Favourite Fifteen - TO food joints I'd go back!

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

I believe food is one of the reflections of the soul of a city. If you truly want to understand the culture of the place you stay, look to the kind of food it offers. It's true that great meals have the power to bring people together, shape the character of a community and show how the diverse influences that created it have blended to form something entirely new.

Until last year, I would have called Delhi a city with great food and innumerable variety. Today, after spending over six months in Toronto, I can gladly say I have very little to complain. Yes, I do crave for the authentic North Indian street food occasionally and my hometown still holds onto that crown. However, I soon realised life is going to be easier only when I understand the importance of Haldiram snacks and embrace frequent visits to the Indian stores.

Toronto and its neighbourhoods are a melting pot - destinations that have attracted travellers from around the world, many of whom have decided to cease their meandering ways and lay down roots here. Just like my husband who is blessed with great bong (bengali) gene aka 'good appetite'. And, of course, a true blue food lover attracts another - thankfully he is surrounded by friends with great penchant for gastronomic escapades. As destiny would have it, I HAD to be here.

Being in a city that is one of the world's food capital, how could I not explore the eclectic restaurants, food joints and cafés in every nook and corner I stepped into? So, like every tourist, I spent half the year visiting every new place with an eagerness to try out the binge worthy delights it had in the offing. All were different - some lived up to the hype, some took us by a pleasant surprise and some were just meh!

Without further ado, I bring to you my top 15 food joints (in no particular order of preference) - the ones that totally deserve an encore. Trust me, it's a tough call!  

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

Pai:  This one's special - the first restaurant that I ever visited in Toronto. On the second day in the city, I was asked by the husband what cuisine would I prefer and I said Thai or Chinese (my all time favorites) in the blink of an eye. The next hour I found myself in this dimly lit space located a few steps below the street level. I must say I was overwhelmed to see how packed it was even on a weekday, mostly with office goers out for a lunch break. The crowd is totally justified. When you have one of the best Thai food joints in the world right next door, who wouldn't want to have a quick bite?

What we loved: Pad Thai, Pad Gra Pao and Thai Iced Tea
Location: 18 Duncan St, Toronto, ON M5H 3G8

Source: Google Images

Maha's: Would you believe if I told you an hour-long queue didn't deter us from experiencing the lip-smacking Egyptian brunch? I believe it has gained a cult status and I now know why. When you have service that is top-notch, fast and friendly staff and most importantly meals that are to die (read wait outside in the cold), you forget all hindrances that came your way from the first bite. A word of advice to fight the cold and boredom while waiting in the queue: Go in a group!

What we love: Maha's Mind Blowing Chicken, Egyptian Falafel, Lentil Soup and Date Sandwitch 
Location: 226 Greenwood Ave, Toronto, ON M4L 2R2

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

Paramount Fine Foods: One of our favourites, the restaurant's claim to fame is its delicious Middle Eastern meals. If you are hungry for a Shawarma wrap or a grilled meat platter, this is the place to be. Apparently, they have flown renowned international chefs who weave magic with their hands and prepare some of the finger-licking dishes - ones that are authentic and transport you to a Middle Eastern country.

What we love: Chicken Shawarma, Falafel, Baba Ganoush
Location: 85 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1B8

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

Oliver & Bonachi Restaurant: This one's going to be etched in my memory forever. On the night of our first anniversary, the husband wanted to take me out for a sophisticated Italian fine dining experience. Dressed up for the occasion and the place, we took a moment to soak in the ambiance and ordered for what looked like art on the plate. Overall, had a good experience - no complaints whatsoever. To be honest, we went to the one in the Blue Mountain. However, there's one on Yonge & Front too.


What we love: Black Tiger Shrimp Tempura, 100Z New York Strp Loin, Classic Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee
Location: 33 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1G4

Source: Google Images

Mother's Dumplings: An all-time favourite with the gang. If you are longing for Chinese comfort food, this place has homemade dumplings, noodles and buns to satiate your hunger pangs. You can even see them making the dumplings in the kitchen, so you know they are fresh. Gets busy, especially on weekends, so be prepared to wait.

