A post on my second home and how Mr. Dutta doesn't cease to surprise.
An integral part of being Mrs. Dutta is visiting Ahmedabad
on a regular basis. It had been home to my hubby for several school and college
years and still is home to his parents. Through these numerous visits over the
years I have begun to love the city as a second home. Now, if you stay in
Ahmedabad you may not notice it but for a person coming from outside there are
certain things that stand out and I have liked every bit of it.
To me, Ahmedabad stands out for several things, its plethora
of sweet and savory food (mostly homemade) including dhoklas, khaman, khakhra,
fafda, kachoris, aamras, shrikhand, chunda and many more. I have found people to
be much simpler in their food habits, dressing and lifestyle. Weekends are
usually spent with family at the club that have excellent amenities yet an extremely
affordable menu. No wonder, unlike Gurgaon, people don’t feel the need to hit
the malls every weekend.
In the absence of pubs (yes, it’s a dry state) and ‘night
life’ as we typically understand, there is a late night ice cream culture and owing
to that the presence of an ice cream parlor at every nook and cranny. ‘Havmor’
is omnipresent, somewhat like Starbucks outlets in Manhattan. Also, the night
market at Law Garden is worth a visit. I have enjoyed bargaining and shopping for
knick-knacks from there.
To a Delhi NCR person, I appreciate the ease with which women
are seen comfortably zipping past in scootys even late in the evening. During
Navratris, women are seen freely roaming the streets in backless chaniya-cholis late into the night,
without the threat of being teased or ogled at. This is so comforting to see.
Doing the same in Delhi NCR would be considered as ‘asking for trouble’.
Gujarat is amazing when it comes to handicrafts and customized
clothing. If you can dream it, the boutiques there can create it and improvise
on it, even if you are on a budget. Every time, I go to Ahmedabad with some space
in my suitcase for shopping, I have often come back with an additional new bag
filled with a bit of Ahmedabad in them. I blame it on Gujrat being high on the creativity
and entrepreneurship spirit.
In Ahmedabad, I have found the definition of ‘far’ laughable.
Everyplace is about 15-20 minutes away at the most, if not less. The roads are
better than Gurgaon’s and there is relatively lesser traffic (although this is
getting a little like the bigger metros lately). However, driving can be a
little scary with an abundance of two wheelers and a total disregard for the traffic
signals.
During our last visit, my husband and I decided to venture out
in my in-laws car. It was a Sunday with limited cars on the road and like law
abiding citizens we stopped at the red light. Within seconds we heard a
screeching halt behind us. It was the car immediately behind us. We had been
saved from getting bumped by inches. Even with the red light still on, the
driver of the car drove away while staring at us and muttering under his
breath. It was at that moment we realized that no GJ car finds it important to
stop at a red light!
The very next day, while hubby dearest was trying to reverse
the car in a narrow lane, a speeding scooter decided to squeeze its way in from
behind. While nothing happened, the guy riding pillion started shouting in Gujarati
and to my surprise, even Mr. Dutta responded in flawless Gujarati. Words and
phrases in a language I never knew he could speak so fluently in nine years of
knowing him.
For me visiting Ahmedabad is Awesome, hearing Mr. Dutta arguing
in impeccable Gujarati Super Awesome!
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