Home is where the heart is. On 15NOV2012, I followed my sweetheart to Hyderabad to start a new life in a new Home, Sweet Home. As I complete one year in the new city and look back at the year that was, it has been a colourful one year. I have loved exploring Hyderabad this one year and a lot still remains to be explored. I have grown a lot in this one year, especially in my culinary ability being someone who just hated cooking to someone who cooks for relaxation and de-stressing.
There are so many things that stood out for me in Hyderabad- the very broad roads, 'Numaish' , some of my shopping trips (though old city still remains to be explored), my job and new friends and acquaintances at work and have the pleasure of getting back in touch with the old ones.
When I first stepped on Hyderabad soil, nothing other than heat seemed very different in the city compared to Bangalore. I was still very 'Bangalored'. Since we arrived on an evening flight and were terribly hungry, we dropped our luggage off at home and headed to the Woodlands Restaurant. Now, Woodlands is a place one goes to when you are hungry and not for celebrations or treats or fine dining experience. Woodlands is being run by people of Karnataka and they have imported all of their staff from Karnataka...at least it seemed that way because almost all of them spoke in Kannada.
We seated ourselves in the A/C dining area. I did not really realise at that moment that I was not in Bangalore in the cool of the A/C and in a 'Kannadified' atmosphere. In my head, I was still in Bangalore. We ordered North-Indian thaali. It starts off with Tomato soup, pappad and Ras Malai. Once we were done with the soup, the main course thaali arrived. They had an assortment of curries. Mutter Paneer caught my eye...I started with Roti and Mutter Paneer and it was that moment....
.....that it struck me harshly and rudely, that I had arrived in Hyderabad. My tongue was slapped and punched with very spicy and strong chillies that no amount of water intake could help. I immediately started tearing up and perspiring. My husband who was quite used to the spicy food of the region could not understand what was wrong. He tasted the Mutter Paneer and it seemed quite okay to him. I ditched the Mutter Paneer and went on to the Mixed Veg curry and the gravy of an Eggplant dish. Each of them seemed to better the ability of the other in terms of setting my tongue on fire. I realised at that very moment, in that particular A/C dining area, in that 'Kannadified' atmosphere that I HAVE ARRIVED IN HYDERABAD. Fortunately, I had saved my Ras Malai for later and pacified my agitated taste buds with its creamy-milky sweetness. I took it as God's way of telling me 2 things-
- I had arrived in Hyderabad
- Ras Malai would come to my rescue so do not eat it as soon as it is served
At the end of the meal, ice-cream was served and I cannot think of any other time in life when I relished it more.
This is one of my first experiences in the city which I can never forget. In this one year that has gone by, I have still not been able to adapt to the extra spice. I tear up almost every other day,to the amusement of my colleagues especially, while eating especially the curries and salads (what??? you thought they can't be that spicy?? Well, come over...the spice route awaits you).
Having said all that I have, I love Bangalore a lot. Once you live in Bangalore, it is not easy to love to live in any other city. Though my sweetheart is in Hyderabad, my very own heart is still in Bangalore. I cannot say there is anything terribly wrong with Hyderabad. It is a fine city to live in and has its own way of functioning and is special in its own way. Slowly, I am learning to like Hyderabad but it can never replace my love for Bangalore as Bangalore has reserved a very special place in my heart for life.
I hope to write (and remember to write) again sometime around this time of the year in 2014 and see if Hyderabad has made any progress in completely winning my heart over! Hopefully, some day I will also have a special place reserved for Hyderabad for the rest of my life. In the meantime, I am determined to enjoy the Hyderabad experience!
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