What we love: Dumplings, Kimchi, Noodles
Location: 421 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6

Source: Instagram (Sarbojitpal)

Sneaky Dee's: One of the best brunches I have ever had in Toronto or elsewhere. This spot is famous for its all-day breakfasts, Tex-Mex plates, punk rock shows and graffiti walls. It has a very appealing, colourful vibe - best for an early morning outing on a weekend. The portion size is enough to split between two and one of the rare places that serve good amount of Guacamole.



What we love: Pulled Pork Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, The Fucked Up Breakfast

Source: Google Images

Location: 431 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1T

La Carnita: A Mexican joint, the food is hands down one of the best in Toronto. The cherry on the cake is its ambiance, buzzing with people and great music. The staff is great and quite attentive. I still remember, both husband and I went there on my third day in Toronto to meet our friends at 7 and left a bit before midnight.

What we love: In Cod we Trust (Fish Tacos),Pollo Frito (Chicken Taco), Mexican Street Corn, Avacado Mango Salad
Location: 106 John St, Toronto, ON M5H 1X9

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

The Captain's Boil: Be prepared to get your hands dirty when you come here. The Captain's Boil takes the fact of offering 'hands-on' experience quite literally! It's one of its kind that serves food messy and lets the diner enjoy meals in a unique way. Popular among seafood lovers like me. All you have to do is pick are your choice of meat and flavour.


What we love: Shrimp, Clams, Mussels in their special Sauces, especially the Captain Boil's flavour

Location: 226 Queen St W #224, Toronto, ON M5T 1V5, 476 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5G 1G7

Source: Google Images

Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen: Sadly we had to cancel our trip to Jamaica due to the extended emergency in the island. However, Chubby's gave us a reason to go out and enjoy a night of delectable jerk chicken, curries and tropical cocktails. The setup is quite cute and made us feel as if we were in the Caribbean.

What we love: Jerk Chicken, Curry Goat
Location: 104 Portland St, Toronto, ON M5V 2N2

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

Jacob & Company Steakhouse: With a typical fine-dinning interior, the restaurant has a piano bar, house-aged steaks and Caesar salads prepared tableside that is quite entertaining. Service was great from the moment we arrived. The wine list is impressive with something for everyone of discerning taste. The steaks were grilled and seasoned to perfection.

What we love: La Morocha Farms Angus- San Luis, Argentina, Oysters Rockefeller, 



Location: 12 Brant St, Toronto, ON M5V 2M1

Source: Google Images

Barque Butcher Bar: If you love BBQ, this place is your jam. It was a great meal from start to finish. Not a very economical place, we went there to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a great time. They had a wide selection of meats prepared in different styles and tasty platters.

What we love: Smoked Meat platter, Chichen Wings
Location: 287 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M3

Source: Google Images

Himalayan Kitchen: After spending a couple weeks in the city, I started missing my dosage of 'Desi Chinese'. In order to quench my cravings, we headed straight to Himalayan Kitchen where I was taken back in time. I was reminded of those cozy cafes in Manali (India) that served the most delicious meals. That's what I love about restaurants like HK - unpretentious yet tasty.

What we love: Chilli Momo, Hakka Chicken Noodles, Pork Chilli


Location: 1526 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6R 1A4

Salad King: This is our go-to Thai food joint. The food is affordable with no compromise on taste or quality. Definitely not for the food snob as it's a no-frills food joint but has a vibe that is vibrant and full of energy.



What we love: Mango Salad, Pad Thai


Location: 340 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1R8

Source: Google Images

Alexandros: This tiny gem is literally in our backyard - 2 minutes walk from our house. One of the few places open until the wee hours. The food is always bursting with flavours. A great option for lunch or dinner without having to burn a hole in your pocket. The joint is really small with barely room for 4 people to sit. It has a patio but only ideal for summers, so we prefer taking out.

