Having spent more than 35 years in Bangalore we have now moved to Delhi. There is a fascinating difference in attitude, culture and thought. This blog will now feature some of the observations made.
We came here in the sweltering heat of Delhi in June. Even time tested Delhi-ites travel to the cool climes of Bangalore in this season and here we were ..... relocating to Delhi in peak summer from a city that had a natural air conditioning from the sky!!!
The heat notwithstanding we were quite geared up trying to fix our life with Delhi essentials. Curtains, AC, water purifiers, side tables, eating out and socialising with neighbours was high on priority list.
First the AC! The electrical shop is just down the road. We had hardly entered the shop and a dusty tray with glasses of water was proffered. Not sure if it was safe we refused as politely as we could. We completed the shopping. Feeling most de-hydrated we heaved ourselves into the hired cab wishing we had taken up the “water offer”.
Braving the scorching heat we drove to a carpenter’s at Amar Colony. Even the few yards of walking that we had to do were painful in that draining heat. Soon as we reached there he offered us refreshing glasses of cool Limca. Oooh! That brought back lost energy.
The next day we decided to do the upholstery. We stay in Mayur Vihar and the place has almost every kind of shop! As we walked into the loaded curtains shop a boy came up with a tray heavy with glasses of bubbly chilled water. Aaah! What joy - brings a plain glass of water - to a parched throat! Believe me, a few minutes of walking in the Delhi heat can leave the uninitiated … quite parched.
I realized wherever you go in Delhi their charming hospitality begins with cool life giving aqua. You could just walk into a neighbour’s house to drop the keys and she will ask you, "Want some water?" And even offer it to you without waiting for a reply. Every shop, house, outlet and agency has ready access to cool water.
Delhi has a weather that de-hydrates. A cool glass of water is always welcome.
This is something I also experienced in Delhi. The warmth and hospitality is something worth emulating. The front office staff is so well trained and so well groomed too. It is a pleasure to see them at work.
ReplyDeleteInteresting read! could imagine exactly what u have written! and i remember now, that i used to wish for water even in bangalore heat!! must be nice to get water easily where ever u go!!
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