...screamed one of
the giant hoardings as my train made way to Chennai Central. The air felt
different this time - rainy and cold; by Chennai standards anyways. I was now
used to the routine of getting down at the station and finding my way to my
uncle's place in Royapuram. And this includes haggling with the auto drivers
although I am usually no good at convincing them to what I think was the right
price. I waited for my brother to come along soaking in the smell of rain
around. It is amazing how refreshing a morning can look time and again. Even
better with a bit of mist around.
I let my brother
negotiate the prices with the auto drivers. A little bit of knowledge of the
local language helps I guess. Very soon we were on our way meandering through
crowds initially and then with a little more free will. These short rides took
me back in time. I have my opinions of the city and some childhood memories
which will always stay with me.
We tend to
gravitate towards the bigger cities. Ala the protagonist of a movie they tend
to make all the headlines. Chennai has been the nondescript. The quintessential character artist, staying
in the background yet robust and central to the storyline. Whilst most cities
tend to bedeck themselves extravagantly almost tending to the Utopian, Chennai
seems to less fashionably blend in. It does not seem to be a facade. Not a
stone out of place.
And it has
certainly got it's heart in the right place. As a child I looked forward to a stopover
in the city on my way to Kerala. It was just a half day layover but it promised
warmth. Warmth is where you feel welcome in a house full of people. It is when
you have cousins waiting to spend the day with you. It is when you are received
at the station at 4 am in the morning. It is also when your train doesn't have
a stopover at Chennai but your friends still come to meet you at a station two
hours away. It is a city that gave a standing ovation to a Pakistan cricket
team that beat India in a close match. It also pronounces the best brand
loyalty with the city franchisees in IPL.
I go back to this
city every year just to watch it from the sidelines. Every Chennaite I asked
doesn't dislike your city but they'd unwaveringly go back, whenever they get a
chance to 'their' Chennai. As I end this journey I look forward to my night
train to this city again. Just like filter coffee or ‘kaapi’ as they call it, it
feels better each time.