What we love: Gyros in a bowl, tzatziki (the best we have had)


Location: 5 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2H1

Source: Instagram (photo_sin_the_sis)

Curry twist: I am a big lover of coastal cuisine, especially Goan (India). I miss Swagat, Bernado's & Coastal Reef back in Delhi and Gurgaon. And, my last trip to Goa just made it worse for my cravings of Masala King Fish, Butter Garlic Prawns and Crab Curry. The other day I expressed my craving of fish curry and the loving husband drove me to Curry Twist where we were lured to indulging in crispy Samosas for starters. Being in Toronto, I had very little expectations from the Goan fish and prawn curry, however, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Every flavour was evident. We got a kick from the spices and the slight taste of the coconut milk.

What we love: Fish & Prawn Curry, Samosa

Location: 3034 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 1Z3

Those were my top 15. But I have one more to add to the list. I know this post is about 15 of my favourite food joints in Toronto but that's what happens when a foodie who is a writer sits down to jot down her top food places. It's just too hard to stop!

Source: Google Images

Lee Chen Asian Bistro: Last but definitely not the least. I was introduced to one of the best and unique things here, 'Steamed Soup dumplings'. The dumplings have a really thin skin filled with soupy broth and well seasoned meat. Highly recommended for Asian cuisine lovers, this place has a lot more to offer.

What we love: Steamed Soup Dumplings, of course

Location: 1L4, 832 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 2H1, 214 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3S6


Whether you are new to Toronto or a local, take some time out to explore the culinary treats the city offers. Don't forget to include your recommendations by commenting on this post. It will help me grow my list, as I hope mine helped yours.

When I had to say 'Adios Delhi'

There are only a few moments in your life that are etched in your memory forever. You remember every frame like it's a movie scene. That's how well I recall the night I left for Toronto.

It was just my mother and I. As I left from home, I started looking at everything that came my way that night, as if I was recording that moment in my head. Every shop in our neighborhood market, the streets, people passing by, our childhood park that was primarily famous for hosting one of the biggest Durga Pujas in town and more. The fact that I had a strange feeling was not only because I was leaving Delhi but I was leaving it forever. Yes, that's because my family was leaving for Bangalore in the following week too.

Cut to the scene, sorry, moment where it was time to say goodbye! The piled up immigration related worries, a slightly overweight bag and, of course, having to leave Mom behind - choked me up a little. But I did put up a brave front as opposed to my Mom. She was just being a mother!

Check-in and immigration were cakewalk. In my head I cursed all those who scared me about what a nightmare it could be travelling to Canada. And what followed were mandatory update on Facebook, checking out the stores and comparing the prices and grabbing a drink at the lounge.

And finally, the final moment arrived - takeoff! Everything that happened in between isn't worth mentioning. I still don't know what happened to me. Just when the flight took off, it struck me that "This is it. I am ACTUALLY leaving this country, this city where I was born, grew up and came into my own." And I buried my face in the window and burst into tears like a baby. Call it dramatic, I kept looking behind, as the plane flew out of the city. It seemed all this while I had not given it a thought even OR I was so consumed in the mundanity, to keep myself off from this thought that I never let this particular feeling come out.

The day I got to know that I would be going to Canada, my happiness knew no bounds. I think I had started packing two months earlier. But very soon the first realisation of 'Am I doing the right thing?' hit me when I had to put down my papers at work. That was the first time I felt I would be out of work for a very long time and lose the feeling of having my own money in my account (obviously, because how much of your Rupees can you save when you have to spend in Dollars?) But there was a lot to do in very little time. I got busy in sorting my clothes, documents, etc and helping the family with moving to Bangalore. Even amidst the hustle of packing and moving, I suddenly I had some time to myself, I worked out, made trips to all those places that I loved in Delhi like Hauz Khas, Connaught Place, Lodhi Gardens and more, noted recipes to save me and the husband on a rainy day, met all the friends I could, ate Bhel Puri, Gol Guppas and other street food - thinking if I would ever get to do all this anymore.

