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Single in A Buzzing Metropolis! By - Arshiya Kapadia Born and brought up in Bombay, one of India’s most cosmopolitan and adventurous cities, the adrenaline started pumping in her veins at the early age. She has a Bachelors degree in English Literature from the city’s Mithibai College followed by a course in film and television production from the Xavier’s Institute of Communications. An all-rounded media professional with experience in television, media, production, and journalism Arshiya Kapadia brings wide-ranging knowledge and skills to service and execute serious projects. With her background in TV and journalism, she has developed rich expertise in creative arts and media productions in India. Writing is a passion for her and she has written several non-fiction shows for various Indian satellite channels. Her travels abroad have broadened her vision and exposed her to the work culture in countries like USA. She contributes as a freelancer for many publications and Internet portals.

Fun. Laughter. Thrills. Freedom. Excitement. Independence. These are the words generally associated with living alone in a buzzing metropolis like Mumbai. But how is it to actually spread your wings and survive in a mega city? Is it tough? Is it adventurous? Or is it lonely? Actress Mayoori Kango, who came to Mumbai nine years ago from Aurangabad, feels that initially it’s the culture shock, which hits you right in the face. “The small town mentality is very different from the big city attitude. While people in small towns are more open and welcoming, I found that people in Mumbai were initially wary and reticent to let people visit their house, share meals etc. I had to win their confidence for them to drop their defences.”

“Two years ago when I wanted to buy a small apartment in a Mumbai suburb, I faced a barrage of questions: Will you live alone? Are you single? Will your parents stay with you? While I was busy convincing the bank that I was extremely capable of paying the monthly instalments (EMI’s), I had to face the flak of a whole lot of other nosy parkers as well. Most people simply couldn’t understand why a woman would want to live alone! Answers like, ‘because I want my own space’, ‘it’s an achievement’, ‘it will be a wonderful experience’, were all met with strange glances. Obviously all the neighbourhood aunties thought I had gone loony! Eventually the thrill of buying my own apartment was worth all the sweat, blood and tension. I also noticed that after a couple of months, when the neighbours noticed what a boring, little, harmless thing I was, their curiosity died down and they learnt to trust me, just like I learnt to trust them.”

Smita Sharma, a 25-year-old marketing executive in a TV channel agrees, “There is no bigger high then making it on your own in a big city. Sometimes I hate coming back to an empty apartment, but I wouldn’t trade places for my life back in Chandigarh for anything in the world. The freedom to do your own thing and make your own little space in this melting pot are the two biggest incentives for so many women who flock here to pave their own path.”

Let’s face it; Mumbai is a city with a lot of buzz and a rocking pace, a city which let's you do your own thing and gives a lot of freedom, especially to women, which is great as no other Indian city offers that (not even Delhi!).

Mumbaites are more chilled out then any of their counterparts and don’t raise their eyebrows when they see people working late and in many ways it’s still one of the safest cities for travelling alone. There is a lot in terms of work opportunities, universities and studies. Also the city has a lot of entertainment, great restaurants -- world cuisine, multiplexes, an amazing theatre scene, buzzing nightclubs and what have you! I enjoy Mumbai, like a lot of other single women living here do and there's no other city in India where I would like to live. Of course I am partial to this city, since I’ve lived here all my life and earned my bread, butter and jam!

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