| My First Visit To Hyderabad (Pic Source : Internet) |
“Ah
Garma Garam Chai Chai……”, “Eh tea coffee, tea coffee, tea coffee….,” it was
just five in the morning, but my ears echoed with all sorts of weird noises. It
took me not more than a minute, to realize that I was in a train heading
towards the city of my dreams. For the past three years, I had been waging an
unending war with my parents, in an attempt to convince them of my further
studies in Hyderabad.
I always
wanted to be a journalist, walking about the streets, fighting for the welfare
of the poor. Being a brilliant student in sciences, it was not an easy task for
me to convince my people that I was meant for writing. “I may turn out to be a great engineer one day papa but becoming a good
writer gives me greater happiness”, I told my father one day. He smiled at me for the first time, that day,
after many days’ stubbornness and patted me on my back saying that I have grown
old enough to choose my path.
Thus started
my first journey to Hyderabad. For days together I was staring at my PC,
searching for the best colleges, hostels, transport and everything and anything
that came into my mind. Thanks to ‘Just Dial’, it wasn’t a big task for me. I
only had to call him and he would be there for me to search for the best in
Hyderabad. “Sir Auto? Excuse me Sir?”
An auto driver was staring right into my eyes, trying to guess the place I
would like him to take me. But, I was strictly instructed by my parents, not to
take a hired auto but the one in the pre-paid counter and so, I had to shove my
way out of the crowd and run to the counter.
“Never let an auto driver know that you are
new to the city”, my friend had said when I told him that I was coming to
Hyderabad. So, I managed to have few
glances of the city through the corner of my eye but never showed any
excitement or anxiety. The flyovers, sky towers, restaurants, city centrals,
everything amused me as well as terrified me. I felt like I stepped into a new
world all alone. I regretted for not paying heed to my parents. I regretted for
following my dreams, I regretted all that I have done for the past few days. If
I had not come here I would have been chatting with my friends at my town’s
famous food court or watching a star movie for the fifth time in an old theatre.
But now, because of my stupidity, I was stuck in an unknown land all alone.
The next day,
I walked into my class with trembling hands. I do not know Hindi and the people
here speak nothing but Hindi. I felt awkward at once. I wanted to run back. I
held my bag tightly and was about to turn when I found a person hugging me from
the back. “Hey! You must be Mounika right? I have been waiting for you for so
long. Where have you been all these days? Why couldn’t you come early? I was
sitting all alone here because of you.” And before I had an answer she started
introducing me to the class. I never knew that friends can be made so easily. I
was wonder-struck by the way these people mingle with each other. Here I was
not the only new person to the class. The college is new for every one of us.
Anyways, I could find a friend in this great city who had started missing me
even before meeting me.
For a year I
have been roaming all around the city with my friends, bunking classes and
watching all new releases. Today, I am recalling all those memories, as I had a
call from my junior, this morning, asking me to pick him up at the railway
station as he is new to the city. “I have
an important meeting today, so I may not be able to come. Do one thing; just
pretend as if you are not new to the city. Get an Auto in the pre-paid counter
and come to Ameerpet without showing any excitement or anxiety. My friend shall
be meeting you there,” I told him trying to be as casual as a typical
Hyderabadi. But deep inside I know what it is to visit the city for the first
time without anyone to guide.
Comments
Post a Comment