But as the day of leaving appeared closer, my heart was divided into two halves - one that was jumping with joy to meet the husband after months of staying apart and the other that was sad to leave my loved ones, the city that I have always called my own, a job that was going pretty well and, most importantly, that comfort that I may or may not get in a new place. I realised though I had been keeping busy, I was just trying to avoid this feeling of sadness that one day I HAD to leave. It was all pent up and was only released when the flight took off.

And as I looked out of the window, I thought - they said it was going to be a long flight. But what they did not say was that it was going to be my longest flight. 

The job offer. So close yet so far?

Source: Google Image

Picture this: Amidst a sluggish job market, when you are struggling to find your next big break – you unexpectedly get a call from one of the Big4s or Fortune 500 companies for an opportunity that could turn your career around. You crack the grinding prelims and finally get a call for the interview you were secretly praying for. Everything goes well during the face-to-face round and you are hopeful of almost making it through.

However, weeks go by and you still haven't heard from the recruiter. 

At moments like these, one thing we often resort to is SELF-DOUBT. What most of us forget is there could be innumerable factors, unknown to us that could have led to what happened with your candidature.

When you don’t hear from the employer, just keep a few things in mind:

Anticipation vs. Anxiety: Heard the famous song by Beetles ‘Let it be’? That’s what you need to do the moment you step out of the interview room. You have given your best shot. Over-analyzing things will not force the universe to conspire in getting you the job. Instead hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Look forward to a call from the company but don’t get too obsessive about it. Still not helping? Give it a couple of days, may be a week and a half and send a short and polite email asking for an update about what's next. DO NOT ask about the status of your profile directly. It may make you look desperate - the last thing you would want. Expect a reply that could be anything, from directions for the way forward or a straight thumbs down but at least your curiosity will be satiated.    

Discreet ways of the recruitment industry: Recruitment consultants and hiring professionals work quietly on a position. They usually have a lot on their plate and are working on several other positions simultaneously. It could also be possible that the company has reprioritized their hiring decisions. There’s always a chance for them to call you later. Perhaps they have saved your resume for a much relevant position in future. But it’s wise for you to move on and not attach all your hopes on one opportunity. If they don’t commit to you, why should you (of course, in your mind)?

Miscellaneous factors: In case you make the cut but other dynamics like company policies such as employment of relatives, age limit and commute time create hindrances in your way, it’s not really your fault. It’s better to think things through from the word go than repent later. 

At least you got close enough: You wouldn't have got a call from the hiring team in the first place hadn't your profile suited the role or you come across a a strong candidate. C’mon, you at least deserve a pat on the back for coming this far. Yes, no organization has the time and recourse to waste on unsuitable profiles.

The next time you face a similar situation, you now know how to deal with it better. Talk it out with your family or friends. It’s good to vent out. Take these experiences with a pinch of salt and look forward to what lies ahead of you – the best!  

  

'Ban'alities of life

Banning has become one of the most overrated words/things in the recent times. Since childhood we have been taught that Banning. Blocking or Prohibition are the actions taken by an entity to stop something that is atrocious ad unacceptable.

Image source:nonsensibleshoes

But then who decides that?

I am not talking only about a ban on certain movies, food items, etc anywhere in the world. And yes, I do understand the reasons behind banning acts like smoking in public and more. Am talking about a different Ban/Block/Prohibition here. 

- I feel if your ideologies do not match with the majority, you are seen as abnormal and you're banned in their eyes.

- If you behave or not behave in a certain way, that might be natural to you but not everyone, you could be banned to be what you want to be.

