Life this way...

These are impromptu days of an impromptu life. Packing, unpacking, moving, walking, eating, travelling...impromptu and continuous. The air is light and the clouds sensitive. They burst on you sometimes here, or they weep on alternate days. The Sun is clear yet benign. When I walk the wide roads amidst the green foliage, I sense a harmony around me. I am on my own. It startles me sometimes. Sometimes, I smile at the serenity of independent living. Bonds are nascent and unclear. A cup of coffee together, a session of book-reading in the library, a meal in the cafetaria, and you have mates. Or, a walk by oneself, an afternoon without people, a book to sleep on and you discover yourself.

After a long time today, I walked hand-in-hand through the heavy traffic and rain, ate pastries and had nariyal-paani, took delight in discovering places...like school children on an excursion. Came back smiling at the Sun-set and waving at the ink-smudged sky that promised fresh rains :)

Eager and Enlightened! ;-)

Home is where Amma is...

Independence comes...

I went out to the nearby Gaffar market today, only to be amused by the strange scene there. Packed with policemen and haunted by sniffer dogs, it looked different, of course. Its New Delhi’s way of preparing for Independence Day. Whose independence?... is too loaded a question to be taken up by mortal me. But, Independence Day it is, finally, one more time.

Present in the capital for the first time in the run-up to D-Day, I see the dizziness around me. Even on “normal” days, Delhi is especially aware of your benign presence. Enter into a metro station and you have the security people waiting for you…not arms folded…but arms open indeed…ladies to ladies, gents to gents ;)

Sometimes, I feel sorry for the Prime Minister. Not that he is a figure of pity all the time…but..but..but…As though the controversy on de-linking terror wasn’t enough, he has to bear the sultry weather here, read out a speech on the 15th, and prepare for more answers later in the parliament.

Coming back to Independence Day, can I write about Calcutta one more time? Haan? Yes, I can!...we have this thing for music there…of course everyone knows that...On “patriotic” days, we wake up to the tune of “Aamra korbo joi..” (Bangla version of We shall overcome…)..full-blast on the locality’s loudspeaker…unending, uninterrupted patriotism, dripping from the stereos all day. Time to take out green, saffron, white sarees and of course the flowers in the hair…sing a tune or two as part of the local cultural group…and carry home flowers, pamphlets and sweets to spread more independence...sometimes, even to the extent of ten-twelve boxes of mishti, if your dad is a big-shot at lokaal klub...;)

I remember having sung innumerable tunes with my mates on the harmonium, egged not so much by the fervor of patriotism within me, but more as a silly little girl, overwhelmed by the enthusiastic crowd, parents and family, the stage, the décor, the flowers, the loudspeakers and of course our harmonium sir!...Thankfully, I grew up…

Coming back to Delhi…I am itching to visit Purana Quila, Lal Quila, Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid etc etc. I know I still sound like a tourist…but can’t be helped! You see…I have to see!...The Capital...Its more like counting heartbeats here….the city gearing up for the 15th…not a beat less, not a beat more…the soldiers march on to the sound of the drum…independence…here it comes….