Chhota Sheher(contd.)

As Priyangini said, I am mighty bugged by this big-small city nonsense. They are not even clear about the geography of these cities, not sure what gives them license to talk like this. I wanted to say more but didn't have much time that day.

It is proven that quality of life almost certainly takes the dip for worse when one moves from one city to other. Until then, you lived in a perfectly protected environment. You had a pretty settled life. You had a good friend circle with whom you spent your leisure time. And you had your family.

Move to another big city. Now you have an employment. But then you will have to house yourself in an apartment one third of the size you are used to live in. Workplace or downtown will be three times as much distant. Food will always be substandard, with a stomach bug perfectly implanted in you intestines.

Cost of living shoots infinitely. Rent will hit you hard, until you pack like sardines. Eleven months deposit is another tale of woe. Food is costly unless you can cook. Traveling cost is phenomenal, and add to that those doctored meters these autowallahs here possess, I am sure there take home is more than mine. You will call home long distance every now or then, and you will certainly send home some money. That's the least one can do.

Now want to buy a property? Take a cool 20-25 lakh loan for the miniscule flat in the remote suburbs of the city. Rest of the lives, they are slave of their vehicles and cellphone. I have seen people driving four KM to buy milk, and making five calls for the elusive plumber. Not to forget that twenty year EMI.

I am yet to know a family who has completely migrated with their sons and daughters. My mother and sister came here, stayed two years, had enough if it and returned back. There is huge difference in comforts and culture. And mind you, this is Pune, still a relatively small city. Had there been a larger city, more the problems.

These guys here have never exactly lived much away from home to understand the pain of getting detached from your roots. Everything they get is on platter. They don't understand what a long distance call is, and what it feels like making a more than twenty four hour journey every two or three times a year.

And yes, those steps are more loaded than the suitcases which we carry when we begin our return journey from home.

Typical on this immigrant situation is the song from the movie Godaan, sung beautifully by Mohd Rafi. Lyrics are in Bhojpuri are by Anjan, and music by Pandit Ravi Shankar. Lyrics are typically rural, but not hard to understand if given second read.