- Things as silly as parking your car in front of your neighbour's is prohibited. As if the neighbour is the owner of this planet.

- You are banned in a place/group if you do not have certain privileges.

- Your creativity is banned because the authorities conform to the age old norms and refuse to budge.

Why not ban what actually should be banned? 

But then again, who decides that too?

P.S: B for 'Ban'alities of life on April 2, 2015. My first post for the A to Z April Challenge.

Age: Celebrate it, Don't count it.

It's April. Already?!

I realise how (unintentionally) I have been neglecting my blog all this while. A few things are to be blamed - some important and some absolutely not-imporant ones. My lethargy of course is the biggest culprit.  But as they very rightly say - it's never too late and I finally had my 'Jaago Mohan Pyaare' (Wake up Dearest Mohan) moment!

As I begin to write this post I realise how special this year is going to be for me. Not that it's not already - but a few things have made it memorable :)

For starters, I finally have completed FIVE years in my current organisation. The longest I have been with any company. Trust me, the feeling is far much more than just knowing that you are entitled to a Gratuity.

But there's more to this year. I'll be turning 29 on 29 (July)!

Image Source: daisygreenmagazine

Wondering what's the point of dedicating an article on turning a certain age, months before my birthday? It's more than that. It's the feeling of surviving a decade, celebrating independence & free-spiritedness, learning from the mistakes, rejoicing highs & embracing lows and looking forward to another awesome decade (hopefully)! Everything that has prepared me to take on the amazing '30s'.

Snippets of my life from the last decade:

My 20th self: I land an internship with one of the leading English Newspapers. Get out for work as early as 7 in the morning to cover stories and come back at odd hours. Interview names like Medha Patkar and get my first Byline (Never have I waited for the morning Newspaper this eagerly!). Within two months, I get a call from a corporate for a job of a Content Writer in Noida. Grab the offer at the blink of an eye, thinking it would be easier than working in the media. Only if I'd known traveling everyday to a far off land, changing at least 3 modes of transportation (one way) everyday wasn't a cakewalk. But when you get your first paycheck in your hand (er... bank account) and your boss seems decently happy with your work, every misery is forgotten! Though I can now afford to buy certain things on my own, I value the little things in life more.  

What I learnt: You have to get out of your cocoon. Education and all the training you get when you're young only prepare you 'theoretically' for what lies ahead. Life isn't hunky dory, and especially if you're a newbie in the big bad REAL world.

My 21st self: I have fallen in love and I am in a relationship - my first one! Things are rosy as ever. I relish having a Chana-Burger (Chickpea-Burgers) at KFC, as I would while having a Chicken Burger. Yes, my guy is a vegetarian. (And, I still don't know what I am thinking!). I believe that's what love, at least your first one, does to you.  However, after a period of time, you realise love is not blindness. Every rose has its share of thorns too!

What I learnt: No more having Chana-Burgers. Period.

My 23nd self: The worst year of my life up till now. I lost my Dad. I can still feel his hands the time I held them when I walked him till the hospital. That was the last time I felt his hands warm. This year was the one when I lost love - basically broke up! I was stuck in a job (my second one) that I wasn't happy doing . Things were falling apart - both on the personal and professional front.

What I learnt: It's not only joy that comes to you in abundance. Misery does too. It's how you come out strong. Losing a loved one is the worst thing that can happen to anyone but life does move on and so do you!

My 24th self: Am single again. But happy and always in the best company of my fabulous friends. I quit my job. Joined a small yet a nice organisation. Nothing significant was happening in my life - yet there was some sort of contentment. 

What I learnt: Nothing. Sometimes you just need to 'unlearn' and observe.


My 25th self: I consider myself to be totally wise. I already want to retire, get married, have kids and become a stay-at-home mother. I have joined a bigger organisation, my current one, and am getting a hang of a lot of things. One of the things is to learn how to deal (and not deal) with people. One of the biggest lessons one should either be born with or learn it the hard way.

What I learnt: You never know what all new things life has in store for you - even when you think you've experienced everything.

My 27th self: By now I know I am never going to quit working. I can not be a full-time homemaker but I still want kids. Not sure of marriage though. I didn't know I could travel or even live alone. I have become even more concerned for Mom and same holds true the other way round. Being a Daddy's girl I would have never thought I could even be as close to my Mother the way I am today. Oh, and I also realise I have a knack for clicking photographs - strictly not professional!

What I learnt: You can never know yourself fully. Keep discovering new aspects and surprise yourself and others around you. Of course, in a good way!

My 28th self: I have no regrets for the choices I have made 9 years back. I still love my profession - something I chose out of my love for it and not giving into the peer pressures of opting for a fancy, highly-paying job. My relationships and friendships I chose years back have shaped me to what I am today and are still a part of me. Though some identities may have faded away in my memory. Am looking my best (I think so! Vanity, no apologies please ;) ) and conducting my best self in the world. I may not be fully content but not unhappy with just what I have.

What I learnt: Am a heart-person. And because I listen to my heart more, I rarely repent later. Even if my decisions have worked against me, they were mine! Of course, there are temporary disappointments but few regrets.

My 20's were a learning experience for me and am looking forward to my 30's to apply all that I have imbibed. Am sure I'll be wiser, bolder, prettier and happier. Now, who wouldn't want to live to experience such an amazing decade ahead?! :)













 









 
 

Queen is what the Queen does!

(Wrote this as guest blogger on http://blog.shinekapoor.com/)
This year saw several woman-centric movies. Some struggled at the box office and were off the cineplexes in a jiffy (Gulab Gang, Bobby Jasoos, Revolver Rani), while others managed to garner rave reviews (Highway, Mary Kom, Mardani). For me this year belonged to Queen.

What I loved about this movie was that it was such a simple story made with sheer honesty. A perfect blend of emotions, fun, and serious messages said in a moderate tone. Never did I feel it was trying to preach anything yet it left a great impact. While many of you may have different memories from the movie, I personally have kept a few with me. Forever.

Go on a trip alone: Rani, the protagonist, decides to go for her honeymoon all by herself. To many of us it may seem bizarre but that’s what we all need – a trip alone. Being a woman, especially in India, we all are warned even to think of travelling alone. No matter how liberal our parents are. ‘Akeli ladki’ (Lone woman) are just some words that have been haunting us for ages. All we end up doing is calling up a bunch of disinterested friends who have unending excuses.

Make your backpack your companion. Whether going through a tough phase or not – just head out!

Let first impressions not impair your judgments: During her trip to Paris and Amsterdam Rani meets and befriends new people. Not only she gets close to people from different cultural backgrounds but makes new ‘male’ friends – something she would have never thought of.

At times we are quick to form an opinion about a new person. Our actions are ruled by what we think of that person. But we forget it’s not always the time that decides how well we know someone.

Don’t wash dirty linen in public: There’s just one instance when Rani gets sloshed in Paris and bares her heart out to Vijaylaxmi. However, when her friends in Amsterdam get into a brawl with her ex/fiancé, she clearly tells them to stay out.

No matter how much damage a person does to your feelings, it’s more dignified when you choose not to humiliate or try giving them a dosage of their own medicine in front of others. Respect is something that can elevate or tear someone apart with equal intensity.

Unleash the wild within you: Rani is a naïve girl, who even after being in a relationship is shown to have never French-kissed. She meets a stranger,Marcello, in Amsterdam and accepts his challenge to prove Indian style of kissing is the best by kissing him. She goes out to night-clubs and dances her heart out – something her fiancé had forbidden her from indulging in.

It’s sometimes good to let your hair down and just have a good time. The point made is not getting intimate with a stranger. That’s at your own discretion! ;)

Give your passion a chance: Thanks to Marcello that Rani gets to explore her hidden culinary skills and impresses the visitors at a fair with her desi Indian snack – GolGuppa. At first what it seemed as a failure, turns out a huge hit among the foreigners.

