My tryst with Ahmedabad

 My tryst with Ahmedabad

This story begins in Jamnagar where I am about to board a train to Ahmedabad where one of my best friends was getting married.I was with my mom who was on her way to Mumbai via the same train.I had installed a particular nintendo game on my laptop for this particular trip.The train was on time and we boarded it with our luggage .Though we were provided with different seats in different compartments,we sat  together.I started my train journey with that game.Somebody rightly said ‘Time races when you are having fun’ but he didn’t mention that laptop battery dies quickly too.. :P

The train pulled into Ahmedabad station at half-past-eight.The Ahmedabad station was as crowded as any metropolitan station would be at that time.Saying that I was scared would be an understatement.I was very well aware of the luggage in my hand and the stuff it carried.But somehow,I got courage from the fact that I was a 190 pound well-built fitness freak. :D Got an auto for my accomodation at Swaminarayan Vishrantigruh,Kalupur.Though I wasn’t expecting much from my room,I was surprised to find a double bed,a T.V,an A.C and a clean bathroom.Couldn’t ask for more.;).I had dinner at the kitchen of my accomodation.Simple yet tasty would be the best words to describe the Dal-khichdi,a delcacy famous among gujratis.After finishing the dinner, I bought some packets of surf and a toothpaste.I retired for the night after watching that night’s Premier League football.

I woke up around 8.30 in the morning and it was an Easter Sunday.A great day to have an engagement ceremony.I was getting ready for it when I realized that I didn’t buy her a gift and I didn’t know anything about my current location.So,I decided I would gift her something later.As I stepped out,I felt the heat and it was just half-past-ten.An auto dropped me off to the venue which had the looks of a 5-star hotel.Hotel Metropole indeed looked beautiful and a place where i clearly didn’t belong.The hall was at the extreme right of the building.

As soon as I entered the hall,I found out that there wasn’t one person that I knew in that hall except for the bride and her brother.I felt like I was gate-crashing someone’s wedding.To my right were all the ladies in their sparkling combination of sari and jewellery.To my left were men and boys,looking sharp in their formal attire.The men had their middle-aged paunch with a majority of them possessing a receding hairline.I was observing the people and the hall for want of something interesting to do.I was later chatting with my friends and letting them know how bored I was to be in this situation.The engagement began,I saw the bride who was looking exceptionally beautiful in yellow and pink.All the guys with their high-tech gadgets started taking pictures.I requested one of them to share those photos with me and he was kind enough to share them.I met with the couple on stage and talked to the groom whom I was meeting for the first time.Exchanged pleasantries and we got introduced to each other.After talking for nearly 10 minutes,I was indirectly asked to step down as the groom’s father was bringing some relative up the stage.Following this,I had lunch which was very well planned out.I was being treated to a fine cuisine comprising of a delicacy of paneer,a delicacy of mixed vegetables and Mango milkshake(Aamras).Of course,there were many other items among these,but these three stood out.I left after having a bowl of cream-n-cookies icecream.

Back at the hotel,I filled up my water supplies and after drinking a certain amount,I felt a bit weird in my throat.I knew I was going to come down with a dry throat and if I am really unfortunate then fever, too.With no concrete plans about the evening hovering over me,I decided to take an indefinite nap.Woke up at 5pm.I decided to wander around,but couldn’t help myself out of the bed to do so.Just feeling 100 times lazier than anyone could.I was watching a timeless classic ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ and somehow,it kept me glued to my bed.

I could distinctly see through my shut windows that there were some streaks of lightining in the slowly darkening sky.I switched off the T.V and rushed out to find myself in the midst of the first rains in Ahmedabad.That smell of rain water falling on mud made my feeling of being an outsider go away.It was raining heavily with no signs of slowing down.The roof of the building opposite to our’s was making a lot of noise.I had to experience this climate first hand.I left my building and ran towards any shop selling food and tea nearby.I found a sweet shop having two stallsin front of it.One of them was selling Pani puri and the other Veg.puffs.I tried both.The guy serving me the puff was making sure he had nicely decorated with all kinds of garnishings.Though it was well designed,the overall taste didn’t measure up.I was dissapointed but still I wanted to give the pani puri vendor a chance.When I asked the guy about a plate of it,he said which one.I didn’t get him,so I asked him again.He said that there were 4 flavours to choose from and I couldn’t say the flavours because they were written in gujrati.I tried the garlic flavour and as soon as i took the first bite,I realised even though my mouth and throat will face problems I have to eat this!:D At that time I only had 30 bucks and only used another 10 for a nice steaming cup of tea and with that ran all the way up the road to my room.

