Home, Sweet Home!

“What a Hot day!!” I thought. “When has it ever been ‘not hot’??” I thought subsequently. My auto rickshaw turned in to the gates of Chennai Central, a building that has stood firmly in Chennai-Madras-Chennai city. The city has undergone tremendous changes but the building – as always, the same. It was the same way as it was some years back, when as a kid I used to get so excited at the sight of it. The only change I felt now was the traffic regulation and the recent amendment on how to enter or exit the building. Rest, it was the same – Noisy, dirty, dusty and sweaty. But, what can you expect? I’m in Chennai!!

I got excited this time too but not at the building but because I was heading to Banglore. I was late. The train was scheduled to leave at 3.30 and I was entering the station at 3.25. I had 3 bags and I had to run to get in. I hired a coolie and kept telling him to run faster. I know its not fair but I dint want to stay back. Banglore was awaiting me. I had so much of plans for the next couple of days. I dint want to miss any of it.

At last, after 10 minutes of sprinting, we reached Platform No 3. ‘Crowded’ is an understatement. But, wait a minute… Where is the train? I dint see the train in the platform and my heart leapt! I kept asking my coolie and he reassured me that the train was late. Finally my train rolled in to the platform and Oh My God!!! There were some hundred n odd people waiting to get out and some hundred and odd waiting to get in. I stood in one corner watching people yelling, pushing, punching, stamping, poking and leaving/entering their coach. I went to my coach. I knew the train would stop for another 20 minutes or so, so I took my time and got in and sat down. Luckily I had a window seat. I would go mad if I hadn’t got one. There are people who don’t let you sit even if you request/plead them. So, I always pray that I get a window seat on my own so that I don’t have to beg for it.

The train left by 4.15. ‘Here I come’, I told Banglore. The train started gaining speed and I was looking at the yellow patches of farmland filled with rainwater, huts half merged, and huge factory walls with posters of all the ‘leading’ and ‘not so leading’ retail outlets. It was hard to concentrate on anything. It was hot, humid, sweating and frustrating. With people talking loudly in the coach and someone sticking to you from the near-by seat, it was not a great journey.

I longed to reach Banglore soon. I kept looking at my watch as though, mere staring at it would make it move faster. After a while, we reached Katpadi. Ah, a little relief. The climate changed. Instead of the hot and dry winds, I could feel cool breeze blowing. It looked like, somewhere in the distance, some land was getting drenched with nature's magical showers.

The next 2 hours or so, everyone in the train spent their time munching whatever was being sold… The sound of “ garam bajji, sudaana bajji.. hot bajji” made all heads turn and stop the vendor. The food was good. The railways have introduced their own catering and the quality has improved. I kept munching whatever was sold, and my stomach started resisting even the smell of food after a while. The only thing I could do was to eat and I was doing it perfectly well.

We reached Jolarpet and the climate was just awesome. I was excited. I knew we were nearing Banglore, as the breeze was chill outside. ‘Few more hours’, I told myself. Resting my head on the windowpane, I started to drowse. After what seemed like hours, I heard people pulling out their luggage and getting ready to break free from the train. We were reaching cantonment. I had to get down too. I hurried up. Got my luggage ready and peeped out to look for my brother in the station, as the train slowly came to a halt.
‘Here I am’. I was happy to have left Chennai behind. Happy to be in Asia’s fastest growing cosmopolitan city. I found my brother and we left home. Wide roads. Sure, we were not driving in the city and it was pretty late but still, the roads were wide. There were so many outer ring roads in the city. You can reach any part of the city by taking one of the ORRs. The 2 days that I spent was rocking.

Everything was perfect, as I had planned. Had an awesome change from the normal, routine boring life. But on the day of my return journey, I was not upset. I was excited about getting back to my home – Chennai.

How is it possible?? I mean, its ridiculous. 2 days back, I was so excited about leaving my city for a change and now, I’m.. I’m missing it?? Oh, god!! Yes, I’m missing my city. I’m missing Chennai. That’s the truth. But how can this be? May be its because I’m so used to the place that even if its crowded, hot, sultry, dirty, polluted or stinking, I cant be anywhere but there.

I packed my bags with glee. “I’m going home”.. Hurray.. Caught my train in the afternoon.. It was hot in Banglore too. But, I dint sweat. I know that, had it been Chennai, sweat would be dripping from everywhere. But it’s okay. Chennai is Chennai. Whatever be it. No comparisons and No comments.

Back on the train, this time, unfortunately, I dint get a window seat and the lady who was sitting by it, dint even turn to me though I called her with so many names. I mean, I first tried “Excuse me”, then, “hello”, then a little louder, then, “aunty?”, then, “yenga” but hmm hmm… she just dint turn. I even tried to check whether she was deaf who forgot to plug in her machine, but no, I could not make out anything.

And this man on the other side, honestly, so unfortunate to have got stuck in between two people like this, but this man, happily snored and the sound made me feel so uneasy. I think he must have done a late shift somewhere but whatever, don’t they realize, I’m suffering? Ah, but I’m not the only one. In all the rows, there is one person in the middle with a screwed up face. May be these two people once sat in the middle and learnt their lessons. I’m learning mine now!!

After about half an hour (It felt like some 2 hours), unable to bear these two weirdos, I decided to stand by the door. I walked up to the door, opened it, stood by the corner leaning on it, and yea, what I saw was heaven. It was about to drizzle. The clouds dark and the wind chill, woahhh.. I was surprised. I enjoyed the rain on my way to Banglore and here again, rain God has taken pity on me! Hurray..

It started raining and within few minutes, it poured. Poured, poured and poured for about 2 hours.. All the shutters of the train were closed. I insisted that the door be open and since I was blocking the splashes, no one complained much.

The smell of the mud.. What a pleasant one. Hmmmm… Trying hard to open atleast one eye (with those heavy drops hitting the train’s outer body and then splashing on to my face), it was a great, enjoyable and a different experience. I know it’s dirty, but I dint care. I loved it all. I was not sure if I’ll ever get a chance like this again.

I couldn’t believe that the climate was still chill, even after almost reaching Chennai. After a while, we reached. It was a cool night. The air was fresh. It had rained here too. The roads proved it. I took a rick and got home. But yea, before I reached, I started sweating. It was the same noise, the same smell, same pollution, same bad roads and the same everything. I felt bored but I felt I was home. You can blindfold me here and from the left and right turns, from the bumps and dumps on the road, I can tell you where I am.

Chennai, I can never make another city as my abode, as long as I live.
Chennai – I love you!

Chennai - my home, 'my sweet home'.