My uncle claims to know

The other day i was cleaning ma kitchen, (yeah! i do all this too at times, n unfortunately i have to do all this dirty work, as ma roommate does not find reasons enough to unglue herself from her beau.. another sad story.. to be told at a later date).. i pulled out an old box of petha.. petha from Agra. Panchi Petha..

Agra.....sigh....hot Agra, dirty Agra, stinky Agra..... chaat wala Agra, late night drives Agra, lazing on the bed Agra. I have such wonderful memories of Agra.....Agra, my home Agra.

It's strange that people who've never lived in the place always complain about how it's always hot and stinky. "The minute you pull into the railway station, you'll know from the smell that you are in Agra. You can't miss this place even if you were knocked out cold, the heat will definately wake you up," my uncle always say during our conversations at his home .

But little does he know of the wonders of this city. What does he know about driving home from tuition and discusing pregnant pauses with friends, of sitting on the bed all day long and dreaming of things that might never be. Of watching movies by the dozens in 50 rupees in the poshest of movie theatres. Of staying awake all night singing songs and listening to poetry.

Of waking up early to face another 14 hour day. Of having joint study sessions with the girls and freaking the servant out. Of planning for countless vacations that we never end up taking. Of slumber parties and boys, and girls and heartbreaks. Of train rides that were and never were. Of posing for photographs and capturing one. Of mossambi juice on the terrace and cinema classes.

What does he know of passing notes during the most boring of classes, and stealing moments to stroll in the colonies. Of playing videogames with sibling when mom is screaming to have lunch, study, to take a shower..bla bla bla and getting screamed at by the principal every second day. Of rainy days shared under a single umbrella and teary goodbyes under a star sprangled sky.

What does he know of meeting at My kind of place and eating hot breads. Of talking over the phone. Of drinking on the sly and dancing without music. Of comforting friends and fighting with them.

What does he know of all the friends trying each morning to wake up an hour early to shed those extra pounds. Of Supriya and Taniya. Of Himani and Megha and Neha and me.

What does he know about Agra when he's never lived there. What does he know...