People often feel that the best time to visit my city is in December when the weather is cooler. That may be for all the snowbirds who want to sun themselves in hotter climes but for everyone who couldn’t care less about the temperature, I’d say May is the best time to be here. While the rest of the country except for the hill stations , is sweltering in mind boggling temperatures , Mumbai is less hot. Although it is muggy and sultry, it is nothing a cold shower can’t fix. Because this is truly the best time to be here – the roads are almost empty, the shops are almost empty in fact the whole city is almost empty. It seems as though a cool breeze has blown everything out of its way, leaving the city clean and empty.

With all the schools closed  most families have abandoned the daily drudge to enjoy tailormade holidays outside Mumbai. Those with country homes go to the country, those with relatives whom they are still talking  with go to visit them and others simply go out of town to broaden their horizons, chill out in  resorts, spas or simply just go”abroad” . Whatever it is, I’m not complaining. I love the empty streets without traffic snarls and school buses lumbering slowly up hilly roads. I love empty swimming pools and empty shops and even empty cinema halls without screaming kids.With hardly any customers coming their way, shop keepers are more than eager to help so even a humdrum experience like shopping is not a chore that leaves you frazzled and tearing your hair as you try to get a word in while the shop keeper is multi talking to different customers at the same time. So,

I love Mumbai in the summer
I love Mumbai in the rain
I love Mumbai any time of the year
Even when the kids come back again!

But Mumbai in May
Is the best any day
With mangoes and ice creams
And walks by the sea

My May magic Mumbai
Is hours by the pool
Coconut water
And days off from school

It’s hot and it’s dusty
It’s muggy and still
But it’s illogically magical
Delightfully whimsical
My May magic Mumbai
Calm , peaceful, tranquil.