Nov 26, 2002 01:53 PM
15422 Views
(Updated Nov 28, 2002 10:02 AM)
Life has truly become competitive, especially in the metro cities. The war is on to cling on to the rat race, to survive, to boost one's ego by possessing the dream flat and a car in a affluent part of the city. We do not have time to spend time with our friends, an occasional sms takes care of that. Fitness is in, it is important to get you in shape and a visit to the gym is a must. A normal day in most of our lives read like this - a prescribed breakfast by the friendly dietician, work out in the gym under the careful eyes of the trainer, rush to the office (if you have a car you are lucky, otherwise hang on for your dear life in the public transports), come back home and spend some time with your family if your body permits that, go to sleep and start all over again next morning. The weekend adds some spice with visits to the discos and a dinner at your favourite restaurant.
Well friends, I got bored and decided to spend my life in my own way. Following is a brief synopsis of how I spend my life in the city of Calcutta where I was born and brought up.
Wake up at 5' o clock in the morning. Start your day with a relaxing walk in the virtually empty streets of Saltlake. Get welcomed to a brand new morning by the chirping sounds of the birds (there are still many in Saltlake). Jog along the newspaper hawkers preparing themselves, the milk man on a cycle and so many people from various walks of life. Smile at everyone and get a smile back. Join a band of over 60 group of colourful retired people in a park where they try to loosen up. Act as an instructor showing them a few stretching exercises and discuss everything with them under the sun. Wave them good bye and rush back home to get prepared for office.
No Monday blues for me as I step in the bus, which takes me to the office. After careful observations I have chosen the bus which is preferred by some wonderful, smart looking women. And I have also noticed that a complimentary glance as they step in to the bus makes them happy and I never disappoint them. After that as the bus gets full, I put my walkman in my ears and listen to some favourites like Police and Dire Straits.
I love my work and don't have too many days when I sit frustrated in my cubicle thinking that, what the hell am I doing. And even if I do, I have the Internet at my disposal. There are so many things to learn, to do. Life isn't boring if you don't think that it is.
My evenings (after office) are usually packed. We college pals meet every Friday in a small open-air restaurant. We order a few cold drinks and just go on chatting amongst ourselves. The place is really cool and the owner has developed some kind of a liking for us. He never tells us to leave our tables once we are finished with the Cokes/Pepsis and we present him with some gifts during the Pujas. From Monday to thursday when I am in a mood, I get down from the bus two/three stops before my usual one and start to walk. The streets in Saltlake are good to walk. They are well maintained, clean and very quiet. Sometimes I go for a dip in the swimming pool, which acts as a refresher to my tired body.
The weekends are the time when you spend some quality time with your loved ones. I usually go for a good movie/theatre, have a lunch in my favourite restaurant by the ganges, walk aimlessly with my girl friend near the Lake in South Calcutta. Sometimes we take a long distance bus (typically 2 - 2.30 hrs journey) from Esplanade and go for a joy ride. We have seen some spectacular places like Raichak, Nurpur, Gadiara, Bandel etc. The bus service is good and you can be pretty sure that you would be back before sunset.
There are times when I visit the Space Theater in Science City. One can see spectacular shows like the Whales, Serengeti National Park or the Red Planet through the astro-vision projector, for just Rs 30.Then there is the Time Machine, helping one to transport himself back in time. There is the mystical journey to Egypt, the land of the pyramids, adventures in cyberspace, battle zone and many others.
I enjoy some other rather offbeat things too. Street foods (the best in India), try your hand at the impromptu cricket and football matches at the Maidan, occasionally get your palm read by the pavement astrologer with a serious face (he might get angry otherwise) and the list goes on.
Friends, I am in the best shape of my life and do not repent what I do. I do find enough ways to entertain myself in the city often described as the dead city.
The following lines are from my favourite song :
I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
[Now] Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy.
Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind.
