Dear Delhi !

Dear Delhi,

I won’t ask you, how are you; coz I know you would be still glittering as always! It’s been long that we have had a conversation, and there is so much I want to say to you, so I thought of writing this to you!

You know, it’s been 10 years and still you surprise me every day!

From those flowers blooming by the side of India Gate to those puddles of water reflecting the glittery bangles in Chandni Chowk, you surprise me every day with your charms, at times little, at times too wide !

When I met you 10 years back, I was a naïve girl coming out of a secured place to explore something new in my life, to get more opportunities, to have this grace to be in this heart of India, as they called it, I was yet to find that for myself!

I’ll be honest, you scared me initially, you had so much of commotion , and you were so restless, always running here and there, that too for hours, getting stuck, getting back running again ! I could never get it. Such hassle – was it for opportunities, or living or just for a portrayal! Why so restlessness?

Why couldn’t you be just calm and just relax, you know like my little green Chandigarh – my childhood friend whom I missed a lot here! You were difficult okay!

And I remember, in those days, while we were trying to make ways with each other, somehow, also, I liked being here, I missed what I had left, but yes it was a new journey, a new environment and something just felt right. I didn’t know exactly what, but yes you weren’t that bad!

You remember the day we went to the Krishna Temple, you made me so happy! I was in another world! We talked for hours and finally you made me stay here!

And I remember, after few months we started roaming around, exploring, and you had this habit of taking 2-3 hours to reach anywhere, in the scorching Sun!

But, yes we still went out! Okay, so yes you have good things too!

To say,

I got fond of your history, each story you narrated to me, how each element of you has such wonderful story, a story of a royal time. I mean I got to know you as someone who is natural and has originated through many struggles and charms, you are not artificial!

I got fond of being with you, in the circles of CP, and the perpendiculars of Parliament Street, in the greeneries of the ridge and solace of the religion you carry, in the meadows of Lodhi Garden, to the commotion of the daily metro rides , to that late night walk we had around the campus.

You know you have something in you which just makes you so different!

There was so much I could share with you, from that love of history, to that love for India, to those traditions which you reflect!

You know, you have lovely rains! May be people just see the traffic and the hassle, but you know you just get so alive in rains, so don’t listen to them! Each monument of you just takes a fresh breath , the red rocks 1000s of years old start to sparkle, and each person smiles if not more but definitely for once in those rains!

Though in summers and winters, I would say you become too moody, but that’s okay!

I remember how you would crib at times spilling heat and chills! But I somehow loved that too, its natural right? I know you just want to be accepted in those extreme heals and chills! We do!

You made me strong, independent and much happier! You made me meet people from all over- some stayed, some left! Some betrayed, some found a way! And it all just gave experiences, bad and beautiful both! But the result was always beautiful – more strength and more happiness through that strength! And the best part was - you always stayed!

And tell me this, how do you embrace just everyone? From giving shelter in your shade to making opportunities in the way, you don’t think of anyone as big or small, you just embrace everyone! From a person selling hair clips to a CFO, you have made them all your part!

And I just love how well you understand me, for my happy modes, you take me to your old streets, and on days which turn gloomy, the solace is always found in your entangling circles, if I crib, you take me to a museum and if I need peace, you just sit with me at quite place in campus ! How do you have a place for every mood han?

You know I wonder how this all started and how we gathered so many memories together, from those irritating restlessness in you, to the calm which I now find only with you! To those little things which I used to hate about you, to accepting those things! Coz you know what matters is that you stayed, and you found your way and stayed through all difficulties and struggles amongst us!

You know Delhi, we homosapiens have this habit of seeking everything as perfect, with no mistake and somehow in all this, we forget the beauty in imperfections and more than that in accepting those imperfections! Even you might not be perfect, but you indeed are a perfect friend Delhi! You made me see life, and more than that to live it!

From that naïve girl 10 years back, may be still so a little; to a girl who can just go out exploring, it’s all about being with you!

And Somehow looking at you, I realize, you are a part of me, and may be more than that I am a part of you!

These 10 years, you turned from being Delhi to My Dilli! You see :)

Just stay so! Or maybe not! Just stay you! With your perfections and imperfections – you are just complete ! :)

Photos : Google Images