Whenever I have to go to Delhi, I take the metro. To reach the nearest metro station I have to take an auto. So this is a tale of going to the city, with a little bit of sky thrown in and hence the name ‘Sky and the City!’ I feel so clever today. The story starts with the non-sky bit at the Chhatarpur Metro Station where I was waiting for an arranged pickup to arrive.
At the bus stop was this autorickshaw with the common ‘buri nazar wale’ sign. I liked the colors and clicked a picture. The auto driver came out and asked me about it (politely), so I showed him the picture. He then asked what would I do with it? I told him that I clicked it because I liked the colors. He waited for a while, got a few passengers and was about to move off. But then he came towards me and said with folded hands, “ma’am don’t lodge a complaint against me!”
That really left me almost speechless. I told him I clicked the picture only because I like the colors and there was nothing more to it. He moved on and I moved on, but this is a story that refuses to move on from my mind!
I could not figure out what was he afraid of? He was standing near a bus stand but so where scores of other autos, causing the traffic to slow down, almost creating a jam. But he was not alone. He was taking three people in auto but I noticed that other autos too were plying on shared basis and it seemed like a common practice near this metro station. But it was a little reassuring as well to see him scared just because I took a harmless picture! Maybe all is not lost for this city?
Moving on to the next story, you can see a bright washed out sky in this picture but I clicked it more for the city than the sky. It is a poster that says 14th February should not be celebrated as St. Valentine’s Day in India but as a day when you worship your parents! It really left me speechless for a while, I mean really? We are the land of 3K as well, Khajuraho, Konark and Kamasutra! Do we really need to shy away from the Valentine’s Day as it is against culture? If you wish to replace it I would say replace it with a Khajuraho Day! I could have replaced Khajuraho with another K but then my students read my blog as well, and that is a strong filter for me to decide what I want to say.
Finally, here is a bit of sky too, when you had almost given hope. I love it when I get to see the sun going down at a metro station. The setting has so many leading lines, arches and color, all of which make for a good picture. Only, photography is banned at the metro stations, don’t ask me why. I just took a quick cell phone shot and walked off. It marked the end of an eventful day but not before I got a maniac for an auto driver before I reached home.
Great sunset, it frames nice with the traintrack roof!
Thank you so much.
Reading the start of your post I too thought .. may be all is not lost for this city… Eenters The’ GodMan’ poster … look at the gall they have !! Leaves me Fuming…
The poster left me dazed as well Kokila.
Loved the Metro Sunset. I find it more grandeur than beach sunset. It’s all because of your photography sense. Kudos 🙂
Ravish, thank you so much.
Beautiful sunset.
Thank you Thomas.
June 1st is World Parents’ day. So what are we going to celebrate that day?
Yes Indrani, a valid point!
A different post …. I wonder from whom everybody is trying to save Indian Culture…..
I too wonder Prasad.
We’ve another day to celebrate as Parents’ Day. Why replace V-day with that? :-O I mean, though I’m not so much into celebrating this particular ‘Days’, but there’s no point preventing others from it by imposing something else! Hilarious indeed!
Loved the sunset photo, great click, as always 🙂
Me too Maniparna not much into days but never thought this was a real poster!
Is Vday popular in India with the young ones? Is that why the gov’t is trying to ban (for lack of better word) it? I live in US and I don’t celebrate it, but it’s nice that others can if they want to.
I could associate the first pic with what my neighbors do, they hang the same at the door.
I liked the Sunset pic, btw.
Thank you Alok.
I really like your metro sunset shot. Beautiful light and well composed!
Thank you Peter.
You sure hv captured the pictures so beautifully 😀
Thank you so much Rashmi.
hmm…
That’s for the mother-father-whatever day. 🙂
Wow!!
That for the gorgeous metro sunset picture. 🙂
Btw, this IS a smart post. 🙂
Thank you Divya 😀
Amazing sunset view
Interesting pictures and surprising incidents! Liked the way you narrated them to us 🙂