Saadi Dilli

Life, for me, is a blur right now. You see, my eyesight had deteriorated and I had some eye allergy so I went to the doctor in the hope of relief. He took me off my contact lenses for a month and I have been surviving on some old glasses I had. The doctor refuses to check my vision before I get some other tests done. So, I am living with a foggy vision. Total bulls*^t . I am telling you, those of you who have perfect vision are lucky souls. NO care for glasses and lenses. You can go out in the rain, without any concern. You have not experienced vapor condensing on your lenses just as u are about to take a sip of your hot coffee. No sitting in the front row in the classroom just because you broke your glasses last night during a b'day bash. Importantly. no visit to the opthalmologist...

Ok, enough of cribbing. That is not what this post is about. So, of course I cant drive to the doctors with this poor vision. Even mom is fed up with the thrice-in-a-week visit to my eye specialist... she has her own work too... so, just this once, she suggested I take the bus... the famous DTC bus ride at 9 in the morning... Well, there isnt much you can do sitting in the bus... out of the window, think, look out, wonder, look out, ponder, look out and smile... that bus rid etriggered this blog... There are some things which I simply love about Delhi. They make Delhi what it is. They make us Delhites what we are. Some of these quintessentials:

• All DTC bus drivers wear their seat belts. At least that is what anyone on the outside would think. In reality, the belt has been stretched out of use and is just strewn across the shoulder of the driver to fool the traffic policeman. What is commendable here is the effort that the driver puts in to fool the policeman, and the innocense displayed by the latter.
  
• Another thing I have noticed in my many bus rides is the difference in the behaviour of DTC and Blueline conductors. A DTC conductor wont move his ass to give you the ticket. It is upto you to wade through the crowd and at the end of it, hold a three rupees ticket as a trophy of your victory. On the other hand, Blueline conductor won't let you sit(or stand) peacefully. He will hound you till the end of your hour long journey, even though you bought the ticket as soon as you entered the bus. I guess it is one of the many differences that contribute to the Diversity in Delhi
  
• Talking of diversity, Delhi is home to people from all parts of the country. Being the capital of the country, it attracts people from all over, and of all economic stratas. What unites the capital, though, and keeps it together is at display in all the markets in Delhi. Bargaining is almost like the second nature of Delhites. It is an undescribable experience to see a women decked in lakhs worth of jewellery haggle with a shopkeeper for ten bucks. Again a lesson for all- ones and twos can make lakhs. After all that is the secret behind the wealth of the aunties.
  
• One obsession shared by all Delhites - their health. Everyone, from 9 to 90 years old is obsessed with their health (or rather figure ;)). I use the word obsess in place of consious for a reason. And this reason would be apparent if you decide to go out at 7 in the morning. Dont go out on foot, mind u, it is against the Delhi traditions. We drive ten kilometers to get to Lodhi graden, Nehru Garden or one of the many other gardens. We park our cars on the road to go in for our 15 min jog, before we drive back to our home just half an hour away. Again, it is our spirit- the pot bellied uncles and hundred kgs overweight aunties are working very hard on getting the right physique.
• Obviously, if there are so many 'bellies' in Delhi, there is a reason for it. A true Delhite can eat ANYTHING at ANYTIME. Hot, cold , sweet, sour, salty, spicy, any damn cuisine- just bring it on! Whatever. We always have room for more food in our stomach. (I guess people who know me already have a proof :P)

Well, there is lot more to write... all in the next blog... need to go and eat ;)