Then and There

I miss going to Commercial street, at 3.00 in the afternoon, to shop, to avoid the evening rush.
I miss going to the Ganesha temple near my house, when I needed to pass an exam.
I miss going to Soumya’s house, a 5 min walk from my place, whenever I felt like going.
I miss her mom’s kajjaya and khara avlakki - with garlic in it.
I miss calling up Brinda and talking for hours, even though we were always relieving the same moments over and over.
I miss the unexpected guests, dad’s friends, Deepu’s friends, and making coffee for them and hunting for some snacks to accompany the coffee.
I miss Sethu, dropping home almost every evening, and regaling me with stories about cricket matches and trying to get me interested in cricket.
I miss going to Rekha’s house for Sweety’s (her pom) birthday. (She will protest on my calling Sweety a Pom, she insists it’s a different breed, whose name I cannot remember)
I miss advising Varun, my young and enthusiastic upstairs neighbor, on the best books to buy for the next semester.
I miss meeting up with Dipti and catching up on the latest gossip about her classmates and lecturers.
I miss going on a morning walk with Sahana, which was more of a stroll; for we were more interested in talking, than in burning calories.
I miss Soumya’s advice on just about everything under the Sun.
I miss anna’s kobri mithai, made of Kobri (desiccated coconut), instead of kayi (fresh coconut); just because the name said so !!
I miss going all the way to Sheshadripuram, with Deepu to have the best chaat made on a pani puri gaadi.
I miss the alu bonda from “namma bondada angadi”, next to the Friends’ Library.
I miss the people, the streets, the autos, the tastes, the smells and the sights of Bangalore.

I MISS Bangalore !!

Honestly, with all that, I never had the time to jot it down while I was there. You know why I love my life here? That’s why !