Life in a Metro versus Life in Imphal Sehar!

Sanatombi Angomcha *

'Man is the architect of his fortune' But I excuse myself here! I never architected anything related to my fortune or my life. For me, it's so far so good and no look back though I hold back in my heart fonder than the fondest memories of old good days and tramp ahead. Putting myself in the shoes of a timeless traveler, it has been sheer fun for me to explore the good and bad times of this mortal odyssey. Let me begin my essay writing now. The question is' Compare and Contrast Life in Delhi and Life in Imphal Sehar in not more than unlimited words.'

Alright! Here I Go!

The look-out for better career opportunities landed me up in this city of endless dreams. They call it Delhi, but in most parts of the city it is all about Gullies (streets).

So, for me when anyone asks about the environs of Delhi I can smartly reply this way' Oh Delhi is but a city of Gullies and in each and every gullie there is a different tale to tell' (with a 1000 watt smile). My confinement in this metropolitan city is now more than 5 years and I still wonder why I came here.

It is not that hard to start a life in this city. In terms of job opportunities, Delhi is one of the bestest cities in India which provides employment facility to every Ramlal, Goswami, Murthy, Deshmukh, and even for an exported Tomba/Tombi from our dear home state Manipur. There wasn't any striking reason for me to land up in this city but YES I had a dream (ever one has a dream I know it's just that I am telling about mine). My dream was to attain an ordinary platform where I could explore my mundane traits.

I am half-way through my dream but the remaining halfway seems like a SUDOKO to me (PS- I never play Sudoko in fact I don't know how to play this game. It sounds such a boring game to me). Let this ongoing journey continue while I move on to the main theme of the essay- differentiating life in Delhi from life in Imphal.

From my random point of view, life in Delhi and life in Imphal have the same difference- (misleading I know). Well, It is upto oneself how he suits and moulds with the changing trends and scenarios of time. For me, I am second to none to adhere to the same funda.

However, (twist of the tale) I adore life in Imphal much more than anywhere else under the sun (forget just India or Delhi). There is something about Imphal and its essence. If I put it in black and white, life is easier in Imphal despite the load sheddings, bandhs, strikes, etc etc etc problems in the city.

Jokes apart, I would happily take up a job in Imphal which offers only 25% of my present salary. Money matters in our lives but then 'there are some things money cannot buy' (Maestro card's ad concept copy-pasted here sorry). There is a mouth-watering impact in my mind simply imagining about enjoying my maiden days in our tiny city.

The refreshing mornings during which I can indulge in lai-dhoop thaaba at our tiny sumaang macha...the flamboyant fanek mapaan naibi and wangkhei-fee matek sari..which I will wear once in a blue moon while going to office... .. the visits to nearby keithels with my Mumma or echema during those much awaited Numidangwairams...and the best of all...koiba chatpa at my frens' places. How I miss strolling out in the lamjao sorok with a leikai eeta wearing an Ureng machugi fanek during the sandhyawairam time...

And then, come Inga month, refreshing showers sprinkling every leirak khulak of my hometown and plants going green and muddy. Those leikhom leinaangs and the mud-laden feet I would splash in our tiny 'Totikomgi Pukhri macha'. The thud thud sound of my tin-roofed home is still music for my ears... how I wish I hear them back sooner than later.

A whispering melody at present echoes in my mind visualising all these things and I find myself cocooned in a carefree world where happy birds chirp and flutter their tiny wings in the nearby mango groove... oh! It is a great feeling to imagine about that life...and I wish I could pack my luggage and head back home instantly!

Time tick tocks away further driving me back to present. The realization is but sour than sweet, the alarmed anticipation further salts the pain kind of feeling in my heart to miss and to keep missing all those things in my life at present. .the hustle-bustles of the maddening crowd in this city, my to and fro trip via auto and CNG buses, two mundane meals a day, weekday television watching sessions, weekend freak out, shopping or eating out with friends or boyfriend (no S here).. duh!

And they call it 'Life in a metro'!