For years, I’ve written in restaurants. People-watching helps me build characters. Fragments of dialogue helps my prose. My usual hangouts are spaces I frequented as a teenager. Dingy little eateries nestled in Gwalior Tank and Tardeo, usually attracting multi-communities owing to their convenient centralised locations. Now they are a tad more up-market with the addition of fish tanks and family rooms. Back in the ’80s, these restaurants were microcosms of the various communities co-existing in harmony.

Seated at separate tables, but breaking bread together. And then in December 1992, Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi happened. Our two largest religions went at each other, hammer and tridents. I’m going to take it a step further, dear reader.

Illustration/Amit Bandre

I think a larger Pandora's box has been prised open. Where differences between all communities that were once celebrated are now condemned. I think tolerance lies in tatters, cosmopolitanism is a charade. So while we may still accept each other, and grenades may not be flung under doors, Bombay’s live and let live attitude is outdated.