Sangeeta Sambhi, Keekli Intern
Shimla is a town, which is small in size but has a panorama of chronicles. The endless gaze keeps the eyes of the beholder trapped in its inherited beauty. The mountains descend upon from various terrains, seeming to be as effortless, as they have ever been. The sky remains as blue as a divine ocean, with indented wave like structures, clouds. Shimla’s beauty lies in the small shops on either side of the road, and on the indented midways, throughout the four seasons. Each shop is unique and has something of value to be offered. Shimla’s now perilous structures, at some point of time in its history, were showstoppers, for any trespasser. They were maladaptive to welcome diversity. Now they are only inked in words of famous authors books. Interestingly, the stream of shop keepers too hold unity in diversity. Soods, Guptas, Vermas, Kapoor, Singhs, Sindhi and Khans, all acclaim their fair share of trade. And amongst all the picture painted by now, how can one not mention about the menace caused by fluffy beings!
The article speaks of Shimla is obvious, but of which particular place, is mandate to be understood by the hints dropped. Yes! It speaks of Mall Road, which pivots around the idea of people hanging out together, having casual conversations, planning long distance tours, and ofcourse, relishing delicious food, this mid terrain has to offer. Dosa at Indian Coffee House, pastries at Trishool and a lovely evening walk till Clark’s, draws upon foreigner’s attention, to the definition of a well spent day to be. One is spellbound to be struck with the gridlock, gauging the blessing of having the best of edibles, admiring the lush greens, walking down to streets, burning all the calories. One of its another denizen is, that you know everyone, and everyone knows you, isn’t it?
On the same lapse of sharing everything good, there is an issue that adjourns the patience of not only the locals, but also the ones who come in from outside. Yes! You got it right while guessing from words like gridlock, the article talks of traffic jams that occupy its residents time, on daily basis. A ride from Sanjauli to Victory Tunnel, causes the misery of time, resources and patience being tested and spent. Talking of the recent times, the Snowdown Road is undergoing construction process, with no prior notice, the road is blocked and made operational at odd times. The residents living on the I.G.M.C. – Sanjauli Road face difficulties in driving back home.
Concentring the issues faced at the Bypass Road, Sanjauli, one way traffic is blocked for long hours. As a result of which, residents are left, either at the mercy of crossing the entire route, or to line up in long ques which contains vehicles of all types. Misery varies from vehicle to vehicle and its driver. Some people are off to work, while some have some sort of emergency to be catered to. They all level down at a traffic jam that costs them for hours of waiting. Reasons behind this sort of inconvenience caused, are many.
Shimla is a small town, with most of the roads being narrow. The automobile sector mostly has the demand for vehicles that are small in size. Hence, it is understandable that huge vehicles cause traffic jams, on fewer occasions. An influx of tourists visiting Shimla also cause the traffic waiting hours to increase by many folds. Not only this, political road shows due to approaching elections also cause the common public to suffer. Their lackadaisical attitude towards prioritising their status quo against the convenience of the public, says it all about the condition seen pan Cart Road, during the morning hours.
Where on one side, the beautiful city of greens mesmerises anyone who experiences it, on the same stance of credibility, it also has a long way to cope up with the problem of vehicles lining up, one after the other.
I love how each sentence is adorned, with emotion and charm. It is an article, on the brink of poetry, lines rhyme and melt into each other rather effortlessly. Beautifully written.
Thank you