Delhi, I hate you like I love you!
It’s been three years since I moved out of Delhi yet, I check the weather forecast everyday, is what I recently shared on Facebook in response to the memories that keep popping up. Honestly Facebook, stop reminding of the all the things that I am trying to get over, not cool yo!
As a lover of all things historical, Delhi caught my fascination from the very beginning. The old world charm, the ruins, the Dargahs and the kebabs of course, how can I not talk about Delhi food.
As I explored my inexplicable love for Delhi, I came across books like ‘City of Djins’ by Willian Dalrymple and ‘Delhi, a novel’ by Khushwant Singh, which put Delhi in a new perspective altogether. As I would cross new parts of town after a brawl with infamous Delhi autowalas, I would be reminded of the history, how the Yamuna flowed over what today is known of as outer Ring Road.
Celebrating Valentines day at Purana Quila, because #zindagiseaashqui. This is what I absolutely admire about Delhi, how its built itself around the history. Of course, a-lot has been lost in translation over the centuries nevertheless, how much arts and culture, history and heritage is accessible to all from family picnics at India gate to shady romances at Buddha park.
You may argue that this is a highly romanticised notion of Delhi, not arguing with that either. Yes, there is an insecure side to the city that gets oddly intimidated at a slight look. The toxic masculinity is unbearable, the weather makes its even worse, and then add a pinch of toxic-ness in the air, the same Delhi becomes burdensome.
I also have a theory and it might just be a conspiracy theory that I have formulated in my head but I blame Delhi’s aggressiveness on the weather. The brutal summers and the harsh winters just makes us(Oh! did I just claim to be a Delhite) angry people.
Delhi is one city, I have spent considerable amount of my formative years, 18–28, a decade to be precise. I miss the city like one would miss the loss of a dear one. It’s made me the person, moreover the woman that I am today. Not dismissing the fact that for a woman Delhi suddenly becomes exclusive where one has to constantly fight for your space but you know what, that makes us warriors and we carry that with us wherever we go! If you can fight Delhi, you are fearless for life! I must add thought, it is indeed a shame, that one must fight so much to merely survive in a city. See that’s what I am talking about, this love/hate relationship with the city, cant live with it, cant live without it.
I constantly revisit the city in my head, sometimes with love, sometimes with hate but never with an ounce of ungratefulness. Will I ever come back to Delhi? Please spare me the toxicity. Will I ever get over it? Probably not, coz Delhi you bitch, I hate you like I love you.
Popular Posts
