A letter to my city

Dear city of baked beans,

I have been thinking about you a lot off late. You seem to have this magic that holds all my memories . In nostalgia and the eyes of the children that will be born I see your image and I see you grow.I have been to the coldest places and and the hottest towns and somewhere you seem to be the coolest and warmest of them all.

Your slender arms of margosa and sampige roads embrace my thoughts and invite me home. Those tamarind and peepul trees are where my mind rested and emotions were born. In the temples of Basavangudi is still worshipped the prejudice that breeds.Cubbon parks and lal baghs have applied for a frozen time , their shrinking voice are no more pleads. All your lakes are frozen, people swim in traffic waiting to drown. The roads are always broadened to make more way for millions who want to frolic and frown.

Sorry! I just stood there while they chopped all the trees and said nothing to make them sway.

With the metro it has been decided that you need a face lift, a botox to make your plastic smile.

You are dressed with shopping malls and going on a gadget spree , do you realize you were once just nothing but simplicity.Like a bride you have been owned by many . The capitalists want to market you for your beauty and brains. You belong to all the mothers-in law of fashion and the husbands of government waiting to sell.

'Kannada baralla' is all I hear and the auto fares have become a fear. The red oxide floors are now reflecting the coldness of the growing IT. The windows are french , english , latin and more. Why do you have so many international schools ? the beggars still seem to beg or borrow. You have your Mallyas and murthys while I crave for your mallige idli.

My city of baked beans , I speak my mind as my life changes with yours. I am not sure that I will bring about any change. I thought you might need a listening ear or just a letter of love. Here I am lying in your arms listening to the song of traffic and breathing the air you choke with. You are my beautiful.. you will always be .

I love you always , you are my city , you are the world in me :)

love you

V