She returned from her little dream to prod about her friend's off-colour demeanour. The still breeze from the Arabian Sea seemed to have helped Sir PM. He smiled a bit as they watched two sleepy mynas nearly fall off a tree while they had taken a pit stop near Lion Gate. "If you insist, Lady Flora. Well, you see, I was visiting relatives at Worli and Parel, and my faithful taxiwallah took the Elphinstone Road Bridge after I guided him to do so - "Elphinstone se lena," it came so naturally to me. But I was stunned as I glanced at the station office. The familiar nameplate was gone, and in its place…" Before her friend could complete the sentence, Lady Flora interrupted, "My dear Pheroze, it does seem that you've been living under a rock. It's been ages since that station has been renamed Prabhadevi."

He gazed back at her in shock; it was a crescent moonlit night but she could swear that Sir PM had lost some colour from his face. He did miss the news while he was visiting relatives in Dahanu in early July.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.84%

AAP 41.79%

INC 25.37%

Submit

View All In Poll

"But Lady, that's not all. I hear there is more such news coming our way. Bombay Central will be renamed after Nana Shankarseth. But at least he was a great visionary and a pioneering mind with regard to the Indian Railways in its early days. It's getting very difficult to keep track of these names, you see," he mourned. "Bombay is changing too fast…"

By now, Lady Flora seemed a bit miffed as well, and asked her friend, "My question is simple - What good will these name changes bring to our harried Bombaywallahs? Haven't they had enough of it, and instead, don't they deserve better railway facilities like cleaner compartments and stations, safer and wider bridges and better approaches to platforms?" Sir PM nodded in agreement.

The two halted outside St Thomas Cathedral to spend a few moments in silent prayer - Lady Flora reminded her friend that it was the first anniversary of the Elphinstone Road station stampede, where innocent lives were lost last year.

"They've changed the name of that station; let's hope that it doesn't erase the horrific tragedy that could have been averted," sighed Sir PM, "There is a reason why we call it 'the city's lifeline.' Bombay's railways ought to get back on track."  The pun was entirely intentional here, we believe.

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates