Change...

Change...

Coming back from Kapil's place yesterday, a lot of things were noticed on my way back. Firstly I walked all the way from Moolchand to INA market, as the weather was quite good and I was alone, Pinak had left in some bus he got for Rajouri. I was enjoying everything on my way, from the ever changing facades of the malls to me left, to the high number of imported cars that I got to stare at on my way ;) Where else but South Delhi can you see them? Airplanes were hovering above us, coming from the Dwarka side while taking off, as the directions have been changed, and needless to say it was a great sight. The Underpass just before AIIMS flyover was quite good to look at, while passing it by on the footpath and I decided that instead of going straight to the Safdurjung Hospital bus stand, i'd rather take a sybway and go towards the INA market one , in hopes of getting a seat in 588, coz while coming in the morning towards Kapil's home, me and Anuj faced a hell of a crowded bus-ride, all the time very conscious of our wallet and phone. Haha! And I was in no mood to go all the way to Tilak Nagar while standing in the crowd which would swamp the busy 588 route from the Safdurjung Hospital side.

And so I got to walk along, what I beleive, is the most beautiful flyover project of Delhi. the Rajeev Gandhi Setu, far better known as the Safdurjung-AIIMS flyover. And far beyond that I could see the cranes of Delhi Metro, the exciting views of it's tunnels I was lucky to watch in the afternoon bus ride. Was I happy all the way or what? All the damn tiredness went out of me like anything. Anyways, got the bus, didn;t get the seat till about a minute, but was enjoying the view outside. Thankfully it turned out to be not to crowded a bus! The impressive facdes of Mahavir Mediial College were great to watch, so was the Trauma Centre building next to it, but while we were crossing a flyover at South Africa Avenue, I noticed something below. The cars which were waiting at the red light were all beyond the 'STOP' signal painted on the road. A pleasant change to watch, especially because everytimje I travel to Dwarka, call centre cabs are a speeding lot and people just don't waitn for green lights too at the further ends of the sub-city as it does not have much traffic. Another change was that all bus stops along the Ring Road have been changed to that international look, yet the FOB work near the RK Puram Sector 12 bus stand looked long abandoned, I dunno why. Yesterday, the most welcome change was definitely the weather, as it rained for the first time in July, after a wet June, and today it was again one of the best weather days in Delhi. While passing through Cantt. road, the FOB was fully functional now, and the greenery on both sides of the narrow arterial road was truly a sight. While coming from Dhaula Kuan side and entering the Cntt. road, if you go just a few kilometres ahead, you must notice house no. 6 on the left, on the gates of which is written "Dog is Ok, Beware of the owner". The first time we noticed it was with Ankush, while going to the MJA classes. LMAO!

There was this guy standing next to the door. who amusingly spit out his chewing gum while the bus was in motion.Minutes later, when he was supposed to get off at the Lajwanti flyover, instead of going to the front door, he was standing at he back one, almost holding his head out, when the bus conductor who was sitting right ahead spitted the paan out, and it almost got on this guy's face. Haha! I am sure he must have been wondering then about what he did, even as the bus conductor was at least good to the point of looking back to see if any motorist would come in the way of his paan supari spit! The Lajwanti ROB is the worst of all, and reminded you of how bumpy Delhi's rides used to be all over, long time back. Anyways, each time it rains, the roofs of all the Metro stations get cleared of dust and all and pose a fresh sight. And I must mention that each time we were passing a flyover on the Ring Road, civic sense amongst the motorists was quite admirable as seen from the top, with the usual flouters too making a mark. I just love Delhi all the more, with each passing day, yet I want to move out asap because of the job thing too, and reasons better left out of all this. The greenery is increasing and weather is so welcoming these days, seems like God is gifting us GTBITians a few moments to cherish forever, that is before we leave for our jobs. Kapil's house too was very beautiful from the inside, what with it's raw and earthen appeal which reminded me of my Grandparents house in Patiala, as both had a central courtyard which one could see from all directions, once on the first floor. The spaces in the walls to keep stuff, the old style upported roofs and the windows were all reminiscent of an era gone by. And his 'Mamaji' Akash was just like me when it came to going on and on about the developmental things in Delhi, for once I kept shut and enjoyed having to listen to someone who was like me, only to see that he too was made to shut up in sort-of the same way as these people make me do, when I don't stop lauding the Metro etc. I have just enjoyed the rains which lashed Delhi once again, with a steaming cup of tea of course.

I was thinking about a lot of other things and changes that I noticed yesterday, in the now elusive long bus rides, thanx to the metro of course, but then, I'd rather go out right now and enjoy the awesome weather... :)