Leaving Baroda
Im standing at the edge of something too deep. It seems to beckon, and all I want to do is take a leap. But there is much at stake here. The heady rushes are a thing to reckon. So are the sudden bouts and fits of tears.
He lies down on the edge of the wall that seperates life from death and looks over at the other side. I sit looking at him. At peace with himself after a long long time. I tickle the underside of his foot. And he laughs. Giggles actually. It makes me sad. I don’t know why. It should not, but still it does. Almost as if sensing it, he gets up and says, “im going to miss the sounds of the traffic”
I look away. To the other side. At the continously honking cars and motorbikes. Yes he would miss them. I would miss them too. The same way I would miss tickling the underside of his foot. He made a joke, to brighten things up. I lift my glass again. I don’t feel light. I don’t want to. It’s important today that I try to forget.
He understands and looks away too. We sit together. At the edge of the wall. Dangling our legs into thin air. Glasses in hand. Hearts heavy with the thought of seperation. Looking at the city which made us into the people we are right at this moment. We dont mind the mosquitoes for the first time. The city shimmers in the night lights.
My candle burning bright far away. The one thats become a near permanent fixture in my life. They say its the chimney of some refinery. They tell me it’s not as close as it seems. It’s beyond the city limits. Candle. They laugh. I tell him I want to drive to that end of the city where the chimney stands. I want to see it up close. He smiles and tells me to mind my knee. Im not supposed to drive.
“Will you take me?” I ask him.
“I have better things to do.” he says
I hit him at the back of his head and he laughs. Kids again… Me and Ajay get back to watching the city…
Baroda… I will miss you.
Ajay, Sam, Purak, Nikita, Chetali, Krupa, IJ, Ashu, Kamini Aunty, Aruna, Parmar Aunty… And so many other people that I have forgotton to mention…
Thanks for being in my life…
- Neha
Chetali says:
Sweety….i’ll miss u loads n loads….its beautiful..!!
April 17th, 2006 at 01:30 pm
Kunal Goel says:
if all the people you know and like in baroda come to the city you are going to, will you still miss baroda?
April 17th, 2006 at 04:08 pm
Dolphin says:
^^^good question
April 17th, 2006 at 05:28 pm
anirudh says:
stupid question kunal…!
April 17th, 2006 at 06:55 pm
neha says:
Yes Kunal. If all the people I know come to the place im going, i will still miss baroda. hell i was happy when i left Delhi. Im Immeasurably sad for leaving baroda. there is no city like this one.
April 18th, 2006 at 11:28 am
kruz says:
what a coincidence, i just left baroda yesterday and am here in bangalore now, but am already missing sayaji nagri like hell….:cry: i wanna go back home!!!!!! BARODA ROCKS!!!!!!!
April 19th, 2006 at 05:05 pm
shanth says:
pity u have to leave so soon…….was just gettin around to know u.u leave baroda but i aint leavin u so soon!!lol
April 23rd, 2006 at 06:11 pm
Kunal says:
hi neha,
so ur finally leaving baroda eh! guess now u know how it felt when me and my gang left for other pastures! though now im pretty much at home in bangalore, baroda still evokes a feeling of ‘paradise lost’!
all the best for ur future n keep in touch!
kunal
April 25th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
neha says:
hey kunal, nice to see you here… guess what, im due in banglore on 31st may… got a job there! will definitely be calling you once im there. And we will have that drink that we couldn’t have last time
take care
April 26th, 2006 at 09:29 am
kruz says:
mind if i join u guys, am pretty lonely here….:sad:
April 27th, 2006 at 09:55 pm
Neha says:
Sure Kruz… be my guest! Im in Azim Premji Foundation, Sarjapur Road… And i Guess Kunal is in Adverto Advertising. dont know where is office is though
April 28th, 2006 at 02:57 pm
AJay says:
that was quite sentimental… though i am not an emotional person (u know), still respect your emotions….
and i don’t think we need a ‘baroda’ for our friendship to go along… isn’t it?
April 30th, 2006 at 07:39 pm
kruz says:
im with Arctern Consulting Pvt. Ltd., bang opp to Jyoti Nivas Coll., Koramangala….i guess Sarjapur is somewhere nearby…n Kunal how bout u?
May 1st, 2006 at 01:55 pm
Purak Udani says:
Fuck off you asshole… Dont make me cry by such emotional words, when you know that you are the only person who can stop me from crying..
LOVE YOU damit…. Why have you gone so far away that I cant even see you…. Fuck off… I am U N H A P P Y
July 18th, 2006 at 08:17 pm
Ronak says:
Toooo sentimental abt baroda :).me too missing baroda ….its just been 1.5 months in blore….
August 3rd, 2006 at 05:00 pm
Neha says:
What’s this? all people are leaving paradise to come to this rotten city?
August 3rd, 2006 at 05:29 pm
Radhika says:
Baroda is a shit hole. Bangalore rocks. You have have fun here.
March 29th, 2007 at 03:35 pm
neha says:
Hmmm… Radhika I kind of have to disagree. Baroda Rocks. Bangalore is a shit hole… anyway, I’m back to square one… Saadi Dilli!!!
March 29th, 2007 at 07:35 pm
lonely stranger says:
Baroda -
the city where no one’s a stranger
the city where friends are a stone throw away
a place that has a life of its own
you never feel lonely, even if your alone
that banyan trees, the soothing breeze
gals of homescience or food joint goodies
the city thats always happy
be it holi, diwali or navratari
where every thing is beautiful
manjalpur, fatehgung or alkapuri
the spirit of the Baroda shall always live in those who have spent time in that city and enjoyed the little things which are typical of the Sayaji nagari. So no matter where you are keep the spirit of baroda alive.
March 15th, 2008 at 02:39 pm