So Many Men

​At the risk of sounding sexist, I have to speak to the disproportion of men to women here on the streets of Mumbai. As a woman, I noticed the challenge of making connections out on our stroll in search of Aram Vada Pav, a street food vendor, in Fort, near Colaba. 

Being “from away” only adds to the challenge as I desperately grab John’s hand whenever we need to cross the street. I fear for our lives with every attempt at crossing. 

The best practice has been to walk closely to a clearly confident person crossing over. If only a video could capture the fear in my eyes upon each cross. 

But also, being “from away” makes us a bit of a curiosity to others. I’m aware of being stared at. But I’m not sure why. When I do make visual contact with one of the occasional women I see, I feel an interesting sense of connection. I also feel an admiration at her courage to navigate this overwhelming city so independently. 

When we arrived at Aram Vada Pav, there was a huge crowd all ordering the delicious potato sandwiches. When I looked at the menu, it was completely written in Hindi. I had no idea how to order, or what to order or how to pay.

Finally, I asked the “one woman” in the crowd if she spoke English and, of course, she did. “Can you please help us order?” She proceeded to order, help us pay and give us perfect instructions on how to collect our treats. Without her, the experience would have been daunting. 

Cheers for the smart, brave and confident women of Mumbai!