This is the same city which I love at midnight and hate in the morning! After the twisting roller coaster journey when I decided to shift here in the city called Ahmedabad or sometimes Amdavad; many people were shocked with my decision. But this is the city who changed me, made me independent, mature and 'the glass is half full' kinda optimistic! I have to develop a routine for this new city - words I told myself during 10th October 2016.
I still remember the day when I moved to this new city. The roads I mistakenly taken, the house which I forcefully started calling home just to overcome that homesickness, those roadside cafes where I scribbled the words of my new life in the diary, that one Crossword Bookstore where I have spent endless evenings finding the friends in books and that office which became family of mine.
When time comes I have hated this city and have experienced that butterflies in tummy while exploring roads less taken. Either it's Riverfront morning or midnight Pleasure ride on highway, shopping in a mall or going far for that one cutting chay, experiencing the live music and hundreds of restaurants with special friend or bitching about the city with those old bitter friends, roaming around streets listening some untold stories or crying on stairs having some insomniac flashback; the city has always given me memories, memories worth of lifetime!
I remember doing crazy things here, roadtrip to solotrip to unplanned trip! The city from where I am, is gentle to me while this one challenges me everyday to come out from my comfort zone. This city made me what I wanted to be. By choosing this one over the another, I thought this city would be a good fix of what we call temporary problems! The city is a sole witness of my dreams becoming reality. That first Harry Potter book set I bought and carried it all the way long to my home. If only those streets could tell a story or two about that night. I was unable to sleep, because one of my dream came true! City didn’t just made me independent it also taught me taking risk and do some dare devil thing. After 1 year and 3 months I dared to bought a camera from saving and put the status of being broke AF. City trained me that eating 15 Rs. Oil Dabeli and 10 Rs. of Buttermilk, I can calm my hunger and save the big bucks to chase another dream.
The more I get to know about the city and be in touch with the people who matter to me the more I started feeling for this city. From started having the touch of accent to learning completely new language French in winter cold morning I dream about adventures I want to do here, I write about the good times, I click the niche of the city and brag about those silent nights which I mesmerize at 3 in the morning. But ultimately I feel disconcerted by how vulnerable the city makes me feel - It made me brave to live here, gave me freckle and scars, called it a home and I connected so many strings here that I can't let it go.
Maybe, as time flies, I can love this like I loved the old one, I told myself - again!! 2 years wasn't enough but there's long way to go for sure!
- Kemil Ghoghari
Picture : https://www.instagram.com/cam_holic/
