry their wares in.  It is a long ride and some of them catch up on sleep before reaching their destination. It is crowded and hectic and seldom are the trains empty.

Solitude
Notwithstanding the "standing room only" pace of the city, this couple finds an oasis of calm and privacy by the ocean wall.