Chandigarhhh

Yesterday morning I returned from a weekend at one of my most favorite places in the world, Chandigarh. And so I am happy, and in a brilliantly positive frame of mind. In fact, I remember thinking while looking at the sunset outside my train window on Friday evening, while en route Chandigarh, there is so much in life to be thankful for.

So what is it that I love so much about Chandigarh?

First of all, the life that it gave me for 18 months. One of my most favorite visual images right from the time I was a child is one that is seen in so many films, especially foreign films. It is of a young woman unlocking the door of her flat, entering it and then tossing her keys on the shelf or on top of the fridge. This visual representation of independence is something I have craved for always. And when the Chandigarh job happened and with it came the opportunity of being really independent for the first time in my life, I rushed to take it. And every morning when I locked my house and every evening when I came back, it gave me a sense of control over my life and destiny. And that felt good.

Secondly, Chandigarh and its people accepted me for being me. I cannot remember a time when either my friends or neighbors expected me to behave in a certain way because I was a single woman living on my own. I was allowed my space, and for any person, especially a woman, that is a liberating feeling.

Thirdly, the people of Chandigarh. I am so glad for the friendships I have been blessed with there. Quick thank-yous to those who made my life so spectacular, and continue to do so just be being in it. This will sound like an Oscar-award winning thank you speech …but I can’t help it. :)

1. Gaurav: For being my first friend in Quark, for your stoic, quiet self that still found plenty to argue with me.

2. Puneet: Mrs Bains, thanks for helping me set up my house...be it shopping for upholstery or gas stove or utensils, all the quick recipes, all the ghar-ka-khana. For Patiala. For being your no-nonsense, practical, funny self.

3. Shalini: No Shal Singh, you still cannot and should not sing. Thank you for welcoming me into your group and for being one of the most helpful colleagues and friends ever.

4. Shivani: For all the gossip, Simu, impromptu dinners and movies and for being one of the nicest people I have ever met.

5. Saurabh: For all the daily mails and stupid forwards, for listening, for being there in those couple of bleak months.

6. Brijesh: For everytime you said, "San, there's a new restaurant in town...chalein?", for "Just Desserts", for knowing that communication is a two way process. For ensuring that Swati is now as much a friend as you are.

7. Devinder: For all the rides, for being my bestest buddy, for eating all the maggis and scrambled eggs, and all the experiments in my kitchen, for putting up with all my nonsense (blow horn, lahu, “I am getting bored, can we please argue about something?”).

8. Karan: For being my brightest spot of sunshine in Chandigarh. For that freezing trip to Karnal and the fun trip to Kasauli, for all the on-the-spur of the moment plans, drives, walks at the Lake, and for truly being a good friend.

And Meeta. Boss, friend, mentor, guide, surrogate mom…words cannot do justice to all that you were and still are.

Coming back to the trip as such…highlights of it include:

1. Watching a brilliant sunset from my train window on Friday evening.

2. Being greeted (yet again) by the millions of birds that inhabit the Chandigarh station. Mornings and evenings are such excellent times to go to the station, just watching the birds is an awesome experience.

3. Meeting friends back to back for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Being pampered and treated with lots of affection. Bliss!

4. Wearing pink, a color I never do, and I don’t think I wore it ever in my 18 month stay in Chandigarh. Reason being I think I cannot carry off nice, ladylike colors like pink and peach and pastels. But well, once in a while one should experiment. The first words that were uttered by the three sets of friends I met on that day were as follows:
a. Pink? How come? Although wear it more often, suits you.
b. Why are you wearing pink? Are you in love?
c. Oye!! Pink-shink!! Kya ho gaya tere ko?!

5. Shopping for papads (I love the papads one gets in Chandigarh), and movies. Odd combination did you say? So? Do I care? Anyway, there was a sale on at one of the stores so I picked up some of my most favorite movies dirt cheap: Monsters Inc, Finding Nemo, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam. And also An Affair to Remember. It’s an old movie starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and one that I had been searching for quite desperately. Hear the story, you will know why. Grant and Kerr meet on an ocean liner, and although they are seeing other people, there is instant chemistry between them. And this chemistry is only through conversations (well, to start with) and even their most regular conversations are engrossing to watch and give you the viewer a part of that high. Awesome film, awesome conversations. Of course it has its low points but the first half of the movie when they are discovering things about each other only through their minds is so electrifying that it makes up for any faults eventually.

So that was all I did in Chandigarh. Dying to go back again. Because the city fulfills all my basic requirements from life so well. Good people, good food, the ability to buy books, movies and music whenever I want to, and weekend trips. I am all set!