I will be back…!!!
Views — By Sapna Krishnan on March 13, 2012 at 12:00 AMWhen the Editor, also my friend, suggested I should talk about my relocation from Pune to Delhi, I wasn’t sure if I could really do justice to Pune & Punekars! To begin with, I LOVE PUNE!!!
I was an 11-year-old girl when I moved from Bahrain to Pune. I wasn’t happy. This whole process of having to move to another city is just overwhelming. To leave your friends, make new ones, to adjust to a different system in school, and much more. No more travelling in dad’s car but instead travel by rickshaws and buses. Little did I know, I was only to fall in love with this beautiful city.
I still remember my first day in school. I was used to a very lenient system and hence expected it to be the same in Pune. I was surprised as to how they were strict about adhering to rules and the first few days drove me mad, literally! I have to double plait my hair, really?! If that wasn’t all, there 63 kids in a class and each class had just sections A-C. No wonder they had to accommodate so many students in one class. My first few days were filled with shocks! No! I am not being a snob. I was used to 35 students in class, and my school in Bahrain had sections from A-O for every class. Inspite of all this I was blessed with really good classmates who went out of their way to make sure I felt comfortable.
Punekars, without a doubt, live to eat! During my college days, when I was out painting the town red with friends, I realized how the city is full of thelas, restaurants and hotels. There is so much to eat! Every place has a different taste to the food, and you end up falling in love with some delicacy.
Every friend loved paani puris and vada pavs at a different stall, and it was fun visiting different stalls just to taste them all. I am a person who is always game for sudden plans – be it for late night ice-creams or early morning “treks” to Sinhagad. That is a place to visit at the onset of monsoon. Err… you ask me if I went trekking?! No ways! I went for the garam garam bhajiyas, pithla bhaakris and chaas. Yummy food with friends, amongst the clouds with a drizzle…Simply divine!
My friends raved about Vaishali restaurant. Since I’ve always been a curious child, I had to ask them more about the place. My eyes almost popped out when they said it was famous for South Indian dishes. You might wonder why? Well, I am a south Indian, and with no offence to anybody, I cannot stand South Indian food. Like, how does one eat it?! With a lot of coaxing, I finally agreed to join my friends on a breakfast expedition. Wow, the place was buzzing with people and there was a queue for a table! Relentlessly, I had my first bite of dosa, and I knew why. Yes, yes, I continued to go there regularly after that day.
The city gave me the best of friends, and the list has only increased with years, and they all continue to be my side. I had to move to Bangalore for my graduation, and I thought it was going to be the same as when I moved to Pune. Yes, I love Bangalore, but I missed Pune and Punekars much more.
Bunking tuitions to chill at a Cafe Coffee Day, or leaving my 12th grade prelims midway to watch Saathiya… Well, Mom and Dad…now you know why I scored less in my board exams. The Ganpati celebrations along with other crazy occasions have only made it an eventful stay!
There were times I would wonder, why my Dad bring me to Pune, and not any other city? I am glad he made this choice. Even today, when I am married and living in Delhi now, I still continue to love Pune and wish to return some day. The journey of 15 years has only been fun, and more of it. Of course, every journey has a downside to it too, but the warmth this city and its people have given me, only makes it all a journey worthwhile.
See you soon Punekars!
