It
was Sunday, the only day where something planned hangouts work out, in a busy
life. And all the folks among us had decided to visit, the core market of the
town, Chandni Chowk, to spend the evening. As pre fixed we entered the market
at around 5.00 in the evening. A place full of noise, shors and sheers of
different people, the junction of giggling couples, lovely families, bindaz
friends, romantic lovers, of course almost the middle class families
.
The
very scene of variety of colours, elogen lamps, tubelights, petty shops
attracted me, in a fraction of seconds and I started travelling in a world of
imagination. The gleaming lights in the dukans were silently inviting the trendy
customers, the flavoured smells of foodstalls dragged foodish people towards
them, some stalls where none of above worked, the base voice of vendors
promoting their products, pierced the ear drums.
A
bunch of balloons, Gas balloons… coloured in Red, yello, blue, green,
white….almost the attractive colours grabbed me. I was enthusiastic to see who
held the balloons in a bunch. The very view towards the threads of bunch guided
me towards the Lady….. who held them. She had held those threads that would fetch
her a days meal, those threads that would make her family to eat… Baloons in
colours was held by a dully grey woman.
All
of sudden I realized some one was poking me hard…. “Alla ki nam pe de de
baba…., Allah ki nampe ……” A begger, perfectly well from top to bottom, was
begging without hesitation…. Well how he can hesitate.. It’s a profession for
him now… I nodded my head indicating him I need not give anything made him to
move forward… A sudden cheer from behind diverted me, “Chor Chor…. That bloody
idiot has snached my purse.. catch him catch him”… some one ran in zooming
speed, while some people tried to catch him… lady who was making the cheer..
came to the foreground behind….. well now I felt.. begger was more better than
a thief as my hand made a move towards back pocket to check if my wallet was In
the location.
The
above incidents are almost common hence, didn’t attract me much. I turned
around to grab some thing more sensational. The dust rising from footsteps of
thousands took no time to react.. I coughed from the core.. Yet this cough was
something different.
Shop
full of bangles… the Edison’s creativity … bulbs… glittered the shine of clustered
bangles. Suddenly something more was gleaming…a pretty desi face of a desi gal…
her enthusiastic eyes were impertinent searching in among clusters of bangles
the one suits her. Lips carried the charismatic smile. That could make anyone
forget the world… body was topbottemed with Halfsaree… which enhanced her
beauty. Beauty of India lies in Beautiful desi beauties... for a moment the age
spoke in within me. Closed ma eyes to feel the feel…. When opened… could not
locate her there… ;)
Sugar
candies… pink and pink… beside bangle shop… a backed me my child hood. I paid a
coin of 5... Took a candy. Soothing softness reminded those noons... while my
mom would be fast asleep, ting ting ting!!!! Bell would tempt me to wake her up
and ask for a coin of 2… she used to give me after pleading her... and I would
rush to gather my candies... pink and pink... one for me and one for Mom… I
would eat mine then my mom’s :P….the ultimate soft sweet brought back me to the
market….
The
market was almost filled with people… some Indians some foreigners… everyone
busy with their own business… vendors vending their goods... to earn their
lively hood… while Parents satisfying their tiny tots with much of compromise..
Less with buying, crazy youths cheering in their own fashion, pretty gals
pleading their boyfriends, newly married in a different manner… each of them had
a reason... Soul of enjoyment!!!... For someone it was life for enjoyment…
someone else it was enjoyment for life.
Eating
is one the most enjoyable for me :P… after sugar candy I searched for if
anything else visible. There were a lot… The pulley of verity of pooris, stall
of cane juice, Soda stops... nothing attracted me as much the golgoppa shop
did. I ordered for Jaljeera seasoning. The expertise hands picked up the ice
crystals and got busy in colouringup…. At this moment something interesting
happened. A cooli, with a scattered dress came there with his son, too tiny.
The baby was fully in pleasure to eat the golgoppa… his father spilled all the
coins he had hard earned on the table in front... and asked for goppa… mean
while shopkeeper had given mine, I had not yet tasted it. The baby snatched his
candy and started eating it passionately. I saw the satisfaction on father’s
face at this moment, while my candy flowed out due to temperature, letting the
stick naked in my hand.
At
this time, I was mechanically being carried away, stall by stall, visualizing
verity of folks, shops with some creativity, some modernity. Artisans sold
their hand made goods, while some vendors brought up the attractive china made products.
But today the raised up malls, shopping super markets… have made them decline
down to sleep mode. Every shop carried its own story, some for passion, and
some for livelihood. Somewhere in the mind it was clear, Life and Market makes
a perfect match, some way philosophically.
A
shop full of teddy bears did bring a smile on my face. Though a girly one, for
some reason it made me smile. I stood over there for some time, seeing
transaction in the shop. “Dear, Teddy bear... tell me the secret, how do you
attract pretty people?”…. I questioned, no one to answer :D…..
Vibration
in the right pocket of my jeans brought me back to present. Dipped in 3 figures
to pick up the call. Oh my god!!!! Call from a roommate… the name on display
made my cerebrum think….. I was lost in world of imagination, while my pals
were somewhere else…. Now every thoughts came to my mind… new city, new people,
big market how to go back, to destiny…. Everything was dull except the display
of cell… I received the call...
“Erna
pirav pote marre, saavu et call malpuna nikk…. Bodha vunda maga nikk….. volla
eee?..... enklu mool exit gate the kaital ulla.. bega bala… battaibokka tope
ninna… “!!!!! The homely tulu brought back a secure feeling … Laughing at my
foolishness… Laughing with an imagination of all the scoldings and thrashings
that would be mine in few minutes…. I rushed searchin the exit!!!!!
