Eight years ago, any mention of my imminent move to this
city would bring out the similar reactions from people - they were mortified at
my decision, dismissing the city as a land with the hot, humid climate, where Hindi is not widely spoken and appalled
at the misery of the city whose residents pay money for drinking water. For better or worse, I decided to embrace the city and I
have never been disappointed. I had arrived in this city with doubts and
worries on my mind. I was enrolled in a city college for my graduate programme,
and had left home for the first time. I was supposed by be suffering from
homesickness, a condition brought in when one is separated from family and friends
and all that they have been familiar. But on the contrary, except during the
annual Durga Pujo celebrations, not
many a time did I miss home. Chennai became my second home. And as this month
is drawing close to its end, so is my period of stay in Chennai. Nostalgia hits
me hard, as I walk back the memory lanes tracing the path to my early days in
this city. I am already fighting a losing battle against the surging emotions -
feeling a sense of loss –What made this stay so memorable, unforgettable? They
would be my classic moments of the city as I remember it.
Hostel and
fabulous roommates: My roomies hailed from the north eastern state of
Manipur. From day 1, we hit it off. We discovered our common love for Shakespeare
and Shah Rukh Khan (in my defence this was pre-Chennai Express times), dosa and dahi and of course Korean dramas. They introduced me to fermented
fish, pickled mango and sweetened chickpeas, and I returned the favour by
treating them to lip smacking treat of sattu
ka paratha and chilli pickle which my mum packed when I got back from my
bi-annual trip to home.
The 10 rupee movie ticket: What is the price of a movie ticket in
Chennai? Take a guess. 250? Nope. 200? Wrong again. Rs.120. That is all a seat
in any multiplex would cost in the city. Now, for the student bonanza: All
front row seats are up for grabs for Rs. 10 only!! I understand it means
spending a couple of hours craning your neck, but for a student torn between
her love for cinema and books, it was a good bargain.
The beach:
The beach clearly sets Chennai apart from other metro cities. Witness the
glorious sunrise and sunset, with hot molgha
bajjis with chutney, sundal (boiled
and seasoned chickpeas), and of course sample a wide variety of sea food caught
fresh by the local fishermen and cooked right at the spot for you. Visiting the
beach for some it is a part of their daily routine, for others a weekend haunt,
some come here to seek solitude; some come to celebrate with friends and
families. And when it gets too crowded you can always walk along the sea shore,
footwear in hand - feeling the wet sand scrunch under your feet as the waves
come and kiss your feet once in a while.
Connemara Library:
It boasts to be one of the oldest public libraries of the country. I first entered
the gates of the library as a college student who needed the reference of a
couple of books that were not housed by the college library. The red bricked
building with green windows had a look of the old colonial times, people
buzzing around in the campus with the tall trees casting tall shadows blocking
out the sun offering some respite from the heat. On stepping in, I saw a long
hall with tables lined in the centre
flanked on either side by tall wooden racks holding books from the different
times, of all possible color, size and volume. It was clearly my
Alice-in-Wonderland moment.
And then there are the small moments, the people, tiny
details which define my life here. The prospect of moving means not seeing the patti selling
malligai flowers at the end of my street, waking up early and not hearing the suprabhatam, missing the usual greeting
from the friendly conductor anna from
the MTC bus, no more quick trips to Pondy Bazar, bidding adieu with a heavy
heart to the city which introduced me to kotthu
parotta and mini idli. As John
Denver sings farewell to his sweetheart:
All my bags are packed I’m ready to go
I’m standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin’, it’ early morn
The taxi’s waiting, he’s blowin’ his horn
Already I’m so lonesome I could die
