Vignettes of a month

The only city where i feel butterflies in my pit at the thought of hailing an auto.
The only city where the auto-wallah has the rear view adjusted to watch 'you' instead of the vehicle on the side. I fished out my dark glasses and drew up my parka aka thick skin again!
The only city where you get this urge to peep and check out the well dressed salwar-kameez clad woman in the auto next to you but just a little ahead.
Lots of catch ups - with parents, friends, siblings, of calls not made because I'm running short of time, of food eaten that I'll not be able to eat once I leave the shores.
The city where I can no longer drive, forget confidently or otherwise.
The N Block market that now houses all the brands that i've ever wanted to browse, all together. I'll come back on my next trip for sure!
The M Block market (yes the one where the blast took place) which I can no longer relate to.
Wonders : Market No. 2 now has ATMs (wow both HDFC & Kotak)
My lane in C block remains the same - a sub colony of oldies, whose sons and daugters have left, married, working, either living abroad or in the suburbs; some remain and the grandparents physically trying to keep up to the demands of active grandchildren!! They look frail, older, much sublime, crinkling eyes trying to recognise each solitary soul on the road - and stopping by to smile and crinkle some more at Aadi - "kamon acho, Daser mein na, bhari mishti, chele toh, khubh bhalo" ("How are you? You are Das's daughter right. Very sweet. Boy right, Very good") - at the end I'm only half sure that the very good was not so much because I'm fine and my child is sweet but because I have a Boy... some things have not changed or have they?