On my way there,I saw this beautiful idol in the temple of Swaminarayan.White idol carved in marble looking so serene in all its elegance.And there are nearly more than a dozen Swaminarayan temples in Ahmedabad itself.In my room,though my mouth was stinking with the taste of garlic,I reminded myself that I still have to taste three other flavours.Jeera,Pudina and Regular.With that mental note in mind,I had some light dinner at the same kitchen of my accomodation.And Iwent to bed a little early because I didn’t want to be late for my best friend’s wedding.Also,I was excited to see my friends coming for the wedding tommorow.Finally,I will be able to interact with some familiar faces.:D.

The next day dawned and I was so tired to get up from the exquisite level of comfort I had been provided.Monday morning couldn’t have started with a worse news when I got to know that my friends were not going to come at all for the wedding.Grew a bit nervous,but I had stayed at this place successfully for a day.Also,the neighborhood was quite friendly.I suited up into my traditional attire of kurta-pyjama.To say I was looking dashing would be an understatement.But the climate made sure that I would not just exude heat but face it too.. :P The hall was as magnificiently decorated as imaginable.After taking a good luck at the bride and groom ,I sat at cornermost seat that was available.The bride was looking beautiful in red and white sari with amorous jewellery around her neck and on her ears.For a minute,it was difficult to realize that she was getting married.Sitting among unknown faces was weird but something I had gotten used to.Food,again was very well chosen and arranged.Aamras stood out among them as the sheer taste of mango was difficult to abstain from,never mind the kind of diet you have owed to follow.Left the venue after finishing my lunch before which I saw the bride and groom take 7 rounds around the holy pyre.The groom applied the sindhoor on the bride’s scalp and also tied the hindu sacred necklace of commitment (Mangalsutra) making the marriage official.

Arrived at the hotel with the ghost of packing hovering over my head.I had 5 hours after which I had to return to the hotel for the reception ceremony.I packed my belongings to the minutest objects I had thrown about in a haphazard manner.And just drifted off while reading the newspaper.I woke up at 5pm and rushed out to have my evening tea and pre-planned panipuri.After the tea,I had the remaining three flavours.All the three of them were different in their own way but the one advantage they had over the garlic one was that they didn’t spoil my breath :D .With my cravings satisfied,I dressed up with the only t-shirt I had left.It was also my favorite one,but clearly not something to be worn at a ceremony.But,I had no options.

I left my accomodation with the memories of an incredible weekend and a really sore throat and a bad cold with me.With all my luggage in check,I reached the venue for the last time.Decoration was dialled down and made simple with evergreen hindi song melodies of yesteryear playing in the background.Love was all at see as the couple looked glamorous.The groom was wearing a black suit and the bride was wearing a blue sari.They couldn’t look more made for each other.As the songs were playing,I couldn’t help but sing in my mind.I remember one particular one because it was perfect for that situation.

“Pyaar Deewana hota hai..Mastana hota hai..

Har khushi se..har gham se...begaana hota hai.”

Indeed,the bride and groom had faced enough problems leading upto this wedding.But the end is always so sweet.Even if you were against the social institution of marriage,you would still enjoy the royal splendour the event had showcased.Food was a bit extravagant with italian cuisines like 3 pasta salad and baked lasagnas.I just stuffed my face with both of them and had jalebi with rabdi for dessert.I fulfilled the social obligation of standing with the happy couple and posing for the photograph.And then waved to the bride’s brother and left the venue.Found an auto almost within 5 minutes.He made sure that I reached the Ahmedabad station.I was early for the train by an hour and I used that time to interact with my streetplay gang,joking and having fun.The train was late and my ticket wasn’t confirmed.I was sharing my seat with a woman.But she ended up sharing the upper berth with her daughter and I got the whole side lower berth of the same compartment.There is always a disadvantage of being 6 feet tall.I couldn’t fit into the berth and as hard as I tried sleeping,sleep eluded me for the better part of the night.I spent my night in that train watching episodes of Sherlock (BBC).Enough suspense for the whole night.:D.

I also had a cup of tea at 4am to make sure my night-out in that train would last the whole 7 hours.As soon as the train entered Mumbai,a warmth spread in me.Home sweet home was just half-an-hour away and I couldn’t have been more excited for it.Got off at dadar station and realised the train was an hour late.I walked a little distance from the station where I found a taxi.In my sleepless state,I was completly exhausted and my legs were paining on top of which my throat had become as dry as a desert.I was asleep for majority of the time in the taxi.I was 2kms amay from my home when i realised,this was my first ever trip alone.My first foray into the unseen world which seemed less scary now.This might very well be my first step into being a travel junkie B).Kaaaiii Poooo Chhheeeee..!