My two months stint at Delhi is finally over and I'm back home. Though it's always the best feeling to be home, I miss Delhi that had been my home albeit for a brief time. It was my first stay outside for so long.
My uncle received me at the New Delhi Railywa station and I spent my first day at his spacious quarters in South Delhi. It is a nice complex with lots of greenery around and I immediately took a liking to it. Since the next day was my first day at office, my uncle decided to drop me off. On way, I kept checking landmarks to find my way back home. My uncle pointed out the Pragati Maidan metro stration from where I was to commute everyday onwards.I registered that in my mind. After some time,we sensed a strong stench and I had the first view of the dirty Yamuna. Then we entered East Delhi and I saw the narrow lanes of Laxmi Nagar and Shakarpur, a stark contrast to South Delhi and it's wide roads. These were market areas and people were seaming from all sides. My office was at Preet Vihar,two stations away.Upon reaching I found I was one hour early to office. So I strolled along the lanes checking out shops. Delhi was heating up like a frying pan that has just been put on the stove.By noon, the pan was all heated up when I and my two other college freinds who were interning with me decided to go out for lunch. When we returned I thought I got a stroke. Anyway initial days in Delhi were terrible but soon got acclimatized to it.
Next day began on a little wrong note. I was running late to office and to make things worse I got on the wrong metro and landed up at Akshardham. Initially I panicked, but then recomposed myself. I picked up one of the metro booklets and took a metro back to Yamuna bank where one of my friends had come to pick me up.Relief. My boss was happy I got lost and said thats a learning. Somebody in office was kind enough to get me a Delhi road map.
The rest few days were spent scouting for a good accomodation near to my office. It was tough and my friends were a big help then. The three of us finally landed up a place in Kadkaduma, the next metro station. Having a house to nestle,things slowly began to fall in place. Soon we were travelling to Uttar Pradesh and other areas. I also got used to getting up the escalators, travelling in the metro and going around Delhi. We explored Delhi- seeing places, trying its food and scanning its markets.
Towards the end of the first month, my mother decided to pay me a visit.I was overjoyed. Mom meant good food. I ner really used the kitchen other than making the occasional breakfast. Days spent with mom were good. I got a break from eating outside, especially from the dollops of butter.I even used to carry my tiffin to office. I realized carrying food to office helps one socialize faster.Mom didn't like travelling much and spent most of the time indoors. One evening I decided to take her to the nearest mall. We returned early after checking out the ground floor because like me my mom also avoided escalators.
Things went smooth till a day before she was to leave when she felt the place very spooky and unsafe. No matter how much I reasoned she was not convinced. One shuldn't argue with moms because one can never win and its a lot safer if one didn't. So began my arduos task of looking for another PG. Unortunately this time I'd to do it all alone because my college friends were out touring and I was attached to the office. Anyway, with a little help from a colleague, I found myself a girls PG at a walking distance from office. It had a wide road and park right infront. It also had many eating joints within walking distance. My mom was happy when she left, and thats what mattered.
Office was fun and I got a very interesting project to work on. I befriended the girls in the PG.Soon my friends returned from their tour.Our mentor was our college alumnus and he took care of us really well, taking us out to wine and dine. There were also some new joinees in office and we gelled up real fast. Soon we were spending a lot of time together- shopping,hanging out or simply lazing around. I got sloshed too on one occasion. It was fun though. Most importantly it was the presence of friends around who made Delhi suddenly come to life.I caught up with my old school friends some of whom I knew from kindergarten. I also met my old school crush. I felt as if years had passed but nothing had changed.
Last few days in Delhi, the weather turned romantic.There were slight drizzles but mostly it was cloudy. Those were my best times at Delhi. The office threw us an official farewell towards the end of our internship.The park had become a part of my evenings. I spent time watching the kids play, couples talking and the healthy guy taking his evening walks. Sometimes I had company, sometimes I didn't. But I found the place very soothing.
On the morning of my last day at Delhi the weather was perfect for an outing. My friend, the old crush decided to take me to Purana Quila.Being a die hard romantic, I loved the place. The fort, the ruins, the alleys brought alive the scenes of Love Aaj Kal in my mind. We spent time looking around and talking. In the silence of the morning, the cool breeze acted as a tranquilizer. Finally,I returned promising to stay in touch. I also bid farewell to my office and PG friends and handed them small souvenirs I had got for them. As I boarded my afternoon flight, I was happy to be back home but I also knew I would miss Delhi and the people who made it so beautiful for me.
22 comments:
A nice read !
@Anwesa.. thank you :)
hey...nice description...lemme see if am as lucky as you when i go there :)
and lol! very true "One shuldn't argue with moms because one can never win and its a lot safer if one didn't."...
Same pinch!
Am back from an internship too :)
Similiar experience.
you came to delhi and did not lemme know? ileeeen? how meeeeen! :|
Scribblers Inc.
@mou..you shall like Delhi.. :)
@S..same pinch.. hope you had a great time..btw where had u been for ur internship?
@Scribbler's Inc.. you seemed to ve disappeared from the blog arena.. though I admit even I had not been regular..how u ve been?
long time.. :)
nice....
now I can remember the first few weeks in Mumbai...same feelings as u !!!
nice illeen i didn know you were going to stay so close where i have spent about 15 years now :) could have helped..anyways i am glad you liked it in delhi
small things really take the most attention.. like the escalators :)
good usage of words like 'house to nestle'. ur style of writing has always been a class to read...
hmm.. some things avoided and some accentuated
yeah thats life bitter sweet. aint it.
Get over it!!! and quick!!! The future could be a lot more pleasant with the baggage of the past out of it..
loved the Red-fort part re. Naiisshhh..
Teh best thing about Delhi is the 'Banana Split' at Nirula's..Simply love it.
So is Palika Bazar.
Where else in the planet would you get Boxed Unlocked iPhones at 9000 bucks?
Nice read. Cheers!
PS- Long time. No see :P
@akd.. mumbai..another place i'd loved the moment i had stepped on it.. :P
@ani_aset.. where in Delhi were u put up?
Thank you anyway.. :)
@Maximus.. i agree.
@Sam..I exploited palika.. bargained like hell.. got 1200 stuff for 200.. Tried Lajpath and Janpath markets as well..In Dilli shopping is quite some experience.. :)
m doing good..how u doing.wassup these days?
@Abhi..thank you..small things that can be a real trouble.How u doing?
lolzzz.. i remembered when my mom visited me for the first time in Pune... m doing fine though not finding enuff time to blog frequently,.. thus keeping up by reading blogs that interest me :)
hi m sikata, even dou u hv accepted me as a follower..v r not introduced 2 ech odr..!a nice read seriusly n abt d escalators lol it ws so lyk me!dou i won ova d phobia! m thinkin f interning in delhi ne suggestions...n wana kno more abt u! :)
@7worldss.. Hi sikta.. thank you!
Escalators..they used to give em the creeps..hehe
Delhi is a nice place and it's safe too if you stick to the right places and crowd.It's advisable to arrange for an accommodation before you head out there for your internship.Anything in particular you want to know?
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