The city of Joy

I landed in Bangalore not being airborne but from a second class sleeper coach of a roaring Indian railway express. Bangalore City Railway station it read. The sky was full of Clouds, hence that day was looking a bit dark gloomy. Holding tightly to my grey coloured VIP-Alfa small suitcase and an MRF brown airbag, I took a deep breath of the moist air. I was very much worried and nervous. The station was very crowded, people were greeting each other, the loud voice of the vendors all dissolved slowly into air. I got too worried, suddenly finding myself among unknown faces, an unknown land and unknown languages. A lot of auto and taxi drivers were coming and asking me, where I wanted to go, As if I was a missing child. Restless eyes searched for the guy, Who promised me to see me on the platform. I was clueless where to go. My asset included an SBI ATM card with 5000/- rupees in it and books, many of them. My restless eyes struck to a distant face and it brought me a smile to my face, a real satisfying smile of relief, joy. It was the guy who was to see me.

Then he took me to a big bus stand having many platforms and hundreds of running buses and moving crowd. We were just placed inside a bus with both my hands on the holding bar, the bag on my shoulder and the suitcase in my friend’s hand. It was stopping in many places and many people were boarding the bus. From young men to old, from rich well dressed to poor, from ladies to gents everybody were on board without caring about the crowd and the seat availability. Keeping the suitcase down to give a relief to his hand my friend asked me “So... What is your first impression on Bangalore?” I was not at all happy and it was reflected on my face.But I had to give him a smile. I was not in a situation to answer, rather my mind was full of confusions, Questions and hopes !!! It was like a race of People having different objectives different goals. As if everyone including the buses are running out of time.

After crossing so many roads, Building, flyovers, crosses, streets finally my friend noticed me to get down after around one and half hours. I hated the overcast weather, noise, crowd, big buses, heavy traffic. It was my first experience in any metro city. We started walking towards the house from the bus stop, its near by just 1 km he would say. We crossed level crossing, fields, muddy roads and my body almost gave in to the weight of the bags. Finally the 3rd floor 1BHK apartment was at sight. I smiled again with relief.

Since then I had no idea about the time and it was moving very fast. In the evening I was called to a 'bakery' by my friend. Bun samosa he ordered. Bun samosa was a luxury for me. I took a look around. The place was surrounded by young people. Most of them were like me and they had come to take a bet on the future. A job in IT. It did not take me long neither to get used to the one kilometre walk down in the muddy road till the bus-stop nor hating the bun samosa I considered a luxury. Time was flying and luck was taking my side. And finally I had won the bet. Got a job before running out of the 5000/- rupees, the only sum I had.

Ten years have passed since then. Every time I try to break off, I have fallen in love with city all over again. Her charm holds me in her arms and I feel fully devoted to her lust. Now I seldom take that train, I get airborne. Now I seldom take the bus, I hire cabs. Now I seldom eat bun samosa, I eat Pizza greedily, now I seldom hate the overcast weather, I love it.

This city has given me luck, charm, love, tears, smiles, friends and above all an identity. A respect in the society and a voice of my own. She has spread joy on me. Whenever I think of leaving her behind the past years play before my eyes. They play in slow motion for me to realise that each sight was indeed a scene and I gulp it down my soul. I smile at her and she smiles back at me. She is very open and silent. She does not complain, does not demand. Rather She just waits for other lovers. She is really Lovable...Love you Bangalore....