What bliss! I’m already settled into my new home, after just one week. I can’t believe how different I feel compared to where I was living previously. There are no knocks on the doors from curious neighbours asking what I’m doing or what I’m cooking for dinner. I feel comfortable walking around the neighbourhood, and no one pays any attention to me. I even sit downstairs in my maxi nightie and read the papers in the morning. No one is interested.
One of our closest friends (who my husband is working with) lives opposite, and we often eat together and play monopoly in the evenings. This afternoon, I’m going shopping with my neighbour to help him select baby items for his new nephew. I used to sit at my desk and work all day and night in our old apartment. Now, I find it difficult to discipline myself to do even a couple of hours work at a time! My life is so vastly different. I can’t imagine feeling lonely and out of place here.
My husband did a surprisingly good job of decorating in my absence. He bought new curtains, new blanket (for the Mumbai winter), table cloth, and even a candle holder. He got the internet and gas installed (we’re back to having those infamous red cylinders!). He also got the bamboo blinds hung downstairs, and found places for all my knickknacks. I had little to do, apart from organise the cupboards.
Here are some photos from around the house (and you can see the name plate that I made in the photo above). It’s such an uplifting and peaceful place to live. Some of my husband’s colleagues who visited said it reminded them of Goa!
Downstairs area with bamboo blinds.
My favourite view in the morning while reading the paper.
Entrance to upstairs.
Living room.
New wooden dining table from Rajasthan.
Kitchen.
Bedroom.
Terrace, which we'll make into a chill out area.
Next: some pictures of the neighbourhood.
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Wow Sharell!Dats sucha pretty house!Congratulations 2 u & ur hubby!Must say,ur hubby has done a really nice job of decorating it up.Next tym I cum 2 Bombay,I’m surely droppin by 2 hav a cup of tea in ur sittin area-ah,sheer bliss!
@Sharell
Dat nameplate goes perfectly wid ur house!I also liked da one where ur & ur hubby’s names r written.
@Indian American,Ramit,Abdullah
(Sorry Ramit,cudnt get a better expression,though)
ROFL!!!
Suhani, I am thinking of naming my empty family house India as Ghost House cause there’s nobody living there. And when I go there for a visit, I’ll change the name to Guest House.
Hey, those are the prettiest & the most comfortable houses to live in…. From the pictures I guess its Powai Park where your house or rather row house is…. I used to live there in one of the row houses, till last year… i still miss my days in that house…. Have never found a place as good as those ones…. Hiranandani Powai is the bestest place you can live in mumbai after ofcourse South Bombay & parts of Bandra…. Have fun girl
hey that’s the finest place to live in in Mumbai…. I used to love my house in Powai Park, I guess you are also in one of the row-houses there… That house was absolutely perfect & rocking, the only times I miss Mumbai are the days spent in that house… Those houses are the best places to live, have never been able to find a house which would even stand close to the perfectness of these in addition to the facilities of Hiranandani… Aaah, upload some more pictures of the Neighbourhood if you can.
I looooove your place, especially the downstairs area – just looks so peaceful and beautiful! In fact, I like your house a lot more than I like mine
It looks like one of the ‘artist compound’ villas I stayed in in Bali – and have wanted a house similar ever since. So nice to see you have a place and neighbourhood where can be really comfortable and happy! And of course having a fellow Australian there is fab…I know even travelling there are sometimes when I haven’t heard one for a long time and I just want to hug the owner of the first Australian accent I come across.
Wow, I just saw the 20,000 rupees a month! My friend who saw the pics was insistent that your rent would be minimum 40,000 and more likely 50,000 per month, based on its utter fabulousness.
Wow, I just saw the 20,000 rupees a month! My friend who saw the pics was insistent that your rent would be minimum 40,000 and more likely 50,000 per month, based on its utter fabulousness.
So true, 20k is dirt cheap for such an amazing place that too in a city like Bombay.
These bungalows are cheaper to rent than you’d think!
Our friend is paying 30,000 rupees per month for his, and it’s got three bedrooms, three bathrooms, two servants quarters, terrace, and huge living area downstairs with kitchen (the ground floor of his bungalow has been enclosed, whereas ours is open).
The costly places to rent in Hiranandani Gardens are the apartments.
Evil Cathy, I’ve seen pics of your house. It’s very spacious and attractive.
But I know what you mean about my home looking arty. I always feel most comfortable in places like that. I love houses with character.
Arsh, that’s amazing that you used to live in a row house in Powai Park too (yes, it is Powai Park)! What number did you live in? I seriously never want to move from here. It’s too good.
Have you left Mumbai?
