Saddi Dilli

The initial delay was soon followed with some more and now a lot more is in the offing. My official joining date at Oracle, Hyderabad is now 7th November. I see it as Delhi wishing to see more of me. In return, I wouldnt get enough of Delhi in the years to come.

My beloved Delhi will be missed for more than obvious reasons.

The madcap facade, the crowded streets, the 'on your face' fine dust, killer blueline (buses), under-construction flyovers, forever malfuntioning autorickshaw meters, the jiggly clown @ Appu ghar, window-shopping malls, chaat-bhandaar - hamaare yahan shaadi va paalty ke aarder liye jaate hain (literally translates to: we undertake marriage and party orders), parathe walas under AIIMS flyover, elevated metro platforms, the "Holy COW!" traffic jams, the dhinchaak radio mirchi, foggy winter mornings, Page 3 people, "jugaad", Kapashera border, HCL, buffalo armies, Aggarwal Sweets (the link directs to its international presence ), GIR, World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan, Janpath, the popcorn bucket at PVR cinemas, mehndi walas, mother dairy, Som/Mangal/Budh/(never been to a Thursday bazaar...don't know if one exists)/Shukkar/Shani/Sunday (wonder why this one wasn't called 'Ravi' or 'It') bazaar, Dilli Haat, late evening queues @ CNG filling stations, shani daan on traffic intersections, Punjabi (West Delhi), Madraasi (Karol Bagh, Dashrathpuri and Munirka) and Bihari (Madhu Vihar) settlements, Mughal Garden in February, IHC for all epicurean reasons, Delhi Police-With you, for you, always - can easily qualify for stalkers.

Delhi has been home in the last two decades and a near half. Whether it was primary school I attended - St-James and DTEA R.K. Puram Sector-4, the senior secondary I dragged through- Kendriya Vidyalaya R.K. Puram Sector-2 and Tagore International, Vasant Vihar - or the college I achieved in- Kalindi College, Prasad Nagar (Delhi University), Delhi has both cradled me in her arms and flushed me through the gutters.

While dilliwalahs are dil walahs, the golden rule stays just the same: If you do not get it, demand it. If you still do not get it, SNATCH it. And this rule cuts across living standards...president (no specific reference) and pauper alike.

Delhi has taught me to live life...not survive as most migrant population does.

PS: While I tried my best to toss in as many links as possible for visitors and veterans alike, I may have missed some. You are allowed to comment and critique. :-)