July 31, 2010

A ride to the city of joy...

I know of a boy who used to be very shy, reticent and ignorant. Ignorant of modern lifestyle, ignorant of variety in life and probably ignorant of how beautiful life is or rather could be. With all his little knowledge, the boy paid a short visit to the city of joy in the setting winters of 1999. He met several people in five days time. Although, this was supposed to be just another family function, the charm and joy of this very city stuck to him beyond his own imagination. His ignorance encountered an intangible spark which reignited his dreams and propelled volumes of fuel in his sinking plane. Upon return, he begged one last chance from his loved ones to migrate to the city of joy to pursue his career interest. As destiny would have it, the boy boarded a train to Howrah (Gateway to Calcutta) with heaviest of the hearts as soon as within sixty days of the aforesaid trip.

A different journey had begun; a bird had flown away from its nest and a test of grit had commenced for survival. The city of joy had turned the city of battlefield for this lad. Slowly he started going out, meeting more and more people that helped him sustain nostalgic moments of his serene hometown and a loving family. The clock seemed to tick a little faster every passing month and the place seemed to become friendlier every passing year.

Ten years on, having visited almost a dozen countries and more than 50 cities as this very boy (no longer a boy, I guess) sits back to reminiscence the vivid glimpses of this ride, the charm of the city of joy still flashes across his eyelids somehow. There is something over there in the “Mini London” that has created a magical bond in the bottom of his heart which gets stronger and incredible with every sojourn to the city. To be continued...

P.S. At this juncture, the boy takes a pause, salutes all his friends and wishes everyone a very happy friendship day. You all are too special!

2 comments:

Ramesh said...

Wonderful Vishal. Beautifully written and can't wait for the continuation. Yes, the first visit to the Big Town is always a huge memory. Perhaps its because that's when the child became a boy and rapidly went on to become a man.

Vishal said...

Hey Ramesh - thank so much! Will write few more posts soon :)

Yes, these memories just remain there forever, such is the nature of bubbly teen age when one takes so many important steps in life.