The light was slowly fading out as the blanket of dusk began to smoothly
cover over the mountains letting out a magnificent sight, a sight pretty much hard
to miss. The trees were dancing to the gentle wind, the birds chirping around
happily and the cloud raising its curtain to reveal the hidden treasure of the
sky, as the planet was getting ready to welcome the approaching night.
It was the time of the day when the heaven opens its glorious
gate to everyone, showcasing a spectacular view of the heavenly bodies. However,
very few get the time to sit back, relax and relish the beauty of it, as most
of us are programmed to move on a fast-forward mode thus ignoring the beauty
around us.
These days there are no room for a selfless life, especially
with the city dwellers, as their livelihood is tightly packed, leaving room for
relaxing and getting connected with the nature. But, amidst this materialistic
life, in contrary, the other part of the city, i.e. the rural life witnesses a totally
different set of activities.
The countryside was experiencing and enjoying the art of nature
as they always get to do so. Evenings were specifically meant for gatherings.
Old men were seen sitting in groups with large country made cigars in their
hand and enjoying their usual evening chat. Children running around playing
merrily while the women had gathered out in large groups, exchanging different
recipes and to add some extra spice to their conversation, even gossips too. Overall,
the true essence of nature was to be felt there.
Moving slightly away from the countryside and landing amid the
famous Ferguson College road, one could sense the life of the modern world
here, with bustling activities happening in 360 degrees around you. And such a
sight would be a whole new experience for any newcomer from rural place to this
splendid city of Pune, the city well known as the educational hub of India.
Located in the Western Ghats, the city is roughly positioned at around
150 kms from the business capital of the country, Mumbai. It boasts of its
inclement weather and the right geographic zone giving a year-round of pleasant
living. And not to forget on the back to back festivals that are celebrated across
the city by all section of people. Around the third quarter of the year, the air
is completely pumped up with festive mood and there is never a moment of
sadness filling up into you.
Now with the rising population, the downtown had witnessed
constant remodeling of its infrastructure though still preserving the rich
heritage of the city. And to mention here, how different the city may transform
into, there is one thing that never changes, and it is “Vada Paav”. A street
dish that is so popular among the locals and a must try among all the tourists,
one can easily lay hand on them almost anywhere in the city. The city never
runs out of eateries and local food joints.
Though the city was witnessing rapid change over the years,
there is always a watchful eye on the countryside from getting destroyed. The
flora and fauna are well preserved with minimal destruction done due to the
constant expansion of the city.
Now coming back to the city life, the aesthetic appeal of the
bird’s song was nowhere to be heard around. All that one could witness were long
queues of vehicle stranded in the evening traffic and the continuous honking of
the horn which dominated the area, well apart from the gorgeous women walking over
the sidewalk. People were trying to find their best possible way to head home
amidst the heavy traffic, but it was hardly clearing out.
A fat traffic constable was sitting lazily at one corner of the
road, showing even the slightest interest to clear the traffic. He can’t be blamed
as well, since he was aware of the situation and it is a routine happening
almost every week. The chaos at the road had no special reason but rather it
was Friday evening and the weekend hangover had already taken upon the Punekars.
Gang of stags and couples could be seen thronging the street
getting ready for the “Friday Madness”. Pubs,
Bars, Clubs and private party lounges were about to witness a heavy turnover in
terms of both people and profit. Also, these places were expecting a very good
business, as it was the first weekend of the month and people would be cash
loaded.
A week full of pressurized work at the office, anyone visiting the club was ready to shed a good amount of money, just to relieve themselves from the weeklong stress. Hmmm, well they can’t be criticized about spending so lavishly. It’s their work nature that drives them to spend a lot. Each one is literally stripped off by their boss and a mental relaxation is very much needed to come out of the stereotypic life, which they are forced to lead.
(To be continued...)
