I VISITED MY FRIEND

Just look, you will get a look back, glance and you'll be glanced back, and try a smile, surely (for your astonishment!) there is a smile back at you - this is what I liked about girls in Pune. Pune, as it boasts, an educational hub; now also becoming major IT destination of our country, is the subject of my write up this time. And let me state that, this is purely an attempt of a visitor of 3 days to this city.

In the lap of western ghats, on the Bangalore-Mumbai highway, Pune has it all. A dry, dusty and sweaty summer, monotonous rains to chilling winter. It was raining, when I visited Pune. Most of the roads of Pune are wider, wider than I thought, but only if they were devoid of potholes, and puddles.

There are rivers flowing in between Pune, slicing it in many parts. There are big bridges, over these rivers. These rivers are the main cause, may be, for the cleanliness of Pune, and also ironically the main cause of public apathy of Puneits towards general cleanliness. I suppose, all the Pune's bowels are washed down by these rivers.

Even the main streets, were full of unattended garbage-smelling and seeping into the rain waters, which would form puddles (as I said before) on the streets. Even the best of hotels and restaurants we visited ( and we could afford) had this policy of cleanliness-Your plate will be cleaner than the table on which it is set, and the table top is cleaner than the floor on which it is stood. On the floor, there is dust, mud marks of you, and also several others, who walked before you! In all the hotels, we changed thewater glasses at least once!

Food was totally different from my place, and I instantly liked it. Most of the food is wheat based, and baked. Breads, Paav Bhaji, Vada Paav, Kanda Bhaji, Misal Paav, Sweets etc. Though I liked the food here, it costs you dearly here in Pune. We spent at least 60 to 100 Rs for a stomach full of breakfast for two of us.

Talking of prices, Pune is a costly city. Even the traveling in an auto costs you much higher than my place. Traveling reminds me one bad thing about Pune. The public transport is worst than any other city I suppose. The buses are clad in thick and black mud (mud pack !), the windows have a queer technique of opening and closing, conductor has the age old (and irreplaceable) tool of indicating the driver to stop: by tugging the rope, which runs from back door all the way to the driver on the inner roof, with a manual bell at the driver side. I, myself, twice tugged it while getting up. The food, the dresses, normal shopping, the accessories, shoes everything is on the higher end. I learnt, Pune is basically a city of natives who sweated their past in Mumbai, and came and lived here with their hard earned money.
Apart form all this, Pune seems to be a beautiful city. And full of girls, ladies (read the first paragraph) and young people. Though Pune gives you a conservative look, it is more open compared to my place. There are less inhibitions, I suppose, for the people from other places, who either work or study there in Pune. Cinema and shopping malls remain open till 2.00 in the morning, you see girls and boys walking, talking, and just enjoying the night. Though I couldn't find a suitable explanation why native girls from Pune wear head scarves, covering their complete face, leaving just the eyes, I couldn't think, Pune is as half conservative as my place. My friend told, it was because of the pollution, which I couldn't agree. We amusingly thought of setting up a shop, exclusively for head scarves, designer scarves, colorful scarves, models showing up different tying techniques, advertising in the local papers, fashion shows, etc. My friend kept saying, he found Marathi too sweet (though he barely understood it!). As for me, I used to fret, whenever a bus conductor or a paanwallah or an auto rickshaw driver talked me in Marathi, as couldn't understand the mood of the conversation. It used to be always in high pitch and I always thought, they are talking with rage, scolding me, for some wrong thing I did. Pune's people are generally honest; and this honesty is may be the result of affluence.

We visited Lonavla on Sunday, on the day of our Independence Celebrations. The local train was full to its brim and so the Bushi Dam we visited. There were people, and people everywhere, families, girls, boys, children, friends, lovers, filling and spanning the green hillocks of Lonavla, and exploring the woods, getting thoroughly wet in the water falls, streams, and continuously falling rain, drinking tea/coffee and other beverages, eating kanda-bhaji, Vada-pav. We joined them with our changed attire. Afterexploring the heights of a Water falls, which was mobbed by at least three hundred people, my friend suggested exploring many of the stealthy streams flowing, upwards, until we come across, a water fall or a total natural blockade. Since nobody had the time or interest to explore these we decided to go on.

This friend of mine is a real sportass. He gives me a lot of confidence. As clumsy I am in these feats, he treats me like a little child and guides me. Together, we went upstream of many streams, walking against in the flowing water, stepping, balancing on the stones, getting drenched by both stream, and incisively falling rain. We stopped whenever we came across a water fall, which had breathtaking heights, water beating on your head, making you to feel numb at brain!

In the evening we visited misty & mystic Khandala. My friend explained me how it transformed the look of a dusty National Highway into a scenic splendor. We had lots of Teas, Kanda Bhaji, Bhuttas.
We also visited Sinhaghad on the following day, ate Roti - Dal, and returning back, saw two movies back-to-back in the Pune's famous multiplex.

The next day was the day of sayin' good bye. We visited Chatushringi, a shrine nearer to my friend's office. We visited Dagadushet Halwai Ganapathi. And at last Parvathi. Inbetween we had a good maharastrian lunch, packed a load of sweets, goodies for me. On the top of Parvathi, we sat talking. There was cool breeze, and occasional showers and sunshine. Whole Pune was spanned before us, from left to right, front to back. It was totally refreshing and intimate moment. We talked, talked about future, past, old times, present...

and it was time to say GOOD BYE...

How we can expect to meet again, If we won't say Good Bye...?