If you have lived in a city long enough, you see the city change its landscape. You tend to see it the way you always have - A homely familiarity that makes you spot the new against the old or look at the old anew. I was born in Delhi and twenty six years later, i can say 'Jeena yahan marna yahan...iske siwa jana kahan' has been the song of my life, so far.
I have grown up - playing in the streets of a delhi mohalla, travelling on the cramped terror blue line buses, eating street food, shoppping and haggling at the conventional karol bagh and sarojini nagar markets , fleecing autowallas, standing in traffic jams for hours coz some VIP, CM and the likes are passing by, attending Delhi University fests. And i have been a witness the massive changes to the face of Delhi - the swanky metro rail, the first mall - Ansal's Plaza, the numerous flyovers and the malls that are now sprawling, the CNG revolution.
But thank god for small mercies - there is still some heritage value that Delhi holds despite the fact delhi is a global city and on the map of the world. The old shakuntalam theatre still stands proudly. Driving around India Gate roundabout, just to eat icecream by the lush green lawns of India Gate. Paranthe wali gali. Peddle Boating at Zoo. Palika and Gaffar are the places where you get EVERYTHING under the sun. And there is so much more about Delhi - that makes it so special.
Ofcourse, Home is where the heart is. Dilli hai dilwalon ki. Delhi is home for me. Delhi has taught me a lot of important lessons in life, and a lot of credit goes to this city for the person i am today. With each passing day, Delhi becomes dearer and my love affair with Delhi becomes more intense.
Here's to you Delhi -
Mausam khushnuma ye dekh ke, Dil Dilli ke aur kareeb ho gaya hai...
Yahin raha hai, yahin kho gaya hai...
Har boond baarish ki, mitti mein kuch aisi milti hai...
Goonj ke dil se Dilli Dilli aah nikalti hai...
Love You, Delhi!
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