Inspired by ‘You Bring Out the Mexican in Me‘ by Sandra Cisneros, I decided to do my own humble, slightly prosaic, yet heartfelt version, as a Punekar. Dedicated to the city which will always be childhood, which will always be home. Here goes: You bring out the Puneri in me. The ruckus of a thousand scooters. The collective hiss of the snake park. The Bund Garden Bridge. Drinking cutting chai at Cafe Goodluck, day after day. You’re the one I’d go to the NH7 Weekender with. Attend all days of the Sawai Gandharva with. Maybe. Maybe. For you. … You bring out the fortitude of the Sinhagad in me. The streak of Peshwa royalty in me. The calm of Peacock Bay; the charm of the NDA in me. The bustle of Laxmi Road, the elegance of the West End theatre in me. The greens of Koregaon Park, the history of the Aga Khan Palace in me. The variety of shopping at Dorabjee’s in me, the order of Cantonment in me. The soar of the planes at Lohegaon in me. … The spice of Misal, the fulfillment of Wadapav in me. The kick of Durga’s cold coffee, the tang of Chitalebandhu bakarwadi in me. The aroma of Budhani wafers, the flavour of Sujata Mastani in me. The unwavering excellence of Kayani Bakery in me. The timeless taste of Vaishali in me. … You bring out the ritual of the daily Tekdi climb, the refreshing swim at the Boat Club in me. The vintage beauty of the Race Course, the sparkle of the Taj Blue Diamond in me. The unconditional faith of the Palkhi in me. Yes, you do. Yes, you do. … You bring out the thirst of a student in me. The arches of F.C., the spires of University. The raw pride of pioneering women’s education in me. The dances at Pune Festival, the curtain call at Tilak Smarak Mandir in me. The German at Max Mueller Bhavan, the spirit of the Japanese Garden in me. The joys of Thousand Oaks, Hard Rock and Shisha in me. … You bring out the wisdom of the elders in Sadashiv Peth, the yelling at Shivaji Market in me. The sound of the dhol-taasha, the glory, glory of the Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati in me. The memories of the papery smell at Manneys, the long gone primal excitement of Peshwe Park in me. The aversion to the mushrooming eyesore malls in me. … But, you bring out the safety of being a Puneri girl in me. Gender equality; the fierce independence of being a Puneri girl in me. … तुझीच. Only yours. Only you. इस्श! आमचं पुणेरी प्रेम बई असच असतं. Love the way, a Puneri girl loves. Let me show you. Love the only way I know how.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:17:26 +0000