I will never forget that day in my life. It was Monday. For the first time came out of home alone. Of course dada came with me, but stayed for only one day. He had to go to his college. So alone in a new place. Don't know any one. Language is different. I had some friends (actually dada's friend) here. When I remember those days, I still feel that without them, I would have returned to my home. But still I felt home sick at sometime. Whoever stayed in Delhi know, how they feel in the month of June. That too for someone who comes from Assam for the first time. That day I realized what 47 degree Celsius means.
It was my decision to come to Delhi. From the day I finished school I was sure that I will come to Delhi for higher studies. But never thought that it will be that difficult. From admission in college to jump in and out of Redline bus (that time Blueline was called Redline) everywhere you have to fight to get something. Still people are so energetic. From early morning to late night you will see people are running and driving from one place to another. But they never complain. For a guy like me who comes from sleepy town of Assam, that was really a new experience.
..........I was waiting for the call from home inside a PCO. No no I did not have cell phone. Mobile phone came to India in late nineties only. So eagerly waiting for the call from home. Today is the day, which will decide whether I will stay in Delhi or go home. I was relieved when I got the percentage of my class twelve exam. With this percent I should get a seat in a decent college of DU. .......My next adventure was to submit admission form from one college to another college. For the first time I saw the famous Ring Road of Delhi and also the “Mudrika Sewa” (lifeline of Delhi). With five rupees you can circle the whole ring road of around 50 k.m. in a “Mudrika” bus. Amazing isn't it? And I did that, of course not for fun but to submit the admission forms. Ya I got lots of help from my senior friends, in finding colleges.
.........At last I got admission in a college. So now I am a student of Delhi University, my childhood dream. I felt like I am in cloud nine. Unaware of the future life in this city. I am starting to enjoy the student life of DU. Never bought ticket in city bus. For DTC buses we had twenty rupees pass. For Redline buses just we had to say “Staff”. That was our ticket in Redline bus. Frankly even today I don’t know what that “Staff” means.
..........One by one my senior friends left Delhi. Some back to Assam, some abroad. New friends came and went. But I am still here. Don’t know what Delhi did to me, but I never able to stay far from this city. After around 13 years I still feel like I came to this city only yesterday. There is something new in this city everyday. Still you have to fight to get something here. But that fight is worth giving. Because you know, you will never return empty hand. You may be alone here, fighting for survival in every step of life, but this city will never let you to feel that. Experiences I got form this city, whether in my personal life or professional life is uncountable. Delhi has changed a lot in these years, but for me it is still the same city I encountered on that hot Monday of June.
“Nabbu aa jaa chaai ban gaya”, my room mate’s voice bring back me to the present world.
And suddenly I realized my other room mate is playing the song from the movie "Gharonda" in his laptop "ek akela iss shahar main........."
