Dilli Duur Nahin

The smell of momos at Dilli Haat. The clappity clippoty clop of the brainless high heels at M block. The sheer dynamism of Habitat. Pix’s green and yellow room. Just Pix herself. Trips to the fabric piles at Sarojini. Wiping our nose and eyes from eating the sevpuri at LSR. LSR itself. Mushy gooey squidgy cake of Big Chill. The mufflered winter. The intellectual fecundity at BCL. The smell of coffee and “herbs” at Village Café. Random walks to N block. Sticking our tongues out at the designer stores. Lapping up the joyful Janpath. Strolling along CP. The whiff of reshmi kebab at Khan Chacha. Inhaling the intoxicating aroma of old books at Book Bazaar. Being shoved around effortlessly on a Sunday at Lajpat Nagar. Waking up for an early cheap weekend movie at Chanakya. The horde of cows and buffalos at Zamrudpur. The air conditioned window shopping in the 45 degree heat at Ansals. The delectable food and delightful music at Turquoise Cottage. The bangles of Chandani Chowk. Parathe wali gali. Poetry reading. Mental peace. Emotion satisfaction. Bacon and eggs at American Diners. Walking out of a horrendous GD with Pix. Chaat at Kailash Colony. Followed by corn and pastry. Airy breezy rickshaw rides. Ice golas that stain my mouth orange-red. Crossing the road in front of college. Paying homage to Red Bricks. Still loving its memories. Pure unadulterated joy. Hating the overdone Mocha. The drinking on the sly. Sharing and talking it all. Dressing up with the Sadist 5. While dappling in life’s entangling complications that eventually combed itself to a solution – for we all stood by each other and shared all this. But reality check – right now it isn’t the tiny pretty room I had, or the roomies that was my family, or the best friend who is my pillar, or the mere overnight journey to my home – right now is that one yellow light that glows ominously – I am in an alien city with alien people - but the same grey blanket covers me – and I slide under it – and feel like I am enveloped in my old life again. I try to sleep – I try to dream – I take a trip down the trodden lanes of my life – “Its just 5 months”, I tell myself – Dilli duur nahin !