Photographs and videos floating across social media have been offering visual evidence that makes for disbelieving footage for folks like us who are used to seeing quite the opposite. Truth is, an eerie-like calm seems to have taken over most of our public landmarks and tourist attractions, barring CSMT (formerly Victoria Terminus), where human life is slowly trickling in and out of the grand structure, purely on need-based requirements. Likewise, with frames of the city's other notable icon — Gateway of India. I find myself checking the dateline each time a deserted frame pops up on my timeline if it's a recent photo. Because, I, or for that matter, any Bombaywallah, has never seen the landmark and its vicinity, in such an abandoned avatar until now.

I was reminded of an episode from six months back. A friend wanted his US-bred nephew and niece [both were born here] to appreciate the sights and sounds of Fort and Colaba, and had requested me to accompany them. Despite it being a Sunday morning, an invite for a walk in SoBo is rarely refused. And so we were off, soaking in the peace and calm of the near-empty streets in and around both neighbourhoods, gazing at the gorgeous Victorian Gothic Bombay architecture and marvelling at the interiors of Holy Name Cathedral and St Thomas Cathedral. All seemed well and on song until we took a turn from one of the back alleys of Colaba to reach Apollo Bunder promenade. The crowds made us believe that a film shoot was underway. There was no shoot. This was just another Sunday at the Gateway of India.