An Evening, A Bridge & Me....

I just read the early childhood of Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson and had evening tea (My friends tell me – you behave more like Rahul Gandhi these days). Over past few days, I’ve followed various leadership experts on youtube and finished over 50 management books. All of them have common views – human beings are born with unlimited power which needs to be harnessed continuously under nature’s law. Already bombarded with highly philosophical stuff, I felt like having a break. It was like attending a marriage in UP and stuffing your belly with biryanis, tikkas from Mehndi to (n) functions and now looking for toilet. (People in UP purchase groceries for max 15 days. Rest of days are taken care by marriages)!!!

Now back to Vadodara, I just took out my bike and without informing any one, started for a new popular hangout spot in the old city – Akota Bridge. This is a new cross over road connecting Dandia Bazaar with O P road. This bridge is enclosed by royal Laxmi Vilas Palace on end and historical Narmada Bhavan at the other with a lot of open ground. As per my knowledge, this is one of the large open spaces in Vadodara which is used for many govt. and school functions (and also for Jahan soch, wahan Shauchalay).

As I reached the spot, I was in awe by acknowledging the volume of crowd already gathered. The whole atmosphere is so beautiful and romantic. I can sense the infuriation of sun trying to peep out of the thick sheet of clouds. But with all their might, these flocks of gas vapours have overpowered former’s heat and created a pleasing aura of romance and love. Since the area surrounding the crossover was open, cool breeze with constant velocity was lashing every body’s face & liberating all the muscle tension. I was feeling astonishingly different from cramped spaces in my society suffocating with shortage of fresh air. 

It was not a complete picturesque view but I could very well see green grass patches surrounding the outer ring with dry and dead at the core. This view reflected current predicament in my mind. We all pretend to be happy and cheerful by following our daily rituals but are thirsty for mental peace, true love and satisfaction. Every minute, I saw vehicles passing through my eyes racing to the end of the bridge. Being a holiday, I think most of them are driving towards mall, movie and dinner. I wish, I could request them to stop their vehicles and experience the enigmatic vibration of that place. 

Standing and watching different shade of this city was a mesmerizing treat for my eyes. Oh look at that – a cute little girl was trying her hands on DSLR and those kids playing and fighting with tennis balls. I couldn’t even count how many young cozy couples had come out to experience this romantic weather. I think that group of girls were discussing about new fashion and latest discounts going on their favourite brands (Still they’ll be fooled by NASA level mathematics by companies).

At one end, inter-society cricket tournament was under progress and I could feel fun and passion in every delivery. Hang on – Mr. Dude just passed with sports Tee, Snickers and head phone. He really had a toned body. Lots of rookie drivers were trying their hands on cars and bikes. (Watching girls driving, I could visualize future scratches on many cars, fight with bikers & autowallas…). And there came tea and snack vendors – Those guys really had excellent sense of business opportunity and execution (The only difference between him and myself is I make PPT’s). Looking at variety of visitors… I was sure all topics from politics to fashion & cricket to corporate were under serious discussion and new solutions were about to revolutionize India any moment.

It was so liberating to be unknown in this unknown crowd. I was really enjoying this time with myself. It felt like a safety valve for love, relationship, fun and adventure has been lifted in pressure vessels of monotonous routine life. I could see new dimensions being worked out between friends. It felt more encouraging amid social networking at its peak. Having engrossed myself at this beautiful place, I’d lost track of time. Oh, it was quite late and I needed to return. But, I was not going to return alone since amazing feeling and positive energy had already reserved their seat on my bike….

FINALLY, THAT EVENING HAD MADE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN ME AND MYSELF !!!