Two friends – Bombaywallah and Mumbaikar – discuss the sudden spate of miracles in Maximum City.

Mumbaikar: Our neighborhood is in news once more and not because of Shiv Sena, for once! Thousands of people have visited Dadar and Mahim beaches on Friday night and Saturday to drink sea water that has turned sweet!

Bombaywallah: Yeah, I heard. I was driving back to Worli from Bandra on Friday night, and saw hundreds of people on the street at four in the morning! For a moment, I thought that it was Id!

Mumbaikar: They must be visiting the the Durgah of Makdoom Ali Mahimi, at Mahim beach. They say that the sweet water is due to the blessings of the 13th century Sufi saint and can cure illnesses.

Bombaywallah: Blessings, indeed! There’s more water in Mithi river in the monsoons, so more fresh water flows into the creek, diluting the sea water during low tide and making it less saline. Elementary, my friend!

Mumbaikar: Actually, such dilution happens all along the Western coast during the southwest monsoon. In fact, people have also reported sweet tasting sea water at Teethal beach in Valsad district of south Gujarat.

Bombaywallah: It must be that or the pollution! I’m told that coastal sea water in Mumbai is lethally toxic; must be, with all that sewage floating around!

Mumbaikar: Yes, health officials in Mumbai have put the city on a high alert for water-borne diseases, after thousands of people drank the water, filled it in their bottles for family and friends, and even bathed in it!

Bombaywallah: And, have you heard the latest? Thousands of people on Sunday night thronged temples across the country to watch deities of Goddess Durga and God Shiva ‘drink’ the milk offered by devotees. In 1995, it was Ganesha, wasn’t it? Since they couldn’t come out with a new miracle, they decided to change the deities instead!

Mumbaikar: It’s quite a tamasha, really! Almost like a “who’s miracle is bigger contest”! If your God can turn seawater sweet, our God can drink milk!

Bombaywallah: Next, we will have Jesus statues walking on water!

Overheard outside the Mahim police station.

Read the other entries in the series here: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5).