This post has been written for the theme “26 Places, 26 Memories” for the #AtoZChallenge.
D FOR DELHI:
Delhi is the capital of India, and has been my home since birth. This bustling city is the seat of government, and a melting pot of cultures. Its vibrant modernity is offset by its rich historical past, and traditional comportment by its colonial aesthetic. Delhi has great art and culture, world-class museums, fabulous food, first rate educational institutions, a lovely green cover, and numerous options for retail therapy; making it a popular destination.
You may ask why I’m including my home-town in a series on travel memoirs? It’s because I’ve enjoyed Delhi’s hospitality through many staycations at its top-notch hotels. For example, my husband pampered me for my 30th birthday with a stay in Delhi’s oldest 5-star hotel, The Imperial. We’ve also frequently vacationed at hotels in the outskirts of Delhi, including the ITC Grand Bharat, and the Taj Damdama Gateway Resort. Each stay has memories attached to it, but this one truly deserves mention.
DISCUSSING DEBAUCHERY IN DELHI:
I got married in October 2013, in a two-week long, multi event extravaganza. One of the Sangeets (song-and-dance celebrations at Indian weddings) was held at Nandiya Gardens at ITC Maurya Hotel, Delhi. As is customary, the hosts of the function were given a room for the night, at the hotel.
This party was hosted by my parents, which made it my night to shine. I wore an exquisite lehenga designed by my mother, and I was decked to the nines. My friends and family members performed a skit and dance show, to the backdrop of a movie about our love story (yes, we were that cheesy!). However, the real party began only after the photos had been taken, dinner had been eaten and the elders had moved on.
We shifted to the basement of the hotel, where we could party without time restrictions. The talented DJ doled out the latest hits, shots flowed freely, and the dance floor resounded.
After wrapping up at 6 a.m., a handful of us retired to the room to swap drunken stories while removing my jewellery, clothes and endless hair-pins.
We were in splits talking of the boy who had to be rescued from the toilet, when he locked himself in and slept off; the young chap who was transported to his car in a wheelchair after passing out in the lobby; and my emotional breakdown with my best friend’s brother, because she couldn’t be present at my wedding. Clothes were torn, heels were broken, many flirtations had taken place, cars were abandoned for cabs; but a fantastic time was had by all. The night was memorable in every aspect, but the few moments spent with my loved ones in the room were especially dear to me.
Given a choice, I’ll pick a quiet conversation over inebriated bodies gyrating to fast-paced numbers in an ill-lit room, any day. Perhaps that’s what ‘adulting’ is 😉
Come back tomorrow for the letter E and another story!
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*Unless specified, all pictures are clicked by me. Copyright belongs to nooranandchawla.
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