Three months since the last (and my 1st) blog entry! It goes to show what a busy last sem MBA life gives you (don’t just freak out, studies/presentations/project reports/lectures are not the only things that can keep you busy). But all that is past me now, and a promise to my best friend brings me back to the world of blogging!
I just realized what a wonderful place Delhi is! When you are just chewing your thinking hat off regarding what to write, it senses your agony and just spews something at you. While returning from South Ex yesterday (which by the way is inevitably a painful journey and seems to last till eternity, and often makes me rue the fact of having my home in North Delhi), I donned the hat of an avid (aspiring actually) blogger.
Once upon a time there used to be a magical place called Naraina. For my friends who have no idea of this journey, let me just tell you that Naraina’s magical powers are different but no less than the legendary Narnia’s (pun intended). It blocks the way of any commuter making (read: trying) that journey. In the initial years, if there was a poll done in Delhi, I bet 90% of the respondents would have preferred a toll at Naraina rather than facing the 25 minutes traffic blockage. But, over the years when people realized that there is no escaping, they sort of adjusted their lives- ‘Husbands who had to leave early because of Naraina and would miss the morning talks with their wives would stop the car, call home and make up for it! Students who could never hit the morning lecture on time would always make the puppy face and tell their teacher- “Sir! You know naaa….Naraina!!!” I always used to fathom that soon would come a time when some morning/evening office meetings would take place within those 25 minutes, over a cup of honking cars….
Anyways, so I was quite confident that I will get sufficient time to observe fellow commuters to string through some story for my blog, when I actually saw the heaven’s gates open…..Yesssss, FINALLY, the Naraina flyover was ready and in full swing. Though I got to know that it was inaugurated 3 days back, but I could still see the glee on many first time Naraina flyover users. Their world had suddenly changed- no more stoppages, no more missing their wives, no more missing 1st 5 overs of IPL matches, no more traffic excuses by overloaded students (genuine or whatever)! And 92.7 played a befitting song… “Tumhe kaise main bataaoon, kya main paa gaya hoon……” My head took 360s, and everywhere there was the same sight. You know, when you realize you are in love, and the heart beats really fast…it was a similar feeling, and some people really went overboard! While doing the jive, you may ‘accidentally’ put the wrong foot forward, and before you know, the car accelerates above 60Ks….you suddenly feel you are bazooking your way through in F1, and are the star performer of the show with the bikini clad gals chanting “go dude go…” The adrenaline gets the better of you, but long before you get the chance to open the Champagne bottle, evil strikes you……The Delhi Traffic Police!!! Well, if you are from Delhi (or for that matter from the remotest nook of India), an intriguing question always puzzles you- “Yaar ye Indian police humesha crime hone ke baad hi kyon aati hai?” Well, the traffic police story is somewhat different. They shall deprive you of their company when you are feeling sick amidst a traffic jam because some Blueline (read: The Beast) is trying to take a wrong turn….but if you are trying to play Michael Schumacher’s maniacal younger 2nd cousin (driving at 70), you will see a whole flock of ‘em! Another ironic difference is that while you would wonder whether the Indian Policeman’s gun would work or not, the Indian Traffic Policeman’s Speed Gun always seems to work! What a pity for the aspiring Schumiz! Hats off to the traffic police (the same hat I was earlier donning and chewing)! The land of Naraina had changed forever. I witnessed a dozen cars doing the parade (i.e. slowing from 70 to 10 Ks and in 1 line) before stopping, pretty much like the lion in the circus meekly obeying at the hands of the ringmaster…the dreaded challan playing the cruel whip. So lucky I was not one of them….
P.S. I did manage to reach my home in 30 minutes, quite a miracle as compared to the arduous 1 hour minimum that it used to take me before. And those were my Chronicles of Naraina!!!
