Monday Mornings!

It's been six months in London and although time has flied past us, the way the city has encapsulated my everyday life is unexplainable. Thus, with the beginning of the second terms we were also getting accustomed to live, act and commute like Londoners, well the busyness of London coupled with the time-sensitiveness of Mumbai is a rather killer combination. 

The New term bought with it new modules, teams and even campuses. One of my elective- Interventions was happening every Monday and it was conducted by the School of Communication, based in our White City Campus, this meant that every Monday morning I would be taking my bike to Battersea and then the RCA shuttle to White City. Now so much action on a Monday morning seemed almost ambiguous, ergo what we didn't see coming was how adventures it was gonna get. 

With the blessings of the Surya Deevta, Mondays have always been Sunny, waking up, fluttering open the curtains to catch the first few rays of the Sun, as if we had woken up at the strike of dawn...(Nope, London has late sunrises compared to India during this period!) Fast-forward through our Morning rituals and breakfast, I step out of my Accom, and grab one of the forest bikes parked right across the road. Biking my usual road, the happy sunny mornings with a pinch of chilling winds ae my companions as I zoom down the Ebury bridge, stopping at the first signal. Every often I am reminded of the first time I had walked down these now familiar roads, relying completely on Google maps, the heart was nervous and excited for the first day of Uni and the mind awestruck by the visuals glimmering all around, who would have thought that anxious September morning that, this road would be one of our fondest memories of London, for one many reasons!!

The yellow light of the signal nudged the legs to pedal forth, four more signals to go, a road downhill and 7 everyday helloz and amidst all of this, the best part, was the morning Sun. My first hello was to the century old church overlooking this bridge, then to Linley in Belgravia, the place of my work, the next one Chelsea Hospital, fallowed by the National Army Museum, then the Chelsea Embankment and finally Albie, the Albert Bridge. Albie has been a vibe since day one, the bridge with its magnormous architecture adorned by cute pastel colours, this dramatic Albie is a constant companion, whether am busy, or chill, happy or concerned, lost or super aware. Walking or Biking across this bridge always grounds me like a humble friend who knows you in and out...

For Monday morning rides, Albie bestows the most serene views as the nascent sunrays greet the Thames with London Architecture glimmering a red subtle backdrop in the horizon. On bridge, the cars resonate with the tiny bumps, the pedestrians striding past the dog walkers and the joggers at the forefront of this march. Above in the blue sky, birds flying across, some emerging from the land other disappearing amidst the fluffy clouds. Under the bridge, the Thames was hosting a mix of floating residents docted at the shore, waving to the the Uber Boat as it cruised towards its destination. Another spectator to this scenary is the Battersea Park, kinda always mocking me for not going for a run over the weekends. Promising the woods, I shy my gaze away from the park towards my right, the final signal before our destination, the final leg of the ride, and indeed the most pristine one, biking through the Embankment here comes my sixth hello of the journey, to this huge boat anchored in solitude, on a small channel hidden away from the Thames performance. With this my eyes gaze at my watch, 8:53am, I take the final left, park my bike, amd end the ride.

With a woof I take my beanie off, Stand at my spot where there's no one between me and the sky, greet the Sun with joined hands, say my fav shloka as the sunrays turn my soul citrine, I close my eyes, feel the cold breeze electrifying the mind and body. With my final salutations to the Sun Lord, I remove my gloves and walk towards the shuttle it's 8:58am. Greeting the driver, I step inside the shuttle striking a quick "Mission Accomplished" smile, and ready to cherish the next 20 mins of this commute filled with planning, reflection, podcast or in today's case, writing this blog. After such an eventful morning, I find myself feeling extra active, joyous and quite productive throughout the day! 

Never have Monday mornings been better, beautiful and alive. 

Cheers to London Life and the Mumbai Soul!

Shaivi Kant

London, Feb 2024