As I stood there.....

As I stood there in the compound of the Mecca Masjid, I reminisced the last 4 years I have been in Hyderabad.

I still remember clearly stepping out of the Begumpet Airport, filled with dreams and visions of the blaze of glory I will leave behind me in every thing I will do in my professional career.

Once out of the airport, the first words that came out of my mouth were, "This is so like Lucknow, so like Home". I come from a small city called Unnao, and Lucknow being the place where I did my engineering from and where my relatives stay has always been home to me.

Being from a small city I can never get used to the hustle bustle that big cities like Delhi and Mumbai have to offer. But, I never felt out of place in Hyderabad. The markets, the roads, and above all the people always made me feel at home. And nothing comes closer to my heart than the old city.

This part of the metropolis with its old world charm, narrow lanes and narrower bylanes, old time ambiance and with its people always made me feel as if I had stepped back in time to an era long gone and forgotten. Some people say that this part of the city is not safe, and some may never set their feet here or venture out alone, but to me this place denotes what we have forgotten in our race to become a modern, growing economy.

I have visited the old city many times, mostly just on a whim to be here, and have always returned at peace with myself and my surroundings. But today, as I stood there, I was not filled with peace, but with the sadness. I never thought I would feel what I felt then -- the feeling of going away, of leaving home, and of not knowing when (if ever) I will come back.

I know that when I decided to move to Bangalore it was a conscious choice, and I had the option of staying back here. And yet I decided to move out of here for personal and professional reasons. But I also know that when I leave this city, I will leave a part of me behind -- roaming aimlessly in the bylanes of the old city like I do now. I just hope that someday I get a chance to come back and meet him -- and maybe listen to his experiences and tales over a cup of hot, steaming Irani chai and a serving of Hyderabadi Biryani.

This is Hashir, signing off

Hasta la vista -- my beloved city, my home.

P.S. - There is a legend about the stone benches in the compound of the Mecca Masjid which states that anyone who sits on them will always come back to Hyderabad. I never believed in this legend until today, and so I sat there for some time. Lets see if it is true........

A new place to call home

Because of the fact that me and my roommates finally decided to shift out of the place we currently stay at and the approaching month end looming over my head, I have been forced (for the first time in Hyderabad) to look for a place to stay. And since our offices are in different areas and also because I wanted to stay alone, I decided to look for a single room accomodation for myself.

Since the rents at Sindhi colony (where I stay right now) are sky high and because it is difficult to find a livable single room here, I decided to shift to Karkhana. It is a good locality, about 2 kilometers from my office, kind of laid back (the way I prefer), and has all shops in the near vicinity.

So, spent Saturday looking for a room to stay. The first place I went had a single room on the third floor (pent house they call it) with a big enough roof to satisfy a small city boy like me who misses that and more in the apartments. The only problem was the rent - he quoted 3K while I wanted a place in the range of 2.5K.

The second place had 3 rooms on the top floor with common washroom and toilet. That guy also had like 8-10 dogs who were all locked on the top floor itslef. On top of that, the ceiling was asbestous. Now, anyone who has stayed in Hyderabad knows that the summers are too hot to risk living in such a room. The only saving grace was that the rent he quoted was 2K.

The third and fourth places with a "To Let" board were locked, and the fifth room I checked was too damp and stuffy for my liking. Here too the rent was 2K.

I decided to call up the first guy and ask if he was ready to give the room for 2.5K. Sadly, he refused. I then discussed with a few friends and with my parents and sisters. Their advise was the same - take a room which you like, even if it is a bit expensive. After all - that is why you are earning, right?

So, finally decided to take the first room on rent. Will be shifting on the first of August - which means I will be offline for some time till I get the internet connection transferred. Right now, all I am worried about is how to pack all my stuff in the bags I have. Seems to me that it has grown exponentially - what with all the CDs, DVDs, and books I have bought by the dozen.

Any how, have started packing and all. Will be giving an update on how that went as soon as I get the internet connection transferred. Also, will be writing about my experiences staying alone - as this is going to be the first time. But somehow I feel that this is what I really need - some time alone. Till then,

This is Hashir, signing off (to continue packing)

Over and out