*Edit: This one has been imported from my previous, now dead, blog*
A friend once told me (and rather condescendingly, may I add) that I too, shall fall in love with the same city that I abhorred with such passion that it even surprised me sometimes (didn’t know I was capable of so much hatred).
“Just give it sometime.” Those were his exact words.
And time I did give it, in fact I’ve given it four whole years. And to this day, I can safely say, nothing’s changed (or so I thought till a couple of days back).
I just returned from Kolkata last week – a city for which I’ve developed a peculiar fondness (even though I’ve hardly lived there). And while I traveled from one aunt’s place to another, I couldn’t help but make comparisons (the people are so much friendlier here…the city has so much culture!!...etc. etc.)
My return journey from Haldia to Kolkata involved a rather rickety bus journey and no amount of Bodom could drown out the blaring radio station. So rather reluctantly I decided to lend an ear. Now, the radio station was a rather popular one and obviously out of habit I began my inane comparisons. That’s when I heard the tag line – “It’s hot!”
It’s hot?? That’s it??
It didn’t really sound that great. It’s hot. Period.
How utterly banal!
“Sakkat hot maga!” definitely had more zing to it!
Hmmm…
That little line took me back four years when I first set foot on Bangalore. When I first met my “roomies”…found an incredible set of friends…discovered the joy of filter coffee…experienced a whole different kind of life – all in a city that I couldn’t stand!
From quarreling with auto drivers to partying with my girlfriends at Noir (bless the ladies’ night!)…I’ve done it all here.
It’s now time to move on…find another city to loathe. I’m glad to leave but at the same time feel sad about it too. For no matter how much I complain, Bangalore possesses a certain je ne sais quoi that no Mumbai, Delhi – or Kolkata! – can replace.
You just gotta give it sometime.
A friend once told me (and rather condescendingly, may I add) that I too, shall fall in love with the same city that I abhorred with such passion that it even surprised me sometimes (didn’t know I was capable of so much hatred).
“Just give it sometime.” Those were his exact words.
And time I did give it, in fact I’ve given it four whole years. And to this day, I can safely say, nothing’s changed (or so I thought till a couple of days back).
I just returned from Kolkata last week – a city for which I’ve developed a peculiar fondness (even though I’ve hardly lived there). And while I traveled from one aunt’s place to another, I couldn’t help but make comparisons (the people are so much friendlier here…the city has so much culture!!...etc. etc.)
My return journey from Haldia to Kolkata involved a rather rickety bus journey and no amount of Bodom could drown out the blaring radio station. So rather reluctantly I decided to lend an ear. Now, the radio station was a rather popular one and obviously out of habit I began my inane comparisons. That’s when I heard the tag line – “It’s hot!”
It’s hot?? That’s it??
It didn’t really sound that great. It’s hot. Period.
How utterly banal!
“Sakkat hot maga!” definitely had more zing to it!
Hmmm…
That little line took me back four years when I first set foot on Bangalore. When I first met my “roomies”…found an incredible set of friends…discovered the joy of filter coffee…experienced a whole different kind of life – all in a city that I couldn’t stand!
From quarreling with auto drivers to partying with my girlfriends at Noir (bless the ladies’ night!)…I’ve done it all here.
It’s now time to move on…find another city to loathe. I’m glad to leave but at the same time feel sad about it too. For no matter how much I complain, Bangalore possesses a certain je ne sais quoi that no Mumbai, Delhi – or Kolkata! – can replace.
You just gotta give it sometime.
No comments:
Post a Comment