There’s no such thing as the perfect time to do what you like doing. It’s therapeutic when you want to break from the mundane.

The movie holds a special place in my heart. For starters: It’s my first movie alone in a theatre! Being a person conscious of the way I conduct myself in public (well, most of the times), the thought of watching a movie and reacting emotionally, all by myself, was nerve-racking. What if the stranger sitting next to you thinks you’re a retard? For me movie-watching is an experience that’s best enjoyed in the company of others. That’s just my personal viewpoint. I need another post to state the reasons. Anyway, thanks to a friend who ditched me at the last moment – for vaild professional reasons, of course (obviously I would never buy a ticket for just myself in the first place), I got to enjoy a wonderful piece of cinema, irrespective of who sat beside me that day.

As Rani took her final majestic walk after meeting her fiancé in the end, that’s how I felt on my way back after watching the movie – in my own little way with my own little achievement!

Image Source: Google Search

For the love (and hatred) of my city.

I know I could be inviting a lot of trouble for myself with this post. I could be bashed and detested for venting out my disappointment on the ongoing state of affairs in the city that I call home - Delhi!

Image Source: The Times of India

I have been that kind of a Delhiite who would pounce on the person talking ill about my city, defend it blindly to the extent of getting into a serious tiff. But it seemed the tables have now turned. The other day, a conversation with a friend left me surprised at my own self. The lines that I could never even dream of uttering where actually said by me - "I wish I was born in another city or a better country."

Trust me, I actually I have a sound sleep at nights, it's the mornings that give me nightmares about stepping out of home. The last week was upsetting. It seemed that I woke up every morning only to read about the brutal crimes. Be it the recent much publicized Uber Rape case or Mercedes Benz Manager who was hit with an iron rod by a youth whose car he 'brushed against'. Even while I could barely recuperate from these two high-profile cases, I experienced/heard of a few incidents myself that made me actually think that Delhi is going to the dogs.

Two days back, while having lunch, one of my colleagues informed me that there has been a murder at Nehru Place, one of the important IT and commercial hubs of Delhi and perhaps India and where my office is located. Apparently the fight broke over some petty parking lot issue. A shop owner and his son were attacked by a group of men that left both the father and son seriously injured. My jaw dropped. The reason couldn't have been more bizarre. I couldn't find any reports on the incident on the internet but the entire complex has been buzzing with the news - until it came in the papers.

As if this was not enough. To conclude my week, last night, while on my way back from work I was followed by a man on a bike. At first I took him as a regular flunky trying to act smart by trying to match up to the speed of the autorickshaw I was in but it was when I almost reached the road on which I live that I felt something was wrong. I immediately got off ten houses away from my own and reached out to the guard of one of the houses. Of course, it did help me scare away the stalker for the time being but I was not quite sure if I was safe the next time I stepped out of home.  

At times I try to recall, was Delhi like this forever? Has our tolerance level come down or the number of criminal offences (recorded/not-recorded) have gone up over the years? Each day comes with its own challenges to survive in this city. People here seem to be oblivious of the fact that the other person too is a human, may be has a family to support, is a beloved of someone and is eagerly awaited to be welcomed at home. Taking out a weapon and attacking someone has become a matter of everyday. Since when did life become so cheap?

It's not that I have suddenly woken up from my slumber and chose to write this. It's just that since childhood I have been taught to ignore the letch ogling at me, be cautious about my surroundings and give a blind eye to those whistles and cheap remarks. But there's a limit to how much one can take.

I wonder is it actually the city or the people who make it a hell to live in? And that's when I get my answer. Those who indulge in evil give the city a bad name. And it pains to see the place where I am born and brought up being in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

Wonder if my city was a little better, I would have loved it even more.