Two-faced Pune.

When it's all sick! (around you.)

First the rant of all that goes on in Pune. Which would definitely allure you into staying here.

Being a Delhite, there was never a need for the two-wheeler, thanks to the wonderful public transport system and the Metro Rail in Delhi, but here the scene was totally different. Every second person beyond the age of 18 was on two-wheelers. Every second driver resembled a terrorist with their faces covered beyond recognition, with only their eyes exposed (that too covered with sunglasses). But that adds a different color.

Alongwith the spicy fast foods and the numerous restaurants and cafeterias along the roads, an avid foodie would have no spare time here. The onion fritters- bhaaji and the wada pav (deep fried potato-onion-ginger-garlic-coriander cutlet sandwiched between two slices of a bread- in short the poor man's burger) and the chocolate toast have just bowled me over. Standing under the makeshift roof of a wada-pav vendor to shield from the rains and savoring a bite of the spicy hot wada pav with the oil-fried green chilli makes the reveller sing - ta da dan tan ta dan - I'm lovin' it!

Pune is a heaven in the monsoons for the rain-lovers. The weather becomes all the more awesome during rains - moderate rainfall that lasts for a few hours, the trees around look greener, canopy of dark clouds that blocks the harsh sunlight, cool breeze throughout the day. It's great fun to be in the city during this time.

But yeah. I would be talking about the ill-faced society here. You guessed right.

I know it's wrong to complain about a city just as you have gotten in; but certain things, and friends here reciprocated the same, are quite out of place here, at Pune. For all the Pune-waasis, a heartfelt sorry if it tickled with your emotions. It might sound bitter because I have shifted from Delhi to here, but the following situations are prevalent in any case.

A. Drivers, especially bikers, think the road as their stunts ground. Agreed, the pedestrians/cyclists don't quite like following the rules, but is it enough for you to almost run over such people and give a damn?

B. People, who do not know you are definitely rude to you. First of all, they don't bother to answer your questions, next, they think you are a newbie who has to be put in place first.

C. Doesn't pay much to be nice around here. If you are nice and polite, everyone thinks you are a low-caste, poor guy and tries to act superior to you. Whereas, if you behave arrogantly as if you own the world, they fear you. Fear is the only thing that gets respect from others here. People say that speaking rudely is the style here. I don't agree. No dialect is spoken rudely.

D. People here deliberately refuse to speak English if that's the only language you know. They may conscend to speak in Hindi (haphazardly) if you speak, but they definitely brighten up with a thousand watts smile if you speak Marathi. For a city that prides itself on a cosmopolitan outlook, this language fanaticism is definitely a setback.

E. Auto-rickshaws are rude and brusque. They are happy to deal a blow to your wallets if you are the silent or kind type. The meter system in Pune is ridiculously over-priced as compared to other cities. For the metered men, where it shouldn't be a problem, they say a bland No! to people if they are not interested to go to a place. No sorry, No smiling "NO", they just ignore you.

F. The city sleeps from 9 PM to 8 AM and nothing, I mean nothing is open. You may be dying, but even the hospitals (smaller ones) are closed. Well, you won't die of thirst because only pubs and bars are open till 12 - 12.30 in night.

G. And there is everything for the individual and nothing for the cohort. If you are a bachelor/student, you are in heaven. For married guys with kids, FORGET Pune. Its not worth the effort.

Feel free to add in your suggestions. But don't tell me "Just mind your business and keep to yourself there.." Am not that kind anymore.