Lessons learnt in a Luckless Delhi Day

In life there are some good days, some very good days, and then there are bad days, and obviously there are very bad days. Yesterday was one of the worst that I have seen. Yes, it was those days you see in movies where everything turns out wrong. Though in the movies it always ends with everyone smiling, yesterday was just a bad day.

I reached office at 1045, a good 15 minutes late, only to realise that my pretty red wallet was missing from my bag. It took me a minute to digest the fact that my wallet was indeed stolen. So there I learnt my first lesson of the day: NEVER TRAVEL IN A JAM PACKED METRO.

Then I called up home to get my card blocked, and my Grand dad told me that some cash had been already withdrawn from the card. Sigh. Call it a twist of fate, or whatever you'd like to call it, I had given my other ATM card to Thara. Phew! Now I have some money in Delhi.

Second Lesson of the Day: NEVER EVER CARRY ALL YOUR CARDS WITH YOU.

My friends at work had various theories as to how the money could have been withdrawn, ranging from Romilla's 200 rupee machine which can find out ATM Card Pins, to Thara asking who else knew the Pin and finding out he was the only one. Look at the irony of that.A few minutes after that Tribikram makes his point again : ALL METROS ARE BAD. Trust me, he has his share of Delhi Metros. Actually for more on that you should talk to Bharatendu.

Third Lesson of the Day : NEVER BE ALONE AFTER LOSING YOUR WALLET, BE AROUND FRIENDS LIKE MINE, WHO WILL GIVE YOU AMAZING AND MINDBLOWING INSIGHTS INTO HOW THE CRIME WOULD HAVE BEEN COMMITTED .

Later in the day, Thara and I decide to watch Puss-In-Boots, and Bharatendu as usual ditched us. We google the timings and the places, and find out that it's playing in Big Cinemas in CP. We while away an hour in the Mall next to our Office after work, and finally reach CP. After walking all the way to D Block what do we see? We see that the only two movies playing in Big Cinemas are Desi Boys and Dirty Picture. Just my Luck, ain't it?

Fourth Lesson of the Day: ALWAYS CALL UP THE THEATRE TO FIND OUT IF THE MOVIE YOU WANT IS SHOWING. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL UP, DOUBLE CHECK ON ANOTHER WEBSITE.

So heads hung in dissapointment, shoulders down we made our way to the Metro Station and finally reached Patel Chowk. We got off, and Thara bought socks! Yes, socks at an amazingly cheap price.

Amazing Discovery of the Day : YOU NEED NOT ALWAYS SPEND A FORTUNE FOR GOOD SOCKS!

So, he went his way and I went mine. I was walking the same route I take everyday. I almost reached YWCA, when I realised some guy was walking behind me. I quickened my pace, and two minutes later, he started mouthing obscenities. I walked even faster and so did he, and I could make out he was drunk. He was reeking of Whiskey. My heart started pounding in a way it never did. All that I had read about Delhi not being safe for women started running through my head. I started looking for autos and there were none to be found. There were hardly any people on the road as well. The guy was still following me, and he kept asking me to wait and talk to him.

Then, I reached the Bus Stop, and this lady from my Hostel was there. It just took her a minute to realise what was happening and she started yelling at that man.PHEW! These two random men at the BusStop started beating up that man, and I was horrified, I mean I did not want him beaten up also. I walked back to the hostel with that Lady, my saviour.

My last lesson of the day : I really don't know. What happened to me there, could have happened to anyone anywhere. I should just be a little careful, and if he did anything start screaming as Bharatendu was telling me today. Maybe I should buy that Pepper Spray, that Aditi advocates. It's just the feeling of absolute helpnessness of that moment, of those terrible two minutes, that seemed to last an eternity that shook me.

So does yesterday make me hate Delhi?

I dont think so. Yesterday could have happened to me anywhere. I dont claim to love Delhi, but Delhi does help me learn a lot about myself, and a lot about the world. Delhi brings out another side of me. It yesterday was soo bad, today was really nice. I could sit in Max Mueller Bhawan Canteen and talk about yesterday, only shows how beautiful Delhi is. It can help you wipe away all your yesterday's tears. For the foodies out there check out Cafe Goethe in the Max Mueller Bhavan on Kasturba Gandhi Road, great Chicken Dum Biryani. I really liked it, and the best part a meal for two will cost about 150 bucks!

I still love the Metro. I am still game to going all the way to drop Saumya off in Gurgaon just for fun. I love the fact that while walking to the Metro Station in the mornings I get to hear lotsa things from how to run for President to how to cook Achari Ghosh. I love the fact that  I walk past buildings where important decisions are taken everyday.

Would I be ok with living in Delhi? I am not so sure. That will take me sometime. I dont think I can ever get myself to say, " I am from Hyderabad, but I work in Delhi."

So, in hindsight what was the most precious thing I lost yesterday, I lost the opportunity to look at my favorite photo of my mum on her Birthday. So here's a little request to the girl who stole my wallet :

If you do have my wallet, please return the pictures that are there in it. They mean a lot to me.

You can use my other Metro Card, it has some 70 bucks in it.

(This post is dedicated my Mom. Happy Birthday Mummy, wherever you are. I miss you.)