I've lived in the same family house in Juhu all my life, until I moved into my now-wife, then-girlfriend Tara*’s home in Versova five years ago. Since, Tara* and I have moved from thathouse in Yari Road, to Khar for three years, and are now, back to Juhu, in an apartment twominutes from my parents’ home. It’s a veritable homecoming.

Wherever we’ve stayed, our bohemian urban-hippie lives have always been between Bandra andYari Road. At first, work took Tara* to VT and me to Lower Parel, but now, as freelancers—sheas a writer and art director/interior stylist, me as a photographer—we have little reason to leaveour beloved suburbs.

There’s a buzz about Yari Road that’s inescapable. Perhaps, because most people there work theunpredictable hours of film, it is up all night, and groceries and home-delivery foods are availablelater than elsewhere in the city. And, boy, there’s the eye candy, with wannabe actors and modelsspilling out of gyms, at coffee shops, everywhere you look. Just throw a stone, you’ll hit one.

Bandra, next door to our Khar Danda home, is the hip young star everyone wants to know.

It’s vibrant, with new restaurants and clubs opening every day. It’s full of character, with themeandering, graffitied lanes of Bazaar Road. Our dogs have had hours of joy at the doggie parkand on Carter Road. We still end up there on many Saturday nights, hopping from one houseparty to the next. Life has come full circle ever since we moved back to Juhu and it has affordedus the best of many worlds. The food scene’s great, and caters to a whole variety of budgets.

It’s less crowded than other western suburbs and the gaothan adds character and makes it lessdauntingly upmarket. There’s the embracing culture of Prithvi and its iconic cafe; and the JuhuGymkhana, where we swim and play badminton as often as possible.

Our open home (‘Sahil and Tara’s Animal Kingdom’ on Facebook) is constantly full of love andlaughter of friends, creatives with similar lifestyles who live in these suburbs. The last of thedrunken revellers at our frequent parties often encounter the Hare Krishnas, singing bhajans tothe beach at dawn, and my father or grandfather walking their dog!

The best part about Juhu is, undoubtedly, the proximity to the beach. Our four dogs love thestretch from Silver Beach, past Chowpatty, to Juhu Koliwada, as do we. On every day other thanSunday, one can walk down Juhu’s sun dappled tree-lined lanes to this (relatively clean) space,where chaos meets calm, humanity meets the kiss of the sea. Walk, or find a spot, bask in thegolden light, take in a deep breath of the ocean air and close your eyes. You could well be on aflight of fantasy to Goa.

As told to Khubi Ali