I have recently been transferred to Bikaner . I was posted at Jodhpur before this. Jodhpur being the second largest city of Rajasthan (after Jaipur), had its own fun filled days for us. The nature and character ofJodhpur has grown over the years of its almost 600 years of establishment. It stands on the threshold of becoming a Metro city.
Bikaner, on the other hand, although shares the same age-group with Jodhpur – having established at more or less the same year; has a long way to go to shed off its initial impression of a “sleepy town” that I have always gathered whenever I visited the city. Not that I am new to it… I have been frequenting this city since past 12 years or so, on a regular basis. The impression that I had in my first visit is yet to change for good…
At Jodhpur the life was fast paced. The city has developed a reasonable system of civic amenities and showcases a merger of a “neo-township-with-a-heritage-look”. There are just about sufficient malls and cineplexes (two of each to be accurate) that are enough to cater for the need of the populace. The roads are wide enough to let the man, animal and machine to pass through comfortably without getting much into the ways of each other. This “trio” has had a sense of plausible understanding amongst them. And, you seldom find a camel snorting over your shoulders or a stray bull working up its hooves to goad you. The cows roaming the streets often sniff at you in anticipation of some feed. But mind their own business if you have nothing to offer. I have often observed them reacting to the honking of the car and getting out of the way in the most disciplined of the manner that would put to shame an errant kid who is hell bent on crossing the roads no matter what is hurtling towards it.
The “aam janta” is equally alert and “smart”. They know how to behave with whom. Be it advising directions to a lost traveller or being inquisitive about his presence in the streets of the old city – they fall just short of investigating about your horoscope. They actually have a knack of smiling at you! Sweetness of manners is clearly evident. Wifey the Witch often opines – “these people are so sweet so as to give diabetes…” I respect her opinions because I have observed most of her observations being true. Witches do have their own ways to know the unknown.
Well, I was apprehensive on receiving the Transfer Order in the first place. My earlier short-duration visits to the town added fuel to fire. Visits in summer months introduced me to the first of sand storms I ever encountered. Visits in the winters got me face to face with chilling temperatures and foggy conditions. As part of the psychological defence mechanism, I satisfied myself during summers imagining myself to be “Lawerence of Arabia”. In the winters, I thanked my organisation to have given me a free trip to Kashmir sans having to go there.
Little did I know the difference between being at a place for short-duration and having to be at that place for don’t-know-till-when. Baptism into the town was by the fiercest of the sand storms experienced in a long time (I joined in June). Here, it is said, the authorities have the strange ways of mixing fresh water of theIndira Gandhi Canal Bikaner now.
About the sleeping virtues of the town. The men are sleepy. The machines are sleepy. The animals are sleepy. It is difficult to elicit a reply to your query in the first instances from anyone. The “two-toed sloth” will win the race. As a thumb-rule I have just formulated, you have to speak out your query a minimum of four times if you expect to get even an iota of reaction in the first place. As for the machines… they are bound to get sleepy. The width of the roads seldom allows two of a kind to pass through at the same time. Not to mention the antics of “three-wheeler” & “two-wheeler”, the kinds of which even Hollywood is yet to design computer graphics for. Another of the species responsible for clogging of the drive ways is the legendary “bull” – the stud variety, who have humps larger than their heads. They have the serenest of the dispositions that will give inferiority complexes to each ascetic meditating in the Himalayas . It is always better to let them lie – even if it is in the centre of the roads. Even if you have to change the route.
As for the development of the city of the 10 years or so I have been visiting it, I don’t find anything significant. There is just one Cineplex which does not even have a decent parking space and serves the coffee cold when you want it hot. The city boasts of hordes of “namkin” and “bhujia” joints though. That’s the only place you find “awake” from the customers point of view and “sleepy” from the salesmen point of view. Please refer to my “thumb-rule” above to get the point!!
Anyways, talking of waking up in a foggy morning… Its Janu ary now and the beginning of a new year. 7 months since my advent to this city. I seem to have been bitten by the “sleeping bug”. The mornings are being witnessed later than the usual waking hours. With winters having a firm strong hold, one is forced to extend the “man-quilt” relationship. Each additional minute gained in the bed is additional minute experienced of the warmth the quilt provides…
But today was different. I decided to wake up at the first alarm and make the first cup of coffee for Wifey the Witch (my occasional ways of earning her waning love!). The scene outdoors was simply fascinating and captivating. A fairly thick shroud of fog covered the air. Each breathe emanated steam. For once, I was reminded of my tenures of the High altitude regions I have been posted to during my army life. Felt good, I should say…
But then, a thought crossed my mind. If one has to witness this serenity, one has to shed off the sleep. We got to wake up to the realities of life. Sleeping is but an art of the tardy. Nature gives us its best at all times. We have to awaken to it. And I prayed to God (I seldom do it) – Let the city awake O Lord… Let the gush of freshness and the smell of fog fill each with a longing to come awake and greet a day in its entirety.
And even as I prayed – I watched the sun (“ravi”??) endeavouring to make a feeble effort to make a peep hole through the shroud. It is failing for now. But it is also getting the same sight I have witnessed this morning. I am sure, it is enjoying this phenomenon.
Hope to see it succeed. If only to spread its warmth…
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