A Tale of Many Cities - Part II

The dice has been cast; the first Blog of the series has been written.

Writing is perhaps the most cathartic activities. When we write about a place, we travel back in time; bring to life the long forgotten sights and sounds; re-live the joys; explore the place again. Writing the previous blog turned out to be the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. It gave me refreshed perspective on a lot of things.

"A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it." John Steinbeck

"Hey Guy this quote gives me the license to meander on becoz writing is a journey!!"

Writing about Hyderabad made me think about why I love the city like I do. The answer was not in the infrastructure of the city, the eating joints or the job opportunities it provides. (It all helps). The answer was more basic. To me Hyderabad was freedom; it was self - discovery for it was Hyderabad where I was on my own for the first time in my life. It was exhilarating. I was all enthusiasm and eagerness. Ready to take on the world. I remember waking up early and then remembering well there was no one waiting for you to wake up and then going back to a blissful sleep. Doing all the crazy harmless things that Mom and Dad would not let you do; something stupid like eating the "Thanda" and "Garam" together. Making decisions and feeling important. Going for long rides in the rains. Crossing important milestones like watching a movie in the Midnight or the 9 -12 PM show and that also in an all girls gang. Aptly, the first movie I watched in this show was "Hyderabad Blues". I know it might seem like a trivial thing particularly to the guys but it is not something my parents will let me do. India unfortunately is still such a place where girls can not take freedom and security for granted all the times. You can not be Bindaas in most of the places.

I know this might sound strange but as I move southwards I feel more and more secure. And before any North - Indian takes offense I just want to say I am a North Indian and this is just my personal opinion. I do not know what the Statistics say but I feel a lot safer in the streets of Hyd than Delhi. I remember reading an article by Shobhaa De in some newspaper ages ago. I remember nothing but this one line "What is it about Delhi that makes you stick out your elbows in the public places and be on a watch" or something to a similar effect. I completely identify with it. I have had a touch- and -go affair with Delhi. My hometown is Chandigarh and every time we would go there for summer holidays from Dad's place of posting we would pass through Delhi. And then I have been there for short intervals also on other occasions. I have never liked Delhi. Traveling in Delhi's buses is a nightmare for any girl. It is like being on a perpetual alert. Body tensed, eyes darting, arsenal ready (Bags, heels and any heavy object), "Do Not mess with me" look perfected and tongue sharpened for the poor guys who just can not help demonstrating the effects of gravity and perhaps the only people who are members of the "We Want Potholes" committee. (Now you know who funds these potholes!!). I just can not help comparing this with the discomfort - less journey in Hyd buses most of the times. Though, I must add it has been some time since I last traveled in buses. The good thing here is that someone in a rare show of intelligence has reserved the anterior half of the Bus for the ladies and there is a clear division of areas. But it is the Madrasi buses which take the cake. (Sorry Chennai Folks). Someone again had the intelligent idea of reserving space for ladies but they reserved one side of the bus for them and the result is really really bad. (Talking about ten years back, no idea about Chennai buses now). Chennai perhaps has the worst eve-teasing gangs I have seen. Have you guys seen the crowds outside the girl’s colleges in Chennai? It is mad or at least used to be.

In my Opinion, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Bangalore are perhaps haven for single girls. In Hyderabad, I have done a lot of crazy stuff including driving alone for 3-4 Kms at 1:30 in the night. I would not have dared something like this in a city like say Delhi. I have friends who have done these kinds of things very frequently. My Bindaas friends are all for crazy things and they say it is all about your Attitude. But I take a more cautious approach even at a risk of seeming a coward but Eve-teasing and Crime against Women is a very serious thing for me. Aggressive Attitude can not always save you. I am not saying that we women are helpless but being careful aint a bad thing.

Looking at cities from this perspective, Hyderabad and Pune are totally rocking. You can wear what you want to, do what you want to, be free as a bird and just be totally relaxed. Nobody bothers you or even gives you a second glance. Again for those who stay on the other side of the seven seas and for the guys this is a very taken for granted thing but it is a precious commodity here and I value it. Unwanted attention can freak you out at times; like it does when I go to Chandigarh to meet my parents.

And coming back to what I wrote previously about enjoying the little freedoms when I first came to Hyderabad. Years have passed and things have come back to a full circle. After sometime I stopped enjoying my little freedoms and I wanted someone to say "Beta, eating Maggi everyday is not good for your health" (I love Maggi!!).I missed the playful scoldings, mom shouting after me as I leave without having my breakfast. The fuss, the concern, the restrictions, the small things.

"A child on a farm sees a plane fly by overhead and dreams of a faraway place. A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of home".


Life is strange, Life goes on...