This is my personal view of the life I have seen or rather felt in cities , as a wanderer when I come to visit it from the mountains. All views are personal please do not attach any image of what specified to yourself personally or to one city. It is the culmination of the whole experience of myself in cities.
So like every year, excited about my city hopping tour I finally come down, planned to meet friends and brothers and many new accquintances, all that seems so hopeful and fun. I get to meet them eventually but in the meanwhile I have observed so much which I thought I must put down to see if any other people has the same views or felt such. I take the public transport , the metros , I see a lot of faces and people. All suited and booted heading for something important. Must be worth life and death I belive as the seriousness on their faces are immense. They don't smile or even exchange looks with eachother standing or sitting side by side. They are I guess following the obligation taught to them as children , Do not talk to a stranger!!! Well where I come from, stranger or friend does not matter we greet eachother and smile, thats how I lived for seven months in Kasol and hence this very normal thing in metro seems so abnormal. Not just the metros but also passing by the lanes and roads among crowds you see the same. I then try to smile at some and heres how it goes... I smile to a beautiful lady walking by , she gives me a stern looks which reads " back off desperate pervert" !! I smile to a well dressed guy , he reacts with huge eyes , reaction reading " do I know you , if not why are you smiling" I smile to a couple their reaction states " he must be crazy "... I give up smiling eventualy. Most people I come across , are hooked to their latest gadgets , majorly the expensive and pretty mobiles. The way they are holding it and caring for it , I am sure if they fall down , they would rather break their limbs than to have a scratch on it. They seem to be playing games or music, great thing but they don't appreciate the sunny sky today or the cold breeze that just soothe their souls. I don't know if they belive they have one. I guess I am not comming across humans anymore , machines mostly. All dressed in shine and suits, looking perfect as they can be , trying to hide the imperfections and mask all the emotions. Emotions are bad I guess for this life. Wait is it life or a system or just a habit. I go out for dinner with my brothers , we talk of different things but mostly of the new pay rise that can be or change in company that can give them higher salaries. We also talk of the new insurance or investment they did, they compare their benefits that they are promised after 20 years. Twenty years , I am sure I am not gonna be there watching them enjoy their fruits then. They complain sometimes how they are struggling everyday going to office and comeback, doing the same thing. I ask them to change , take a break and come to the mountains to me. They say not possible or will plan in distant future. Plans never happen , never did. Some are so sad they are thinking of resigning but then the security that comes with job is too alluring to leave. Security... is it or just a illusion??? Too tough to break they say , I guess it is but is it harder than following a routine , being machine , doing same thing over and over again and calling it life. Oh welk I just thought , I do not try to speak , last time I did , I was called fickle minded , with no responsibilities or obligation, hence I would never understand. To whom do they have more responsibilities than themselves I wonder... We exchange questions , what are the plans for future, where to get settled or married. Everyone has a good answer , mostly the city they like and the girl they love. Me .... well I say " its still an adventure". They give a mocking look like the audiences in a circus to a Joker. The night sky , no stars to see. I guess they say its the pollution or is it the vision I wonder. I see a guy comming talking on his phone walking hurriedly, his tshirt states " Born Free" . Society or slavery? Slaves to clocks going tick tock , slaves to trying to be perfect, slaves to earning more than required , slaves to the dream of a better future screwing today , slaves to unneccesary stresses , slaves to comfort , slaves to routine and slaves to security. That is what I see. But then who am I to ask or state , this is how city works I guess. I go off to my wild again. |
Note from the Author," Travel made me rich and free. Magic and miracles are true , once you wander on the roads to places different and divine. I have collected so many thoughts and stories while being a Tour & Trek guide for last seven years. Sharing with you all, those memories and stories , and wishing you all , that someday you guys travel far and wide too. I am not a great writer , so ignore my grammar and spellings, read it with feelings, and you might just be affected with the wanderlust to hit the road" Categories
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