Cochin!

I moved to Cochin recently after being in Mumbai for nearly five years. I had lived in Cochin earlier as well. So it was like a homecoming - or so I expected. I looked for familiar nooks and crannies and fragrances. It was jamais vu. Places strangely familiar. While the roads were oriented the same way, some of the places had subtly shifted. Where was the favourite icecream joint opposite TD Grounds? And wasn't the Mahatma Gandhi's statue taller? The Broadway certainly used to be much more crowded? Fort Kochi used to be a much pleasanter place! The traffic has only gotten worse, though mercifully one sees far fewer autorickshaws on the roads. Similarly, the malls of yore had faded to insignificance in front of the might of the gargantuan Lulu Mall. Some of the changes were due to the Kochi Metro.  While most of the city still is unconnected to the Metro, it has changed the city-scape significantly. Also, one dishearteningly noticed several of the backwater stretches now filled up and uncharacteristically tall skyscrapers standing there.
Meanwhile, the frustrations of a recent translocation were playing havoc. Several things were missing. Some of them crucial. Like the screws of the dis-assembled book racks. Some had curiously changed shape. The TV stand which had hitherto never been used was found to be incompatible with the decade old LCD TV! Nearly every machine started malfunctioning. The refrigerator stopped cooling. The treadmill stopped moving. The washing machine stopped rotating. All these involved several calls to the respective service centres. Not knowing Malayalam meant invariably, when one greeted the person with, "English? Hindi?" there was a stunned silence followed by, "Oru Minute!" (One Minute) - possibly to hunt for a hindi speaking person. Also, there was the easy but exasperating answer, "Sorry! Illa!" (No!). While hunting for screws and a TV stand, one always used to get directed to another shop and then another till one reached a shop that was shut. And then on further inquiries from neighbouring shops led one to the first shop back again! Some things never change in Cochin!

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Comments

Mrigank said…
Cochin May be a Jamais Vu, but I am very sure that shifting is a big business and it troubles quite frequently in our line of profession...
Those worries and back to the DTY attitude will always remain a Deja Vu to be done all over again...and again...and again...

Glad you are in Cochin and glad that we'll be able to visit you (as soon as you unpack, settle and are ready for visitors)

Have fun till then....
ED said…
This is like a sweet short story.
A bunch of emotions in few words. The language war gave a tickling effect...at the end.
Very nice

Enjoy the chaos...
Asfa said…
There is something about our city where it gives a sense of happiness,your post made me nostalgic #millennialscribbler
Anonymous said…
This post took me down to.memory lane when i visited my schooling city and even a small change in the city made me sad like anything . Lovely post feeling nostalgic.
Anonymous said…
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Anonymous said…
Awww...you have narrated it so so well that I could really feel machines going malfunctioning one by one... Well, shifting is a big thing undoubtedly. Wish you all ease ahead.
Cochin was my beloved city once. Not anymore. Too much development in too little space.
Adi's Journal said…
I just loved your style of naration. Though i haven't shifted many cities, but i have had enough share of shiftings within a city. I can understand your frustrations very well. It was very much close to my heart post.
Sushmita said…
Relocation can be a pain and I feel your frustration there. And from Mumbai to Cochin, I can really understand the sudden cultural shift too! All the very best :P
Pooja Mahimkar said…
The best part of relocation is to discover a new place. I have never relocated, but my work often takes me to various cities for a few days. Some places seem familiar, others intimidating, but the fun of looking for something new is always exciting
Fabzania said…
Have been to Cochin around 7 years ago and it was a pleasant experience to visit this city. Loved the place thiugh not aware of the recent changes
Rohan Kachalia said…
I have never been to Cochin but all I can say is that shifting and relocating to a different city is cumbersome at start and such incidents is what makes life and living in a different city interesting.
Shreeya Sharma said…
I have never visited Cochin and not relocated anywhere recently. But the couple of months after we moved to Delhi after my father's transfer have given me so many beautiful and often hilarious memories. Relocating is a tedious and stressful job but it has its beautiful moments too. All the best with your shifting!
Harjeet Kaur said…
For me, it sounds more like Presque vu! Every city is changing and the cityscape becomes alien gradually. I love the way you jumped from the city to the gadgets in your home.
The TV, washing machine et al need to be dumped these days once they are faulty. Happy Moving in! #wordsmithkaurreads #BlogChatter #MyFriendAlexa
Manisha Garg said…
Your emotions come out through this post. Felt I was part of this and it's happening in front of me.
Shubhra said…
Sometimes relocation can be difficult. But I have heard that Cochin is a great place. When I first relocated I didn't like the idea at all. Hope you settle down fast. Wishing you all the best in a new town.#ShubhraReads
Dr Bushra said…
Moving back to same city after long time sounds nostalgic