Being on the same 'weave'length

two indians abroad

two IDIOTS indians abroad

Delhi - " Tauba tera jalwa...Tauba tera pyar "

as a child, i was always fascinated by this gargantuan city named Delhi...may be coz i belong to and live in a much smaller city. smaller than the mammoth in every possible way. i agree, that over the years Pune's popularity has increased for various reasons (good & bad) and businesses (the fastest growing being Education), but believe me in the 80s, Pune was just another modest city on the map of India.

every time i'd step out of the train onto the Delhi railway station (note to readers: in the 80s air travel was only for the classes...the masses travelled by train. thanks to the friendly railway ministry and the LTA policy which allowed the masses to experience a wee-bit of luxury- the AC compartment) i'd look around with amazement at the sheer size of things and the hordes of people who would be moving around all engrossed in their own world. i'd wonder what it felt to live in a big city (that too such an imp one)...why Delhiwalas love Delhi so much despite the many negatives...

my visits to Delhi were transactional in nature back then. mostly a stopover on my way to or back from Doon. the short visits never gave me the opportunity to explore the city and connect to its core.this scene went on for years...all through my school and college days. the scene changed a wee bit when i started working. official visits gave me a few chances to explore this city of Djinns. yet every time while leaving the city i'd make a wish...a wish that my next visit be different...more fulfilling.

last year, i visited Delhi several times - mostly personal trips. these trips gave me the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and bump into some new...celebrate the forging of new relations and dust the rust off old links...travel within and around the city...explore the city( sometimes alone..sometimes with known people) interact with locals...visit interesting places...the list is endless :)

the time I spent with friends, family and strangers left me with loads of memories and a bucket full of thoughts. thats when I realised I was over my infatuation and was developing a liking for the city.

Its 2013 and my visits to Delhi continue...this time too i found more reasons to like the city(of course there were a few additions to my list of dislikes too...but so far the likes tally is more ). 

this evening as i landed in Pune...mixed feeling syndrome was back (MFS)...i was excited about being home but at the same time sad about not being someplace else...and thats when it struck me...OH MY GOD! i was missing Delhi. 

so i conclude, that people don't fall in love with a city for what it looks like or has to offer. i do agree, that most people may at first glance get completely bowled over by the magnificent facade or astonished by the jaw-dropping beauty or even tempted by the remarkable quality/pace of life the city has to offer...but thats just momentary fascination - pure infatuation if i may say so.

as humans we choose to record and save in the memory card of our mind only what we feel or are made to feel. love for a city depends a lot on how it makes/ made us feel and this love develops over a period of time when interactions take place, bonds are forged, memories are created and associations made. 

i truly believe, that people fall and stay in love with the stuff associated to a city...like memories and people, and not the first impression and freebees. and when people are in love they overlook the negatives coz the positives have struck the right chord and touched their hearts.

signing off with the mixed feeling syndrome

yours truly,

tripper on the go

PS: damn you Delhi...guess i surely am falling in love with ya...







Delhi -view from the hawai jahaz ;)