SADDA DILLI

Now that I am back in the NCR after a gap of over 3 years, certain things are coming back to me. Yeah yeah, the potholes in Gurgaon's roads are just one of them. Let me start with the mouth watering stuff first. So it would be Old Delhi by lanes, Bengali market Nathu's chats and CP....CP is not edible, but what CP has to offer is gulpable, eatable, edibllest!!

Its a long drive for me to reach my favorite destination of Delhi i.e. CP. However, thanks to the gurgaon metro, I haven't driven even once. I hop into the train and jump out of it once at CP. Its been the pleasurablest thing done for Gurgaonwallahs!! Things have changed big time, one I am older so I am not the daily freak. Its like twice a week activity to enjoy whatever bachelorhood I have in me. At this juncture I am reminded of a famous Friends episode "When Everyone Turns Thirty". Things do change.

Earlier addicted to the faster life in Delhi, I love to take it slow now and chew stuff 32 times in each bite. I may be ignorant to charms of Millenium city, Gurgaon though my home is here for last 21 years. There is still so much catch up Gurgaon has to do in terms of good hang outs. Lived and travelled to more than a dozen city in the country I feel Gurgaon is amongst the backbenchers.

So as I said Metro is the best new thing in my life. The ordeal isnt easy. If I were to drive to CP without much hassles I may reach the place in 45 minutes, it takes 1.5 hrs in metro. But then I pick Economist's latest edition and try to read it between pages patiently acclimatising to its font. Then there is comfort. Recently I did one of the longest journey, Anand Vihar to Gurgaon. At certain places the crowd does push into you, but it is still far far manageable then the Mumbai locals. In fact the gentlemanness!! of delhi at least in metro commuting has been a surprise to me. People let you easily step down before boarding the train. Incredible not expected of Delhi-Gurgaon's half punju/haryanavi population. On top of it Delhi has become neater, even though I didnt really mind many joints in CP, I love just about everyone there now. I am sure I can spend a lifetime finding good eateries in Delhi and still not be done!!!