Far from the rush...into the crowd

It needs no second telling that one should always be prepared for Delhi’s traffic and plan your commute accordingly. I too planned and that’s about it. Giving in to my laziness, my plan remained only a 4 letter word and had it not been for my friend I would not have realized the time. I had to catch a train at 2 pm and I was still dilly dallying with a glass of coke and a cigarette where I had just about an hour and a half to reach the station battling the traffic on the way! 

My friend’s excellent maneuvering in his Chevy in the forever traffic of Delhi saw me at the station with barely a few minutes to spare for the train to embark. Now, this is perhaps a general expectation of guys out there to desire for an “interesting” (connote as you may) co-passenger especially in a long journey and I am no exception to that. But as always, got disappointed when I took a glance at my co-passengers with whom I am stuck with unintentionally for the next 20 hours. All males and wearing grumpy faces with a look that says “you may try to kick off a conversation but I am sure as hell not interested”. Perhaps, they too were in some way disappointed like me! 

My train reached the destination ONLY 8 hours late. We all can do away with the redundant discussion of how the Indian Railway’s non-existent time schedule works. I am happy that I am home. Eating and sleeping beside the mundane chores kept me busy in the 1st week. Then there was some occasional driving around in batches with my nephews, my folks, my brother. Shopping was justified with the whopping bill I raked. My brother helped – adding to the bill. 

During the festival, it’s customary for people to throng in crowds to have a glimpse at the gorgeously crafted pandals (temporary structures to showcase the idols) and the creatively sculpted idols. One thing I tell you, driving around in this maddening crowd is well…. Maddening! Maybe being an Indian has inculcated this feeling of comfort even in a crowd that you tend to actually enjoy watching the live slideshow of people all dressed in their perhaps best attires. The ladies in particular must have given attention to every detail in the process of decking up and causing the clock to sweat its brow in patience. The result – sheer attraction for some and blatant repulsion from others! No offence but makeup overdone is such a turnoff! 

Rest of my days at home was spent in rigorous calisthenics in the form of some front lawn cricket and football with my brother and nephews. Truth be told, it was only for 1 day. The muscle aches were a reminder good enough not to indulge more in these activities, for I am here to rest and not tire myself out!


Having flirted enough with my sugar levels with the continuous gulping of roshogollas, lal mohons, khir kodoms and the likes, I decided to pause, no not to stop as you might have presumed. The social formalities, meeting the neighbors (after some painful persuasion from my folks), the gastronomical delights from my Mom’s kitchen etc came to a halt. Finally, the 2 week long vacation comes to an end and leaves me with a bittersweet feeling. As much as I would have loved to enjoy some more time in the laps of comfort and luxury, I also had to get back into the corporate grind where I think I belong. I will not stop cribbing and complaining about the stagnant traffic, crowded metros, scorching summer, ignorant people etc. but being bred to it for so long these are all a part of me and in an eerie way they were missed when I was away on my vacation. 

But being the travel enthusiast I proclaim to be with a conscious effort of not sounding pompous, I am here at my office, resuming work post vacation and already planning my next trip.