The sun had already set when I crossed Aligarh. This was the first time that I was approaching Delhi in darkness, literally. So the memories started hitting when the train reached the Delhi station. It was almost surreal. I had no plans to come to Delhi in near future and now here I was standing on the station not knowing the way out. It’s been just a year and I have been to this station for hundreds of times. Memories should never be trusted.
As I walked out of the station, I started to feel the excitement. While walking the underground to reach the metro station, I carefully looked into every soul that passed by me looking for someone whom I might just know. Even when I lived here and had hundreds of acquaintances, I never felt the same. Then the realization settled in that I have actually never been so much excited to reach anywhere in my life.
I talked about memory buttons in one of my earlier posts. By the time I set foot in the station, everything around me started to play memory buttons to me. The seat on which I was sitting in the metro brought back so many memories. Zillion of times I have travelled while going to college having fun with the great bunch friends I had. Not to mention that special moment when a special one sat next to me. How distance can make memories so defining and lovable!
Delhi has changed so much just in a year. After getting off the metro in Central Secretariat I was clueless of the route as metro expansion was going on. Nevertheless it was not hard to find the way to Munirka, where my cousin was staying presently. By the time I reached the bus stop a DTC bus of route 620 arrived. The route terminates at Hauz Khas where I had lived first 3 years in Delhi. Not just with the buses of this route, I had a strong connection with DTC buses. Students in Delhi are issued passes which allow them to travel in regular DTC buses of any route. We used it like our ancestral property – hoping in and out whenever we felt like. Moreover our university special buses were provided by DTC. So it was like an exclusive transporter for me and likes.
Since it was taking other route, initially I couldn’t figure out the places I was crossing. The VIP areas are anyway hard to remember as all the streets and houses look the same. After some time when I reached South Avenue, I had figured it out. A ride through Chanakyapuri is always a great experience with the embassies all around. I used to come to Chanakya cinema, which was demolished a year ago, to watch films in the same route. All the memories flashed like I was watching another film, much closer to my heart, just little abstract.
After few turns I reached Sangam, a low key hall where I used to come when my finances would be tight or I wanted to watch lousy films. I had seen Anthony Kaun Hai three years ago, the poster of the film still hangs in the cinema hall with posters of Jai Veeru, Aa Dekhen Zara. By any standard it was quite a strange phenomenon. After the couple of minutes I reached the road to airport. The entire road is being transformed into a flyover. Due to these constructions, the places became almost unrecognizable to me. So I had to put efforts locate the stoppage where I had to get off.
As I was walking towards my cousin’s room, the realization had already come. This is the place where I belong. Even while I was staying in Delhi, I never realized how much I loved this place. Growing up at different places, I really don’t belong anywhere. But if anything comes closer, it has to be Delhi. The other reason is that my birthplace doesn’t physically exist and my school is shifted to its permanent building. So Delhi is the only tangible place which supports my memories. I have decided that the way I meet my family at least once in a year, I have to return to this place at least once in a year, no matter which part of the globe I live in. To remain connected to my roots, to bring peace to my wandering soul.
And wherever I wander
The one thing I’ve learned
It's to here
I will always
always return
Bryan Adams: Spirit, “This is where I belong”
2 comments:
This is surely one of your best post. It made me quite nostalgic about my city. I also like the title :this is where i belong".
Memories shouldn't really be trusted.
You've hit the nail on the right spot.
your writing is most beautiful when you REALLY feel it coming from your heart. And i can't even begin to empathise with you on how close delhi is to me too. Having lived in 8 cities across 6 states in this country, Delhi is what i call home. despite, effectively, having spent the larger part of only three yrs in the city, technically speaking. :) love it, we do. cheers to nostalgia, and to loving your roots, where YOU think you can find anchor.
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