What started off as a simple official trip to yet another Southern city quite unexpectedly turned out to be an exploratory immersive break into the city of Hyderabad – a city of two hearts..
One heart beats to the tune of the “Hi-tech” – aptly called
as such - where corporate dreams are woven, where skyscrapers try to touch the
skies, where the lights brighten away the dinginess of everyday living and
where the streets ooze sophistication and modernity..
Going from a city laden with pot holes and where a stretch
of road without repair is a craving. I was starstruck with the real highways
that Hyderabad boasts of and the ride through the Hi-tech quarter at night was
a real Indian Times Square experience!!Twinkling lights, well-heeled employees
unwinding on rooftops and overseeing the beautiful skyline that restaurants
& pubs show off with very less humility..It is a blatant display of
development, money and “upward” mobility and a real intention to put itself on
the “developed” map!
The other heart of Hyderabad lives in the old city as it is
called – the divide so obvious and yet the Hyderbadian is comfortable with
living with two souls and hearts..The Charminar area is the bustling core of
the old city where arterial roads sell everything from biriyani to bangles..The
shoppers, the vendors and the tourists all culminate into a colourful tableau
at the Charminar square..each with their minds full with experiences, steals
and sales..
I let go off the remains of my “conference” and official
purpose of the visit and donned the tourist cap to perfection as I explored
Chowmahalla palace including a “Nawab” photoshoot that the cameraman sold with
elan! An auto ride then took me in and around Charminar – a pearl shop- stop a
necessity while you are in Hyderabad! And with no taste or knowledge in pearls,
I was unintentionally drawn into a purchase of a tiny bracelet of pearls..After
that it was just strolling through the old city quarters – bargaining for
bangles, sipping Iranian tea and biting
into the malai bun that was served with a smile from one of the oldest shops –
a huge crowd that I had to navigate through to get to that Bun malai!
Laden with steals and biting into the “Almond House Bistick”,
I was smitten by the Hyderabadian hospitality, heritage and highways and as I
zipped through the super highway to the airport, I confessed to the sins of
good food and bearing a bit of jealousy and greed for the Hyderabadian highway
of life.
