SundayDarshan

Mumbai is like a motion picture playing in front of you.
The characters are constantly changing, flitting in and out, and quite a few of them manage to have a profound effect of you.
The day is Sunday. Shri Amitabh Bachchan Ji Sir makes an appearance every Sunday evening at his suburban Juhu residence Jalsa, since 1982 nonstop.
Why?

To wave to the hundreds of crazed fans, who crowd outside his house just to have a glimpse of their favourite superstar.. Legend on The Planet.
Thousands had the darshan on their wishlist.
It is supposed to begin at around 6 and would last for about one minute. I reached Juhu around 4:30 PM
Thereafter, I proceed optimistically to the BigB’s house.
A humungous crowd had gathered outside his house. The young and the old, men and women, everyone seemed to be evenly represented in that crowd.

Everybody’s face was tensed with anticipation and eyes were fixed steadfastly on the gate.
One gentleman was carrying a bouquet of flowers with him, another had a large poster of the angry young man.
People were furiously clicking pictures with their mobile phones. Even the photos of BigB’s residence seemed worthy enough to be preserved.
The security guards manning the gates, couldn’t mask the feeling of self importance that was rippling inside them. Every few minutes or so, when the crowd would become quite thick at the entrance, they would charge towards the crowd and order it to move back.
The gates of the bungalow were also being opened at regular intervals. Each time, this would happen, there would be a collective hush in the crowd and people would stand on tiptoe, expecting Amitabh Bachchan Ji Sir to step out any moment. However, each time they were disappointed as it was usually a member of the security staff, going in or coming out.
Two enterprising young men, had climbed atop the slightly raised wall on the right hand side of the gate. One of them was a photojournalist, since he had a DSLR in his hand and was sincerely capturing the varying moods of the crowd.
A few people had noticed him and were putting on their best smiles while facing the camera.The chance of making it to the page3 of a tabloid was enticing enough to strike a pose.

The same activity had been continuing for the past twenty minutes.
People, who had till now been oblivious of the abundant sweat all around and loads of vehicular pollution began to voice their discomforts vocally.
After all,how many times do you get a chance to view a celebrity cum God from so close.
I went back to wait for Big B’s arrival. This time I took up a different position though.
The busy road that ran parallel to Big B’s house was crawling with vehicles. People were staring in bewilderment at the crowd that had gathered adjacent to the road. Some gave a look of approval while some shook their heads at the stupidity of the crowd, when it dawned on them that they were crossing the house of one of India’s biggest superstars.
I took a position near main gate. It was already swarming with people and it took me quite a while to find a spot where I could squeeze myself. The advantage of standing here in front of main gate, gave me a clear view of the front and people standing in a relatively more stable manner.

I took out my cellphone and shot some valuable pictures capturing the infectious enthusiasm of the place.
The gates opened once more. There was a collective hush in the crowd.
Unlike the previous occasions, this times the gates weren’t shut as soon as they opened. They kept on opening wider and wider, until at last we all got to see the sight that our eyes were waiting to feast open.
Dressed in a white kurta pajama and a shawl covering his shoulders, stood Big B, looking calm and poised. Slowly, but authoritatively, he climbed up a podium which ensured that the audience would get a clear view of him. Then, he began waving energetically to the crowd that was ready to fall at his feet.
The crowd roared back in approval. A hundred hands went up at once. People had travelled from distant lands just for this moment.They were jostling with each other to get an unobstructed view. Everybody was taking pictures. Entire Atmosphere was full of Bachchanism… Bachchan.. Bachchan.. Chanting.. It was Electrifying moment.. Rag Rag Main #Bachchanism. Proof would be necessary when stories relating to this extraordinary day would be shared.
Big B was not done yet. He had a special treat in store for all his fans.
Amitabh Bachchan Ji soon folded up his hands in Namaste with his face showing immense gratitude. Humility had always been his forte.
I raised my voice and asked AB Sir how’s your back pain, he replied it’s fine. That was great moment for me.
With one final wave of his hand to the crowd, he signalled to the security guards to close the gates.
Slowly, AB Sir stepped down the podium. The security guards once again pushed the crowd back and the gates were closed as swiftly as they had been opened.
Everybody’s face wore a look of satisfaction. They had an experience which they would share with their entire neighbourhood.
I too, had a story to tell.

Smiling to ourselves, I turned around and began my journey towards my home. (My Experience on 28th Feb 2016)

~ प्रशांत महासागर

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