Hi to all!!
This time, the reason for my prolonged absence (yet again) is different and not-so-usual. I have been too busy visiting new places and being out of town (and out of state too! Fuh!) to keep this space updated. And as I always maintain, every aam-aadmi is special in a unique way, I also have been experiencing a sea of emotions - joys, disappointments, let-downs, sudden rush of blood in my cheeks, the anticipation of what the next morning might bring, waking up in a different atmosphere among different people and then realizing m far….far away from home. It’s all been good so far. I have learnt a lot. The past month seems to have added more than a couple of years to my age.
The ‘Mood Indigo’ Bombay trip
My first ever ‘college’ trip. I say ‘college’ because officially and technically, I was supposed to represent my college in some or the other competition. Though I hardly intended to do that…(and I say that off records here!!). All we 9 did was…explore the city as much as we could. The trip made me realize that I, too, can be a responsible creature whenever it is required of me. (I wish my mum could see me, only through the detective eye, in those 8 days.)
Secondly, m amazed at how some people in the group turned out so unexpectedly wonderful and amazing!! Now I seriously hope to hold on to those wonderful ties I developed with them…..
And, I always supposed that I needed a sumptuous sleep of 10 hrs.a day. This trip opened my eyes to the fact that I can still manage to be in my senses after keeping awake for 3 whole days with a lil sleep of less than 10 hrs in total! I luved the fact that at any and all points of time, I was surrounded with people of my age, with whom I could relate myself to, people who knew the challenges and opportunities that our world is full of.
The only things we did were…..we ate, we walked around, commuting thru locals, we shared secrets, we played, and that’s how we were throughout the 8 day excursion.
And yes! How can I forget mentioning the 22nd of December!! When ur best frnd, for no specific reason, decides to travel more than a 1000kms. just because u had said that u felt alone in the strange city, and decides to take a 1 day trip, traveling by air, for the first time, all by himself, without letting his parents know, and spending more than double of what u would spend in 8 days in a single day for that…….(sigh!) u can not afford to forget to mention it!!
So, I really was looking forward to his arrival. And when the day arrived, all the anticipation, kind of, vanished. I could smell something fishy but I wanted to believe that he is upto it out of the love for his dearest frnd. Well, I wanted to keep it light. And when we decided upon a common place to go, I led the way (since I was familiar to the cities by 2 days. And so, I knew which route to take! I luved leading a guy especially when it came to the routes… girls aren’t their best when it comes to something like this.). Nyways, we had a wonderful time. ‘Wonderful’ would be a small and incomplete word to describe that day. And unfortunately, as every good thing eventually has to come to an end, so did his trip to Mumbai. He, with utmost chivalry, dropped me to the place where I joined the rest of my group and he himself headed for the airport…. I still can not come to terms with the fact that my “bholu” took such big step just to ensure that his frnd was fine…….I was fine. God Bless Him!
Those were the 8 days of complete freedom and fun. Time was ours, we weren’t answerable to anyone. It was OH JUST SO AWESUM!!! In a room to accommodate 2 hosteliers, 6 could be accommodated on a temporary basis, while we were 9 girls stuffed in one poor room. I say poor becoz, very obviously, by the tym 8th day approached; the room’s condition was dismal.
Lifelong experience at Darbar Sahib
I had, virtually, not even unpacked my bags completely after returning from Bombay, that I saw myself heading towards Amritsar, the land famous for ‘amritsari kulche’. So, with the sweet memories of the recent trip still afresh in my mind and soul, I prepared myself to assimilate even sweeter and fond memories of the anticipated trip. This one was with my family (excluding my bro, as usual…..whenever there is a full-family gathering, he prefers to go invisible) and my aunt’s. It was an experience that m gna cherish throughout my life. Without ny offenses to the religion to which I “supposedly” belong, Hinduism, I REALLY found Sikhism very fascinating, enduring and clean. Consider it our luck; we visited the pious pilgrimage on the eve of Gurupurab. And it was so grandly decorated, just like a bride on her wedding day. It was a treat to stand still and absorb the beauty around the place. The entrance was the most usual one, nothing grand or special about it. But once u were in, there was a diffrnt ambience altogether. Everything was well-organized and fresh. As soon as I entered the main premises (sorry I don’t know xactly wat it’s called), I knew I was gna fall in luv wid the place. And so I did! Earlier, I was indifferent to all religions and the way they are conducted. But now, after this eye-opening visit, I m sure I have started developing faith towards Sikhism. The interpretation of wat I just declared is very subjective. But, I just said what I know I feel. Everything, there, was soothing to the nerves. The mellow hymns melted in the soul and even when I could not make out the lyrics exactly, I enjoyed and hummed them all the while. The near 0 degree temperature too, for once, lost its affect on me as I walked barefoot along the sarovar and the main darbar, mesmerized.
I, while being all-good to Darbar Sahib, almost forgot to mention Jallianwala Bagh, famous for the massacre that happened in 1918… As I entered the historic and no less tragic place, a chill ran thru me. I felt that the land where I was standing, some 90 years back, witnessed the gunning down of more than 2000 innocent souls. Then, no one was a muslim, or hindu, or sikh. Everyone was an Indian and with that feeling had they gathered peacefully at the bagh. A stone pyramid, of about a feet read “Bullets were fired from here” and from the entrance, to the right of the pyramid, lit the “Amar Jyoti”, in remembrance of the departed. There too, in a font bigger than that of “Amar Jyoti”, a circular board read “Indian Oil Corporation”, the company that sponsors the oil used in the lamp. Commercialization at its peak, I guess…
And what annoyed me is the fact that the bagh has been completely modified and it rather looked more like a picnic spot than a heritage site. This pissed me off big tym. Tourists and interested ppl like us travel this much just to see a couple of bullet marks (actually 28 of them), a well (actually, ‘The’ well), some boards that tell the history of the bagh. I would anytym prefer the original, rusty bagh instead of the new, fancy hang-out place. But I guess the government had its reasons for taking such action.
If I had it my way, I would never stop talking about Bombay and Amritsar… But, everything looks appropriate and good if it stays in the limits. And so, without saying anything else, I’d let u think wat m upto ;-)
See u soon…….till then, as I say…….Let the mystery remain!!!