Suhani, you’re most welcome to drop by.
Rs. 20,000 a month for a house like that looks a steal. Either Mumbai is not as expensive as I thought or Sharell got a very good deal. Probably the latter.
Or maybe my outstanding photography skills and our attractive home furnishings make it look better than what it is!
The asking price was 20,000 and the owners weren’t prepared to drop it any, so I guess we paid the going rate?
20 years ago a house like that in the middle of the city would’ve cost around 10,000 monthly.
Hey this is kinda spooky, I run a powai website http://www.powai.info, so search for anything on powai.
Saw the pics and discovered you are my neighbour (bungalow no.2), My name is Manoj Nayak, hubby and you are welcome to say neighbourly hi! would be good to meet a co-blogger.
Cheers
Manoj, I agree, I can’t believe you live right next door. As you’ve probably figured out, we’re in number 3!!!
India is so big yet so small! It would be great to meet you. What time/s are convenient? By the way, its a fantastic website you’ve got there. I’m looking forward to exploring it. So happy that you’ve gotten in touch with me. 
Sharell,
Im really not sure where 3 is, and I have been here for 10 years! these row houses are confusing.
Give me a call on 9892334681 and drop by, I usually work nights, get up late.
the powai website lacks content, so if you have any reviews,views which can be republished there. let me know.
Cheers
Hey Sharell,
I used to live in No. 12 A. It was the second bunglow in the first row…. I have shifted to Delhi, for the love of open spaces, but only to miss the open minds.. sigh…
There are soooo many things to do in Powai, trust me you would enjoy each moment that you live there…
Hehehehe…you will have the whole neighbourhood drop by here virtually, Sharell..
You guys can have a virtual blogging Thursday party. 
Manoj, I’ll definitely give you a call soon, just as soon as I finish catching up on my work. I also tend to work late and get up late!
I know what you mean about the numbers being confusing. I’ll be on a mission to find three now, as well as Arsh’s old home at 12A.
Hi Sharell,
Love your blog. Now that’s a beautiful place you got!
Did I catch you saying “Winter” and “Mumbai” in the same sentence?
Thanks so much Arvind!
Ah yes, winter in Mumbai…. just a technical term! 
I met my neighbour Manoj the other night. He found me staring into the drain in front of my house, after I thought I saw a rat run into it. It wasn’t the kind of first time meeting I had in mind, but good anyway!
I’ve been MIA recently – long visit from the parents – and can’t seem to find my groove right now.
Just had to say that your place is gorgeous – love the space, the light, the location!! Congrats to coming home to such a fantastic space… it really does help to love where you live.
Hi Jill, I have been missing your blog posts. You usually have so much groove it makes me envious, so you really must be feeling out of routine.
I hope you get your groove back soon! I’ve been back in India a couple of weeks now, and am STILL trying to find some kind of productive routine. Thanks so much for the compliments about our house. I’m really content here, a lot more relaxed and sociable. 
I hope Manoj doesn’t think you like drains now.
Oh by the way, and this is a Cathy like question, why would you staring after a rat anyways?
I hope he doesn’t think I like rats, either!
I was looking because I wanted to see where it went, didn’t want it hanging around my house!! 
Your home is simply fabulous and I love the downstairs area… it sure is awesome and i m so so happy for you that you finally got your space and are happy
It looks and sounds very peaceful and spacious.
What does the sign means? (The one you hanged at the entrance).
Is the downstairs area typical? Is it considered an “indoor” room or more like a patio?
Cecy, Maharana is a Rajput term for “High King” or “Great King”.
That is a very nice house. I like how clean and tidy it is, its also very down to earth…
Cecy, ‘Maharana’ is Sharell’s new last name (her husband’s last name).
Nik,
Rajput kings referred to themselves as ‘Maharana’. A more precise term is ‘Maharaja’ (great king or an emperor), meaning ‘Maha’- great and ‘Raja’ – king. However, the meaning of ‘rana’ is often used and confused differently!! In Persian, the term ‘rana’ or ‘ran’ means ’shooter’. In Sanskrit, ‘rana’ or ‘ran’ has so many meanings – one is ‘desert’. Another is – ‘battle’ and ‘battle-field’ (rana-bhoomy). The term may also have been derived from ‘Aranya’ meaning ‘wild’. The ‘rana’ can also be a ‘Prakrit’ term, often used in ‘Sanskrit’ or viceversa. Sharell is right, India is very complex!!
Thanks for the explanation Nik and Amit.
The downstairs area isn’t very typical I don’t think. Most of the neighbours have enclosed theirs to get more indoor space. Ours is more like a patio.
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