Everyone at some point in time must have thought about living in different cities, exploring the facets of the city and just as you are doing that you find your inner self. Well, Sheta Moghe, a few years ago was just one of those students, but then it is a well-believed notion that when you believe in something strongly the whole of the universe helps you achieve that and Shweta Moghe did. In just a 5-year time span she came to Mumbai from Bhopal, left Mumbai for PG and lived in Bangalore for two years and for a short stint of time for the mandatory MBA internship she lived in Pune as well. So let’s live our dream through her story:
- So when did you finally know that you were doing Mumbai or did you realise Mumbai is happening and your reaction?
I got into three colleges. It was only later I found out that I Had gotten into Xaviers and S.Andrews. But the thing is I didn’t check the lists after getting into KJ Somaiya and securing admission there. That was my first encounter with Mumbai. My father always wanted that me to study in Mumbai because he believed apart from a great education, the city can make an individual independent in the truest sense. I was elated because a lot of my seniors from Bhopal had moved to Mumbai and after watching their Instagram stories of Mumbai monsoons, Marine Drive, and the pace of the city, I wanted to as well.
- What was your initial reaction when you first landed here?
Without lying, my first reaction was very strange. My dreams came crashing down in the city known as the city of dreams. I faced a paradox because it has everything available and figured that it was not a city where you will get everything but rather will have to earn everything you want. I did not like the humidity, traffic and overcrowded locals for the first three weeks.
- Mumbai always accepts people! people with talent, people who work hard and talented hardworking people! you always have been in the third category! When did you feel that Mumbai has accepted you?
Mumbai gave me a lot. In my +2 days, I had chosen the wrong subjects and I was regretting my life choices already. When I landed here I knew that I wanted to be a photographer. It was only after coming to Mumbai I realised that I was good at management and advertising and my command of language gave me an edge in copywriting. So initially I was living in Airoli with my extended family and after moving to the hostel I realised that college was more about than just academics. You can do internships, participate in sports, do events, go to different colleges for festivals, and organize one in yours and I was living felt out. After meeting the best people and being friends with them realised that even if I leave Mumbai, it would never leave me.
- You lived in the hostel during graduation. so how did that change your life, if it did?
It teaches you how to make the best of the situation – the way of life. While you’re living with your family you do not realise the value of many things which are being done behind the scenes or even in front of you but they just go unnoticed. After you’re living alone you realise a lot of things like the innate sense of timing so for instance, our hostel gate was closed at a certain the time and if you do not return by that time you will have nowhere to go. So you will learn responsibility, and you will have to plan. Initially, when a person moves to a new place or a new city, it is obvious that you may not know anyone. So it will push you out of your comfort zone and make you communicate with people. It leaves you with a deep longing realization and an intrinsic bonding where you’ll be there when the other person needs you and vice versa. And the best thing you would learn is how to manage your finances.
- Pandemic happened, and goodbyes didn’t! you had to rush back to Bhopal. How did you feel back then?
I was heartbroken. I felt as if I was in a pool of emotions but the waves were mostly of despair. After three years of living together, you develop an unbreakable bond and when you have to leave without a farewell it does not feel fair. I felt cheated. I won’t be able to say much without holding my tears back. (chuckles)
- Then you got into one of the good colleges in Bengaluru and you shifted there. How was Bangalore? Tell us something about the living culture of people and how is Bengalore different from Bombay?
I almost disliked Bangalore instantly. Maybe it was because it was a bit prejudiced towards Mumbai and compared these two cities, but the thing I liked about Mumbai was I could ask for help and people would gladly, treating as if it was their problem. In Bangalore, the people are a bit self-centred and this is just speculation but it is maybe because the standard of living is high people here are doing financially well so have egos attached to it and this stops them from making a connection and the people here are dry. Whereas in Mumbai you could be an owner of a huge company and still travel via local because it is convenient and saves you from two hours of traffic. But Bangalore is a much more relaxed city as well. Not knowing the language didn’t help as well.
- You were living in the hostel how was it different from your first experience of living in a hostel?
This was my second experience with the hostel. So I had a fair share of experiences living in the hostel. The thing that differed most is the Somaiya hostel was student-centric and my hostel in Bangalore was not. There were a lot of differences. The hostel of my college did not have many facilities that Somaiya had. The food was limited in the mess, cannot get enough food. There were a lot of unnecessary restrictions. Though expensive, the Airbnb I lived in was amazing. There are some good localities in Bangalore as these areas are cosmopolitan like Koramangala, and Indiranagar, you will find a lot of diversity here and living becomes a bit comfortable as communication becomes comfortable
- One city you’d want to spend your life in?
Mumbai, of course.